Once in a Lifetime

Last night we saw Once in a Lifetime, about the New York Cosmos soccer club. When they started no one cared, then they got Pele and painted the grass green, then people briefly cared. Then Pele left, the league got bigger and then imploded.

The movie itself is pretty interesting and enjoyable. It doesn't quite succeed in placing the Cosmos in 1977; Son of Sam and the blackout are mentioned but the connections are lacking. It's also a bit feel good and not especially full of new information for those who've looked into the Cosmos before. But, if you miss noteworthy soccer since the World Cup, this is worth a look.

Here's the IMDB site.

Here's the trailer.

Here's an article from the Guardian about the movie and history.

Here's Wikipedia on the Cosmos.

And Peppe Pinton put up a Cosmos site, since he still claims to be C.E.O. of the club.