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Back Shelf Beauties
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Murderball While it might not be the most welcoming and loving title in the world, Murderball is an amazing examination of the men who play wheelchair rugby and the families and friends who support them, but put away the tissues! Murderball is not some weepy, feel good portrayal of "special" people. More than just showing us the courage of these athletes and the amazing challenges they face, Directors Dana Adam Shapiro and Henry Alex Rubin introduce us to the guys by eschewing the temptation to portray these men as saints. The audience sees how these guys party, fight on the rugby floor like their lives depend on it, curse at each other, show off their tattoos, date more women than I do, and show people life doesn't end if you are in a wheelchair. Sure, it's inspirational, but Shapiro and Rubin don't pull any punches. While the most emotional moments in Murderball focus on the backgrounds of the players, their recoveries and the stories about how they were injured, the most fascinating scenes in the movie focus on the rivalry between Mark Zupan - an outspoken, take-no-prisoners, hell-on-wheels bad ass, and Joe Soars - a legendary US player who got too old for the team, was cut and, out of bitterness, started to coach the Canadian team. Zupan and Soars are perfect examples of the complex personalities presented in the movie, and Shapiro and Rubin brilliantly take us behind the scenes to meet their families, see the verbal warfare between them and other players and show us the fierce battle being waged out on the rugby court. Soars is the most complex villain you will see in any movie this year, and villain probably is a cheap shot against him. While making a decision that causes him to leave behind the teammates and country he loves, we see the struggles and personal disappointment this causes him, as well as his unmatched obsession and competitive fire. Shapiro and Rubin don't just show us the obvious moments, but capture candid, not-meant-to-be-seen incidents where Joe is confronted by US team members or when he speaks about his unathletic son. More than anything, the directors make us relate to all of the players as people like ourselves, facing the everyday struggles we all face, along with the unique challenges they face being quadriplegics . Shapiro and Rubin show the guys exactly how they want to be seen - as regular people who happen to play rugby in wheelchairs. Get ready to have your misconceptions blown out of the water. 4 Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2005 - WaffleMovies.com
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