I Am Zlatan. (15.)
Directed by Jens Sjorgren.
Starring Granit Rushite, Domini Andersson Bajraktati, Cedomir Glisovic, Merima Dizdarovic and Linda Haziri. Partly subtitled. In cinemas. 98 mins
Note that it's not I Am Lionel. Or I Am Cristiano. Or Becks. Or Fat Frank. Or even Jamie Vardy, as was once threatened. The contemporary footballer whose life and career have been deemed worthy of a biopic is the wandering Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He isn’t the greatest footballer but probably no footballer has scored as many spectacular goals as him and few can match his oversized personality and knack for controversy. He’s played at most of Europe’s biggest clubs (and Manchester United) and this film’s release coincides with him winning another league medal with AC Milan at the age of 40.
Perfect for a de-aged Steven Seagal, the role of Zlatan is split between a young Zlatan (Rushite) struggling at his first big club, Ajax Amsterdam, and the child Zlatan (Bajraktati) growing up in a rough Malmo estate. The hyperactive son of Balakan immigrants he is constantly getting into trouble. Based on his autobiography, and covering much the same ground as the 2016 documentary Becoming Zlatan, the film surely downplays what an egomaniac pain in the neck he must have been. It is though a slick, entertaining production with strong performances from the two Zlatans though I suspect neither are close to the real thing. They are good, but they aren't Zlatans.
Directed by Jens Sjorgren.
Starring Granit Rushite, Domini Andersson Bajraktati, Cedomir Glisovic, Merima Dizdarovic and Linda Haziri. Partly subtitled. In cinemas. 98 mins
Note that it's not I Am Lionel. Or I Am Cristiano. Or Becks. Or Fat Frank. Or even Jamie Vardy, as was once threatened. The contemporary footballer whose life and career have been deemed worthy of a biopic is the wandering Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He isn’t the greatest footballer but probably no footballer has scored as many spectacular goals as him and few can match his oversized personality and knack for controversy. He’s played at most of Europe’s biggest clubs (and Manchester United) and this film’s release coincides with him winning another league medal with AC Milan at the age of 40.
Perfect for a de-aged Steven Seagal, the role of Zlatan is split between a young Zlatan (Rushite) struggling at his first big club, Ajax Amsterdam, and the child Zlatan (Bajraktati) growing up in a rough Malmo estate. The hyperactive son of Balakan immigrants he is constantly getting into trouble. Based on his autobiography, and covering much the same ground as the 2016 documentary Becoming Zlatan, the film surely downplays what an egomaniac pain in the neck he must have been. It is though a slick, entertaining production with strong performances from the two Zlatans though I suspect neither are close to the real thing. They are good, but they aren't Zlatans.
