Robert "Eleven Men Out"

Pictures from Movies & Festivals
2006 in Cinemas:
Iceland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg
2007 in Cinemas:
USA (August 24th 2007), Canada, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Swiss, Austria,
Norway, Israel, Japan, Venezuela, Portugal, Finland
2007 on DVD:
France, Belgium, Iceland
Robert Douglas and Eleven Men Out
Watch more clips and scenes from films by Robert Douglas on WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/FILMDOUGLAS
I'm Robert Douglas, Icelandic/N.Irish feature film director. I have directed four films with various success in Iceland and around the world. I am currently shooting a documentary and preparing my next feature film. The feature film will be about the Eurovision song contest and it's title is A Song For Europe. We hope to go into production next year. Right now you can read all about my gay football movie... later it will be The Eurovision movie, yes I believe I'm in my pink period as a film maker, but don't worry... I have plans to direct a WAR movie. Before I started directing films I worked as a dishwasher in a Spanish Tapas bar and then I worked in a video rentals store.
About the film: Eleven Men Out
Icelandic director Róbert I. Douglas has always specialized in comically cantankerous heroes who dare to dream small. The protagonist in his debut, The Icelandic Dream, was a blustery neer-do-well whose luck changed for the worse when one of his harebrained schemes finally paid off. Last years Small Mall focused on the less-than-ambitious denizens of a struggling shopping centre. Eleven Men Out shows Douglas sketching characters who, though apparently more successful, are as obstinate and desperate as their predecessors.
Ostensible hero Ottar Thor (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson) is a football (i.e. soccer) star who one day impetuously tells a reporter hes gay. Of course, he hasnt bothered to inform his ex-beauty-queen wife or his troubled teenaged son, sending his already problematic home life into greater turmoil. Kicked off the team by his general-manager father, hes approached by an old friend who runs a predominantly gay football team in a much lower league.
Once Ottar joins, the team becomes the talk of the town, and gay players begin showing up unannounced, demanding to play. A younger player sets up house with Ottar, but soon the increasingly self-destructive behaviour of Ottars son demands attention. Besides that, the team faces its own problems: other teams wont play them, terrified theyll be perceived as gay.
Eleven Men Out is a curious, compelling mix of genres. From one angle, its a comedy of misread expectations. Homebody Ottar would rather have movie theme nights than go clubbing, which drives his younger, more energetic lover to distraction - though their Leonardo DiCaprio evening has its moments.
But the film is also deceptively dramatic, shifting gears to focus on family responsibility. It also skilfully toys with the clichés of the outsider sports movie. Instead of stressing how charming or eccentric his outcast footballers are, Douglas emphasizes their neediness and egocentrism; he acknowledges the fact that we all deserve a little love, consideration and courtesy despite our often tragic inability to reciprocate. Most impressively, its a movie about football without any actual significant footage of the game.
- Steve Gravestock - Toronto International Film Festival.
www.filmdouglas.com
Eleven Men Out Review Summary
"Robert I. Douglas breakout feature is a non-pandering crowd-pleaser whose character quirks and small stabs at poignancy feel refreshingly earned. Perfs are perfectly in tune with the director's deadpan yet boisterous tone. Design contribs hit the right gritty but polished note, while the tech package is first-rate." -- Dennis Harvey, VARIETY USA
"Eleven Men Out has thoughtful and funny characters, something that should give this droll drama appeal beyond a niche gay audience. It is a pleasantly liberal film all round. Infused with typically deadpan Nordic humor." -- Richard James Havis, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER USA
"The gentle rhythms of the film are engaging and often hilarious. The script and performances are full of raw humour that cuts deeply into universal attitudes. It's subtle, witty and warmly human from start to finish." -- Rich Clein, SHADOWS ON THE WALL UK
"A terrifically deadpan Icelandic comedy that turns formulaic ideas into something special. Out is a feel-good movie that really earns the good feelings." -- SAN FRANCISCO GUARDIAN USA
"Eleven Men Out contains many moments of humor and drama with realistic characters and a fresh ending. Nicely photographed with a fine supporting cast." -- CELLULOID DREAMS UK
"A hip new look at fame, coming out and family, delivered with a tone and humor only Iceland could provide." -- CLOSET CINEMA USA
"A sports-themed film for even those who don't like sports, you just can't lose betting on Eleven Men Out." **** -- Lawrence Ferber, TLA Video USA
"Hilarious-but-honest deadpan comedy. ELEVEN MEN OUT takes a realistic look at the complications that arise when you suddenly decide to not play it straight. -- Out on Film
"A light, feel-good gay comedy stuffed with guys in soccer shorts? Sign us up -- Top Summer Movies, AfterElton.com
"Réalisé par un des plus prometteurs parmi les jeunes réalisateurs islandais, Robert I. Douglas, le film bénéficie d'une interprétation parfaite qui donne un film un air d'OVNI absolu dans le monde formaté actuel de la production cinématographique... A ne pas manquer, principalement par ceux qui ne sont pas en train de regarder le petit écran pour suivre un match de foot..." **** -- Eric Van Cutsem, Cinopsis BELGIUM
"Þessi mynd er mikil snilld, uppfull af lúmskum húmor og skemmtileg heitum. Ég mæli með þessari mynd fyrir alla sem vilja skemmta sér vel og innilega í bíó." ***** -- Matthías Freyr, Málefni ICELAND