It was a seismic event that happened in May 2002 on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. A drama that divided the nation and split the population between team Keane and team McCarthy.
And now it has been given the silver screen treatment. Directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (who also directed the superb ‘Good Vibrations’) skilfully bring a kinetic energy to proceedings. Archival radio commentary and news clips (featuring the likes of Tony O’Donoghue) bring to life the era, and the film is also aided by its brisk 91 minutes running time and excellent soundtrack.
The film starts with a young Roy Keane, practicing football in the street, and fast forwards to him at a time of his life when he was at the very top of his game.
The relationship between the two protagonists is difficult from the off, with the strain between the pair clearly evident. Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) is the ultimate perfectionist. A world class warrior with sky-high standards. Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan) is the dignified and affable gaffer who is leading Ireland to its first World Cup since 1994. However, before the team even departs for their World Cup preparation, the relentless workhorse Keane is struggling with the FAI bigwigs (including the roguish ‘Dickie Maloney’ played by Jamie Beamish), and questioning McCarthy’s role, ‘He’s probably doing his best,’ says Keane scornfully. For his part McCarthy tolerates Keane, saying, “What makes him a great player on the pitch makes him a pain in the ass off it.”
Keane’s suspicions are confirmed when the team arrives in Saipan. The Hotel is dated and crumbling. The AC doesn’t work properly and is noisy. And cheese sandwiches are on the menu. Not the type of food to fuel thoroughbred athletes like Roy Keane. The steam room may be full of empty bottles of champagne, but the Cork man stocks his own mini bar full of healthy drinks and juices. He also fumes in his room as the players do the conga after a few beers.
Worse still, the training pitch is unsuitable and equipment (including footballs, which are, you know, essential) have not arrived. Keane’s mantra of, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” is absolutely spot on. He sees an impending disaster unfolding before his very eyes. All of this serves to send a simmering Keane to a boil and propels him to an infamous face to face showdown with McCarthy in front of the players, after he unwittingly unloads his displeasure to the press.
Much has been made of the “artistic licence” used by the filmmakers. For example, they introduce the topic of national identity as one of the reasons for the rupture in the relationship. In addition, Kevin Kilbane has refuted that the Ireland squad was a ‘pub team on tour’. However, what the film does well is, that despite the fact that we know how all of this plays out, it is never less than gripping.
Hardwicke is a revelation in the role. Unlike other football movies (ahem, ‘The Damned United’), he looks every bit like a professional footballer at the peak of his powers. He brings an ominous steel to the role and is utterly convincing as a perfectionist unable to grasp the notion of everyone else not being capable of giving 100% for the cause. Keane the man is a complicated and fascinating character and his performance captures him perfectly.
One drawback is surprisingly Coogan’s interpretation of the former Ireland boss. An extremely talented actor and supreme performer, he does Mick McCarthy a disservice by portraying him as weak and meek. McCarthy was not a man to suffer fools gladly and was a leader who was not easily cowed.
The way that the film is weighted, you can’t help but feel that it is somewhat biased towards Keane. In the end we feel sympathy and understanding for the principled, yet self-sabotaging hero.
It is riotously entertaining, but also frustrating and sad, because if this battle of wills had been resolved with an admission of guilt, or perhaps some humbleness, then who knows how Ireland could have fared in the World Cup? It is a question that endures. Even after 23 years.