A premiere can be a strange affair, and Goal! proved to be one such case. Everything looked normal – the red carpet was out – and out, and out, covering what seemed like half the length of Leicester Square, with the sun breaking through the clouds for the first time in days, just as guests from the united-by-celebrity worlds of movies, music and sport began to arrive. The fans and photographers were all having a merry time of it outside, while Empire waited patiently to talk to the cast of the celebrated, first ever FIFA approved movie. So far, so normal.
Newcastle's man of the moment, Michael Owen walked in, but he was just here to see the film, and wasn't talking to the press – fair enough. He was followed a very short time later by Anna Friel (or "Mum", as she will soon be known in certain circles), who plays the female lead in the film, but who wasn't stopping either. Riiiight…
Star of the screen and the on-screen pitch Kuno Becker was also in attendance, but we couldn't get a peep out of him, either. Okaaaay. Fortunately the ever-lively Kieran O'Brien was soon into the foyer, and headed straight for us. "Empire? You slagged us off! 9 Songs – what was all that about?!" the actor vigorously enquired – fortunately it was meant it in good humour. Not that this stopped us guiding the subject back to Goal!. "Oh yeah, look - I know the concept behind it, and I know it's an extraordinary film," he enthused. "Oasis are on the soundtrack, which makes it even more fantastic, but even I wasn't expecting it to be this good. I'm amazed, and I think it's great."
And that from the guy who plays the film's 'baddie'. "Yeah, well - I think he's misunderstood! My character is essentially the nemesis the main man, Kuno, and I think he gives him a rather warm welcome to life in the premiership, and English football." Well, there you go. But this is only the first part of a planned trilogy, so will he be back? " I am back for part two – I didn't think I was! But you know, they gave me a shout, and here we are."
Next we had a bit of a natter with South London actor / rapper Ashley Walters, who's been a very busy thesp since Bullet Boy. As well as a supporting role in Goal, he's also been working on other high profile movies both here and in the US, but more on that later.
One of England's heroic cricketers, Kevin Pietersen, was also in attendance, and judging by the excitement generated, it's a case of "Welcome to the A-list, son".
More actors from the film swept through, and straight on by – Alessandro Nivola and Empire office favourite Sean Pertwee. But ever so luckily, the delightful Ms Friel, whom we never doubted for a second, returned. Cue: morass of journalists engulfing the poor woman. And what do they ask? Something about losing weight after pregnancy. Well, maybe someone out there would be interested in that, but dammit, this woman is the fanboy favourite for the role of Tonks in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix! So the question was put, and as she was being whisked away, we just caught " I'd love to – that would be my dream role! But…" followed by something about it going to a 'bigger name' actor. To which, of course, we say simply "Pants."
And then it was all over. All of the guests were inside, and the clouds had re-appeared. We left before we got caught out in the rain for the second time that day, walking away scratching our head, wondering if we had enough to be going on with. Premiere reporting is a game of two halves, we tell you…