Reversal
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Movie Reviews of Reversal
Movie Review: Not Quite Vision Quest
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a former high school wrestler who loved my sport. I'm only aware of three movies made in the last 20-30 years about wrestling-Take Down with Lorenzo Lamos, Vision Quest, and now Reversal.
I was very excited when I found out that there was another movie made about wrestling. However, I would caution someone to rent Reversal before buying it.
A blurb from Olympian Carl Lewis says this is a "family film." It's not. I'm glad I didn't watch it with my children. It shows teens smoking marijuana and underage drinking, conversations between boys about sex, a teen buying condoms while hitting on an older lady, and some mild profanity. The movie is fine to watch if teens are older, but it's not for children.
In my opinion, Reversal is more about a "coming of age" movie where the protagonist happens to be a wrestler than a movie about wrestling.
This is an independent film so, the screen play, soundtrack, and acting were a little less than professional. However, the extra features are really good. For example, the producer/writer and the main actor meet with a fitness trainer and nutritionist that puts them on a six day workout for wrestlers and an eating plan to keep one's weight in check and energy level up. This is worth buying the movie and keeping it. In fact, I intend to watch this section a second time and take notes.
Movie Review: An Uneven Film
Summary: 3 Stars
There are some aspects of this film that were outstanding. The wrestling scenes are the most realistic I've viewed in a movie. The movie gives a good account of the sacrifices it takes to be an accomplished athlete. Finally, Jimi Petulla's performance as the father and coach is very touching and memorable.
However, other aspects of the movie seem to be right out of an ABC Afternoon Special. Danny Mousetis's role as the son was unconvincing. I don't want to give away scenes but the son seemed much too mature, much too good, for a conflicted 17 year old. It appears that the film writers wanted to create a likeable character but in doing so, left something important out. Other characters, especially the mother, seemed flat - as if little thought was given to develop their character. There were some scenes that I thought I've seen right out of the Afternoon Special.
Movie Review: The best movie ever about amateur wrestling
Summary: 3 Stars
I thought this was the best movie I have ever seen about amateur wrestling. It shows both the good and the bad of the sport. It takes on the obsessive values and delves into the eating disorders that are almost encouraged. It also is a story about family and love.
This is a small independant film. Most of the actors from what I have read are not professional actors and it sometimes shows. It is based on a true story. The amateur wrestling is very real and done really well.
This movie has been recommended by amateur wrestling champions like Kurt Angle, Cael Sanderson and the great Danny Hodge.
Movie Review: Good action, bad acting
Summary: 2 Stars
Reversal tells the story of high school wrestler Leo, who is trained by his father. I enjoyed watching other wrestling movies, like Vision Quest and Hadley's Rebellion and I'm glad I saw Reversal but there are more than a few problems with it.
The film's biggest fault is its lack of focus. It's not sure if it wants the main story to be the sacrifices teenage athletes have to make, or Leo's relationship with his girlfriend, or his father.
Also, a lot of the characters are paper-thin; more specifically, Jimi Petulla is spectacularly miscast. As the father/coach he should be a blue-collar coal worker who spends his time swabbing down the wrestling room floor but instead he looks as if he's just walked off the set of Desperate Housewives. In fact, he's such a nice guy it is hard to see what Leo is rebelling against.
Danny Mousetis as Leo is fine but he's so grumpy and sullen it's hard to have much sympathy for him.
The cinematography is great and the wrestling action is for real but this is not enough to save a movie which has so many acting and structural problems.
As the DVD extras show, a ducumentary on high school grappling is what is really needed. A wrestling equivalent of Friday Night Lights is something I would pay good money to see.
Movie Review: Not the Wrestling Movie It Was Promoted As
Summary: 2 Stars
Wrestling is a huge part of my life, and so I was naturally excited that it was the subject of a motion picture. The involvement and casting of actual wrestlers means that there are parts of the film that are very real. The wrestling scenes themselves feel authentic and they're fun to watch. The overbearing father is something I've witnessed quite often. The burnt-out athlete? I've seen it. But for most of the people I know who wrestle, it has been an enormously positive experience. The question is... if so few stories about wrestling are told in film, why tell THIS particular story? Especially when wrestling could be the backdrop for so many other screenplays that don't focus on just the oppressive view of our sport. To be fair, Reversal wouldn't be so maligned if it were a counterpoint to other positive wrestling movies.
So kudos to the filmmakers for making a movie about wrestling, albiet one with amateur acting and a dark uninspiring story, but next time let's not market it as something our sport's community should proudly rally around to represent wrestling to the world.