Murderball

"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!

What an extraordinary film.MURDERBALL is a documentary that follows the members of the US Wheelchair Rugby team, along with one EX-member who is now the coach for the Canadian team. (The game is referred to as "Murderball," but as one of the players remarks, "it's hard to market a sport named 'Murderball!'").The requirements to be a team member: Quadriplegia. And an incredible hard-hitting and competitive spirit. (Most of us, my wife included... who IS wheelchair-bound due to multiple sclerosis, were under the impression that quadriplegics had NO use of their arms, but it would seem that many quadriplegics retain a certain degree of arm and upper-body function.)The stars of this film are inspirational. Bob Lujano is a young man who lost his arms and legs to a horrible infection as a young boy. Sitting with a group of school children, he's asked by a little girl, "how do you eat pizza with your elbows?" He proceeds to show them, and there is no shock or revulsion. The children are all awe-struck and smiling as this man proves that you can make your life as normal as it can possibly be, if you try.(How many people, given a pair of gnarled stumps for arms, would live out their lives being spoon-fed by others? Quite a few, no doubt.)The "star" of the film, if there is one, is Mark Zupan, a 28-year-old who's life changed when the pickup truck driven by his best friend flew off the road... and he sailed into a canal --where he remained clinging to a branch, undiscovered for 14 hours. Zupan is the kind of guy who takes no crap from anyone. Even his high school buddies point out, "he was an a****** before the accident, and the accident didn't change him!" But it'sobvious that they, along with pretty much everyone else loves him, and during the course of the movie it becomes pretty clear why. He's a good friend to have.Joe Soares is the FORMER team member who became the head coach of the US team's arch-rivals, Canada. The man is EXTREMELY tightly-wound, but despite the red-faced, screaming rants, there are some very tender moments shown between him and his young son. His son, who has NOT followed in his father's extreme-sports footsteps, somewhat to his dad's disappointment, is instead an academic high-achiever, and plays (of all things) the violinin the school band. It is a testament to good parenting (and one of many grab-the-handkerchief moments!) to see how Soares supports his son.The film should be shown to every high school class in America. People deal with the handicapped in very odd, and many times, disturbing ways. If enough people saw this, not only would it give people a better understanding of some of the struggles faced by the disabled, but it would also serve as an inspiration for all. (In fact, my wife hasn't been in our pool for over a year because of her fear that it wouldn't 'go well.' After seeing murderball, she's planning on going for a swim tomorrow!)*** UPDATE: The swim went just fine, and in the year since, my wife has become FAR MORE confident about herself. She is still 100% wheelchair-bound, but it's something that people forget about in about 2 minutes BECAUSE of her terrific attitude. And MURDERBALL played a part.*** UPDATE 2: We had the opportunity to go to a Wheelchair Rugby tournament in Tampa --and thought we MIGHT see someone we recognized. Well, we not only SAW, but had a chance to chat and hang out with MARK ZUPAN, SCOTT HOGSETT and ANDY COHN, among others. What a GREAT bunch of guys! This was months after the release of the DVD, so frankly they could have seen themselves as "stars," but you sure couldn't tell.The highlight of the day came when Scott Hogsett asked us if we'd like to join them for dinner... and though our schedule wouldn't allow this, the mere fact that they asked just made our day. (Yeah, could you imagine one of the "mega-stars" asking that? Not in a million years!)- Jonathan Sabin

Now "Murderball" is called "Wheelchair Rugby". They had to "tone down" the name for sponsors. I still like "Murderball" though.Murderball was originally created for those people who were unable to play wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair basketball (a great sport in its own right) requires at least some use of your hands. With Murderball you have to have both hand and leg "issues". You don't even have to have hands! As long as you can push your chair around. . . you can play Murderball. Each player is given a "point value" and there is a maximum number of "points" allowed on the court. It's a really fun game to watch. It's played in the Paralympics, and this year (2012) the United States won the bronze medal. They came SO close to going to the gold-medal-match. . . but with seconds left on the clock. . . they lost by one point. FYI, Andy Cohn (who is in the movie) and another guy are still playing on the U.S. team. I REALLY wish the U.S. TV networks would step-it-up and show more of the Paralympics, including "Wheelchair Rugby". Go online, and you can find out where tournaments are being played around the country. I HIGHLY recommend checking them out. Mark Zupan used to be my favorite player. . . but now I think it's David Anthony on the British 2012 Wheelchair Rugby team! Check him out online with the blue Mohawk!This movie is quite inspirational. . . . and fun. You're not feeling sorry for anyone. The only one I was feeling sorry for was myself! I'd love to give it a try! HahahahahaFYI. . If you're looking to watch a lot of the game. . . this is not the film. There's really not a lot of play going on. But there is enough so you get the idea of what it's all about.

Murderball is one of those films that I started watching a little reluctantly despite the positive reviews it has garnered. I mean who takes any notice of reviews .....Anyway watch I did and thank jimmine for that for it's the best film I've seen in awhile.Muderball is a slightly hyped name for wheelchair rugby which is played by paraplegics in as signified earlier specially customised wheelchairs. Basically a member of the team has to cross the opposition's line in order to score a point. It's fast, skilful and unpredictably aggressive. The film centres on the implacable rivalry between the U.S.A. team and the Canadian team. This is almost exclusively down to the fact that the Canadian coach, Jeff Soares used to represent the U.S.A. (indeed he was their best player for a number of years) but when he was dropped he flounced off in a mighty huff and ended up coaching their rivals. The American team view Soares as a traitor to his Country while he ...well lets just say he hasn't taken rejection well and seems to be permanately on the verge of exploding or imploding ...it's kind of hard to tell.We pick up their rivalry as they are preparing for the World championships in Sweden in 2002. The most outspoken member of the American team is Mark Zupan, a scary intense looking guy, and we are treated to him and Soares bad mouthing each other as they inevitably prepare to face each other in the final .The result only serves to intensify the depth of feelings between the sides and add, if ever it was needed, spice to the build up to the 2004 Paralympics where the two are expected to contest the final again.This is all hugely entertaining and it's amazing how quickly you become caught up in the rivalry. What elevates Murderball above mere titillation though is the depth added to the film by the players back stories, their personalities and in one notable case a bit of personal growth. We learn that Soares, a sporty competitive individual contacted polio as a child and that his relationship with his son Robert is strained because the boy is a sensitive non-sporty type, a high achiever at school and a gifted musician. Soares is dismissive of his strengths and is a believer in tough love but eventually he softens and there are some touching scenes between the two. Zupan, we find out, was injured in an incident where he was thrown form a flat bed truck driven by a drunk driver. This person happened to be his best friend Chris Igoe and again we watch their understandably compromised relationship rehabilitate till they are inseparable. Again it's quite touching.Talking of rehabilitation which I kind of was the film also introduces us to Keith , recently badly injured in a motor cross accident who is just starting out on the rocky road to independence and he , after meeting Zupan at one of many lectures about the sport the articulate but still scary Zupan gives , determines to take up wheelchair rugby. Potential sequel here?The film is as much about how a seemingly disastrous debilitating tragedy can lead to something else, can open up avenues and become a positive. None emphasise this more than Bob Luciano, the most severely paraplegic of the U.S. team who is also the most positive and the most likable. There are terrific segments where the team discuss attitudes towards them (If you think you are being altruistic or kind you are usually being patronising) and most amusingly their approach to sex and masturbating. As one says about girls "The more pitiful I am, the more they like me". In that case why haven't I pulled as many women as Warren Beatty? A tremendous life affirming movie.

This is a must-watch in my view (just as the autobiography GIMP by Mark is a must-read).I've been there too (accident, near-death, recovery & back to the real world) and the personal side of the story is as real as it gets. The whole wheelchair rugby side of it is entertaining - and some of the extras are good - ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY MEET-UP WITH THE JACKASS CREW :o))))))You need these in your collection.

Having recently read the Mark Zupan autobiography  You Gonna Play? How Murderball Saved My Life: The Sport That Saved My Life  I really wanted to see the movie and was not disappointed.The movie is about the rivalry between USA and Canada in the run up to the 2004 Athens Paralympics and the athletes taking part. It is both informative and fun and the added extras on the disc are just as entertaining. You Gonna Play? How Murderball Saved My Life: The Sport That Saved My Life

Makes you feel ashamed that the able bodied are sometimes to lazy to get off their fat arses and do something, or all those feeble excuses one has for not exercising.

Ok, so i bought this after I got into the show Friday Night Lights where Jason Street takes up the sport. Wanting to find out more I gave this a go and I'm glad i did. What i liked most was that it wasn't just about the sport and rivalry, there was a lot in there about the disabilities too. It's refreshing and eye wateringly honest and the sex instruction tapes had me laughing. I mean, the poor guys that have to rely on those things?Of course you have Mark Zupan in the sorta lead but the real star is the turncoat Canada coach Joe who is such an *ss but you wind up loving him anyway (well I did!) What an arrogant awful bloke! Funny though.All in all I thought it was a good way of getting the idea across that they're still just guys who like guy stuff despite not being able to walk.