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Murderball

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I've seen my share of documentaries, and I've seen a few that have dealt with disability. "Murderball" easily eclipses them all.
Too often people with disabilites get thrust into the role of flawless inspirations, this principle has held true across both fictional and non-fictional films alike. It was because of this trend that I approached "Murderball" with cautious optimism.
It was very surprising indeed when "Murderball" was in fact a genuinely uplifting and inspiring film,a film that dared to really show its subjects complete with flaws. Two other disability-related documentaries I've seen are "Rolling" and "King Gimp" Both are probably extremely inspiring to an able-bodied audience, but speaking as someone who is in a wheelchair, some of the moments in those films were downright horrifying and depressing. For example in "Rolling", a woman falls out of bed while dressing herself and videotapes her barely censored nude rescue by an able-bodied friend and her husband. Able-bodied audences would say, "what grit and determination" I sat there and prayed that would never happen to me. "King Gimp" profiles a supremely talented artist and parts of his story are inspiring especially to someone like myself who wants to have a career in the arts. Yet, it too depressed me because much of the film concerns the subject's unrequited love for a female caregiver. He laments that he will never find anyone.

"Murderball" on the other hand avoids those pitfalls and showcases some of the nastiest, (...)ever to hit the screen and even though I most certainly do not fit into that category and wouldn't be caught dead playing the titular sport I enjoyed every minute of it. All of the people in this film have a level of independence that for the moment I can only dream of, and they are much more impaired than I am in certain respects. So seeing them doing something they love, and quite a few of them FINDING love is absolutely, unadulteratedly inspiring. It is the first documentary I've seen that left me happy through the end credits.

"Murderball" is ostensibly about quadriplegic wheelchair rugby and there are some truly thrilling scenes of play between archrivals the USA and Canada...to be sure.
But what "Murderball" is really about is the undeniable, unstoppable, fire-in-the-belly will to live and more specifically the drive to overcome adversity: both of spirit and of body.
Athletes Mark Zupan, Joe Soares, etc. all exhibit, really inhabit such a positive, go-for-broke take on life and living that you cannot help but be embarrassed when you start to think of your piddly problems.
One of the things a Documentary should do is enlighten and inform and "Murderball" has those two topics covered---no problem. But "Murderball" also gives you Hope and that is a quality to which most other films can only aspire.

This powerful documentary should serve as an antidote to anyone who ever felt uncomfortable around a person in a wheelchair. The individuals profiled, all participants in the full-contact sport of wheelchair rugby, are independent and demand to be regarded without pity. They are fierce competitors in a grueling sport, going for the gold in the Paralympics in a 12-country competition.

Although several people are featured, the central figures are Marc Zupan and Joe Soares. Marc is currently among the top players in the sport, a charismatic man whose zest for life will not be diminished. Joe, a former superstar, is at first bitter about the way age has robbed him of his skills; a dramatic and unexpected development midway through the film seems to transform the way he looks at life and his relationship with his son.

Like the best documentaries, "Murderball" offers a glimpse into the lives of people that have much to teach us. Recommended.

There are several ways that a film about the disabled can fly off coure. One is to make every disabled person a paragon of virtue and an exemplar of courage and persistence. The other is to pretend that their physical afflictions are ultimately inconsequential, and that they can be treated just like anyone else. Another is to portray the disabled as objects for pity. "Murderball" avoids these pitfalls, delivering a film that is frank, moving and informative.

On its surface, "Murderball" is about the US and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams in their run-up to the 2004 Paralympic games in Athens. But the film is also about the difficulties these men experience, trying to make their way from crippling accidents and illnesses that robbed them of the use of their limbs. By turns profane, angry, proud, aggressive and loving, the men are chronicled undergoing the real-life frustrations and fulfillments of participating in a sport that is as recklessly dangerous as the accidents that literally broke their backs.

These are not men to be pitied. Some are annoying and (as their friends tell us) were so before their accidents. Some are insanely driven. Some have unresolved issues about those responsible for their injuries. Some are narcissistic, putting their own needs above their family's. Yet some have devoted girlfriends and wives, and many have extremely supportive families. Above all, these men are athletes, with the same swagger and aggressiveness as their un-chairbound counterparts. But the capacity of these men is not be overestimated. The first scene, in which US team member Mark Zupan painstakingly changes into his rugby shorts, makes it clear that while these men have normalized their lives to a great degree, their day-to-day existence is nowhere near as easy as it had been.

The film is not for the faint of heart. The testosterone level (with its concomitant profanity) is very high. A section on paraplegic sex is uncomfortable, verging on the pornographic. And the sight of the newly-injured beginning the long struggle to (maybe) adapt to such debilitating injuries is heart-wrenching. Still "Murderball" delivers, persuading the viewer that these men are not participating in a feel-good activity but are truly expressing their inner desire to excel in spite of their injuries.

I would venture to say you probably haven't heard of the new documentary "Murderball". This is a shame, because the film is really good. Hopefully, after you read this review, I will have convinced you to see the film and help support it.

Some of the best documentaries I have seen accomplish a number of things. They tell a compelling story, about a number of interesting people, depicting an intriguing conflict, in a clear and concise way. Yep, "Murderball" does all that.

"Murderball" tells the story of the United States Paralympics Rugby team as they work towards the 2004 Paralympics Games in Athens. The USA team has won 11 of the last 11 international championships making them reviled and a target for all of the other countries. Everyone wants to knock the USA team off the top. The film concentrates on a small number of participants; Zupan, the tattooed, goateed mid-twenty something star of Team USA, Joe Soares, a former member of Team USA, who, because he is a little older and slower, was cut from Team USA and now coaches Team Canada, and Keith, a young man who had his accident very recently and is just beginning the rehabilitation process. The rivalry between Soares and Team USA is the central conflict in the story. Soares is determined to yank victory, and the title, away from his former team, and Zupan is just as determined to make sure this doesn't happen.

The film quickly introduces each of the core members of Team USA and Soares. We get a glimpse of who they are, why they are and what they are. As we get to know them as individuals, we also get a quick lesson is what being a quadriplegic means, how the injuries can happen, how each of their injuries occurred and what their life has been like since the accident. It is a lot of information to assimilate, but the filmmakers use a combination of interviews with the subjects, their families and friends, and unique graphics to get all of the details across. All of the information is presented quickly and efficiently. After we have an understanding of the people, we get a crash course in the rules for the rugby games. Again, very useful to the viewer.

As "Ball" progresses, the focus shifts from the games to concentrate on the characters. We learn about Zupan's accident and his strained relationship with his best friend. We witness Soares' near addiction to the game and how this affects his relationship with his wife and son, a straight A, non-athletic student. We also get a glimpse of the rehab process through Keith. Keith is used as a vehicle to give the viewer a more thorough understanding of what it means to be a quadriplegic. We meet him early in the process of his rehab, everything is new and fresh to him, and us. As he learns about how to deal with his new life; how to undo the Velcro on his shoes, how to get into bed, how to have sex with his girlfriend, we learn along with him. This is a surprisingly effective method of humanizing not only his character, but the entire film.

As the film progresses, the focus stays on the characters as they compete against one another. The games are not followed in great detail, merely synopsized to show us the outcome. The games are a framework, a reason to meet these compelling characters. The competitions are a goal for the individuals, adding another dimension to their lives.

It is also refreshing to watch a film about people playing a sport that takes the time and effort to do more than just talk about the sport. Also, the ending is surprising, not what anyone in the film was hoping for, so that adds another element of surprise.

"Murderball" is a compelling, fast moving, interesting and informative documentary. It is everything a documentary should be. Go and see it. Go on. Go!

This is a great sports flick whether you care about disability or not. I'm disappointed that it's not captioned. I teach a university course on disability and would include this movie in a heartbeat. I can't, however, because it's not accessible to everyone in the class. Bummer.

"Murderball" is nothing short of brilliant. Hats off to the filmmakers of this documentary for a compelling look at a violent sport (quadroplegic indoor rugby), the men who set the tone and the mood for it and the real people behind those public visages. This is a tale about overcoming adversity and getting your life back after circumstance has taken it away. The real life Murderball players are from all walks of life. They reached the point in their lives where their desire to overcome adversity, commitment, and skills, allowed them to focus on becoming winners.

The filmmakers never preach in this film. They present reality as reality. They give us slices of the players' lives, their loves, their foibles. They shot the film from the viewpoint of sitting in a wheelchair; it is an intimate look at what the view is from there. We see the struggle putting clothes on, rolling over, tackling a task such as taking your shoes off. We get to experience the laughter and the joy of finding out that you can still enjoy sex, and the casts' surprisingly good humor about the endless fascination some females have for men in wheelchairs. We also see how self-sufficient is a man who can hustle himself and all his equipment through an airport; for whom international travel has become a reality and a frequent opportunity at the highest echelons of the sport. The directors concentrate on what makes a team a team, and how team pride, at this level, uplifts to pride in the country you play for. There's some brief explanation of the rules of wheelchair rugby, but mostly you get the feel of the action by watching slices of the USA's matches against their arch-rivals, the Canadian team. Particularly telling is a feature that shows the amount of points a team can have on the floor at any one moment. Players are ranked by the "deepness" of their disability with 1-3 points. No team can have more than 8 points on the floor at once. A revelation.

We also get to see those unique personalities that abound in every sport at the highest level of play....Mark Zuban, a true hotshot in every aspect of what that word means. He's mean, he's brutally honest, in fantastic condition and the heart of Team USA. Despite his outward cockiness and bravado, he takes the time to talk about his sport to groups of the newly disabled...in a matter of fact, interesting way, that is its own uplift.
There's a bit of a sidetrack in Mark's story, where he is reconciled with his best friend, the driver who caused him to fly from a vehicle and sustain his life threatening injuries.
It's not a bad story, but probably the weakest link in the film.

Joe Soares is Zuban's antithesis, but is he? Unarguably the greatest player in the world, Joe was sidelined by Team USA as he got older and bitterly began to coach for Canada (although he lives in Tampa, Florida). Joe's opinionated, pushy, and a family man. We get to see him and his disdain for his son (who is a "non-athlete" and musician) before he has a heart attack, and the change in him after the heart attack leaves him feeling rather mortal. Joe never becomes a villain. We understand why Team USA is upset about his new allegiance, we understand why Joe did what he did. We can see his coaching skill in the way that his Canadian players respond to him. Joe is tough love personified.

When the teams and players are cemented in your mind, the directors introduce Keith Cavill, who has been newly introduced to the world of the quadriplegic. It is through Keith's story that we see how far these men have come; how daunting is the world when you are first forced to realize what kinds of challenges you will face for the rest of your life. Without giving you an emotional bath, the filmmakers show you what happens to Keith's mindset when he's first introduced to the world of quad rugby, and how it changes his perspective.

There are not enough fine words of praise for the crafting that went into this film, for the "acting" of the principals, for the tone, the camerawork, the script, the editing. The DVD features are outstanding for a documentary, and should not be missed, with perhaps the exception of the feature from the TV show "Jackass". This year, in feature length documentaries, Murderball goes up for the Oscar against what was a wonderful film, "March of the Penguins". But as good as "March" was, there is no question that this is the documentary film, indeed perhaps the film, of the year.

Bravo!

Most documentaries or movies with the handicapped that I have seen fall into one of two categories: 1) Complete fluff where everyone is sympathetic and incredibly inspiring, or 2) Patronizing. Murderball follows neither lead, and comes up completely humanistic and original.

Essentially it's the story of the US Olympic Wheelchair Rugby team, and their quest to win the gold. Among their rivals is their most hated enemy: the Canadians. Within this setup, we see happiness and elation, as well as agony, embarrassment, and frustration. As if he were cast for the role of confrontational antagonist, the Canadian team is led by Joe Soares, a foul-mouthed former pioneer and legend of US Wheelchair Rugby who many consider a traitor. He didn't make the US team on his last try-out and he's vulgarly, bitterly protested ever since. His counterpart is the US superstar Mark Zuban, a somewhat brash player who typifies the younger, aggressive generation, but still manages to become the face of quad-rugby, inspiring others through seminars and discussions.

Given that the documentary is named Murderball, I expected much more action and many more brutal hits from the armored wheelchairs that are used during competition. There isn't nearly enough focus given to the sport itself. Instead, the drama surrounding personal lives was the true focus, a borderline voyeuristic look into the players' lives. There were no corners cut, nor were there falsehoods. Those who are quadriplegic can find love and happiness, and will almost inevitably face further life difficulties. What struck me was the balance between positive traits and negative flaws, where one can be humble yet heroic, and another could be internally frail yet outwardly, defiantly strong.

It's a great character study and very compelling. It achieves its purpose: showing that the quad rugby players are just like us "normal" people. I highly recommend it.

Murderball is a documentary about the US Paralympic Rugby Team and their quest for the 2004 Olympic gold medal, and its also the story of several men, wheelchair-bound for various reasons, from injury to polio, and their struggle to live a normal life in the face of their challenges. The documentary focuses most closely on one of the star players, Mark Zupan, and the former star player who now coaches the Canadian team and has a strong yearning to beat his former teammates, many of whom consider him a traitor. Most affectingly, the movie also features the struggles of a newly quadraplegic man who is starting out from the place these athletes once did. We see him slowly work his way through rehab, learning to use his chair and perform basic tasks all over again. It's thrilling to see the way he comes to life when he meets Zupan and has his first try in a rugby wheelchair.

I saw the movie several weeks ago but it has stayed with me, particularly the story of the newly injured young man and the glimpse of Iraq vets in rehab taking their first stab at wheelchair rugby. While the drama of the medal quest is exciting and suspenseful, the parts I remember are the private glimpses into these men's lives: the slow and painstaking process of dressing and getting in and out of the chair, the discussions of whether and how "quads" have sex, the relationships between the men and their loved ones. It was an exciting and eye-opening movie.

Be sure to check out the extras and commentaries, especially the Jackass special with several of the rugby players taking part in the same goofy, painful stunts that the Jackass guys usually engage in--almost as much fun as the movie itself!

MURDERBALL, simply put, is a bunch of quadriplegics in wheelchairs playing full-contact Rugby on a sort of basketball court. But the movie is much more than that simplistic notion.

MURDERBALL the movie is a voyage of discovery, telling its characters (the men in these wheelchairs) that life isn't over after a debilitating accident. And telling us, those who are fortunate enough not to be stuck in these chairs, that they've earned our respect, not our sympathies.

This amazingly little known Paralympic sport is taken very seriously by the U.S. team, who've taken home the gold the past 11 times. Their specialized chairs are turned into battering rams for plowing into their fellow players (the speed at which they can travel are impressive and the impacts at the end ear-throttling).

Mark Zupan is one of this documentary's focuses, a quadriplegic with serious attitude, huge biceps, a scowling face, dark tattoos, and, underneath it all, a heart of gold. Having been paralyzed after an accident caused by his best friend from high school, Christopher Igoe, the two have not spoken in years ...out of guilt, fear, and anger. But as the film winds down we see a softening in attitude on Mark Zupan's part and the two come together in an offish but very touching way.

The other main focus of the documentary is on Joe Soares, a bitter man who lost his position on team America and now spins his Rugby wheels for the Canadian team ...as their coach. Sparks fly as the two teams meet up for the first time since Joe Soares took over the Canadian team. Joe is also so caught up in what he's doing that he forgets to remember the most important things in his life: his wife and son. At first, I absolutely hated Joe. But as the film rolled on, and some changes in Joe's life were forced upon him, I began to understand his position. The viewer also gets to see Joe grow out of his self-centeredness and into a more loving father and husband.

The final focus is on a young man named Kevin, who is newly acquainted with a wheelchair after becoming a quadriplegic from a motorcycle accident. He's bitter, angry, depressed, all the things you'd expect after suffering such a horrific life-change. But Mark Zupan introduces him to wheelchair Rugby (Murderball) and Kevin is instantly hooked. Life takes on new meaning for Kevin and he obviously decides that his existence still has value. A great set of scenes!

I'll end this review by mentioning the special features that came with the DVD. Johnnie Knoxville and "Steve-O" from Jackass the TV series, party with several of the members of the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby team and it's a great thing to behold. Not only does it show how amiable these wheelchair-bound guys are, but it also shows us how their chairs don't hold them back in the slightest (punching each other, using cattle prods, and jumping off ramps in their chairs and into swimming pools).