Saipan review: Keane vs. McCarthy in heated football fight
I’m not the most knowledgeable about football (to put it mildly) or super interested in the sport, but Saipan appealed to me as it is promised to depict an exciting real-life conflict, and it doesn’t disappoint in that regard.
The film revolves around the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. The Irish national team have qualified for the main tournament and the players now have to train in a place where they can get used to the climate – Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific. Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke), the team’s biggest star by a long shot, is used to living the high life and being spoiled as part of Manchester United, so he is not impressed with the shambles that face the Irish squad in Saipan.
Roy has some valid points because the conditions really aren’t good enough – the pitch is rock hard and unsafe, they have no footballs (!!) or drinks, and there’s very little healthy food available at the hotel buffet. It’s not exactly the recipe for success, so it’s understandable that he’d be annoyed. But his attitude totally sinks. He’s a rude narcissist who can’t put his issues and pride to one side in order to play for his country. As captain, he should be trying to boost team morale despite the circumstances, but instead, he causes disruption and division and is always challenging manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan).
While some of the conversations behind closed doors must have been imagined, the drama was well documented in the press, with many tabloid journalists staying in Saipan to cover the preparations. Directors Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa do a brilliant job of using or repurposing newspaper articles and recreating photographs and TV interviews. They also show some of the originals during the credits to prove the accuracy of those moments.
Saipan is a well-written film that slowly builds the tension and resentment between Keane and McCarthy, culminating in an explosive showdown that is quite horrifying to watch. Hardwicke and Coogan may not look exactly like their counterparts, but their voices are pretty close and they embody their attitude, particularly Hardwicke with his spoiled brat energy. I struggled to understand Hardwicke at first but I got used to the accent eventually.
This is a must-watch for football fans, especially those who remember reading about this back in 2002. However, it is still interesting enough for newcomers or casual fans of the sport.
In cinemas from Friday 23rd January