"Inspiring. Murderball tells a great story."
Associated Press (headline)
"Great. A complete delight. A storyteller could not ask for a more captivating
roster of egos. Like pro football players, these wheelchair sportsmen
can be a riveting, larger-than-life loft, men to like and admire…a
tremendous mix of in-the-trenches action, interview segments and candid
moments that paint rich portraits of the participants. The story of Zupan's
injury is a remarkable tale of friendship turned tragic and a reunion
full of grace. Murderball unfolds with deep emotion. The movie addresses
and quickly dismisses notions of diminished expectations among the wheelchair
players. The movie afirmes that normal is normal, and it's not changed
by losing the use of you limbs. Murderball is not about lost potential.
It's about carrying on as always." David Germain, Associated Press
"Yeah, this is a great documentary. I'm sure it's going to get nominated
for and Academy Award. Brilliant filmmaking. Each of the stories, very
interesting. The guys are funny, they're flawed, they're human beings,
there's no condescension here. Zupan is bcoming a star, a real star. He
should be because he's an oversized personality, an interesting guy. This
is a great film. Yeah, I don't know if anybody can play Zupan as well
as Zupan can." Richard Roeper, Ebert and Roeper
"Look for Murderball to be among this year's Oscar nominees for best
documentary. It has the key ingredients: an intriguing cast of characters,
dramatic tension, accomplished cinematography, equal parts humor, and
pathos, and a spirited story of overcoming huge obstacles. Murderball
brilliantly captures the intensity of the little-known athletic competition,
offering more intimacy and drama than most Hollywood sports movies. The
film not only cleverly introduces the cast members but also poignantly
reveals their humanity. These amazing guys, their diverse personalities
and their bawdy wit will leave Murderball's audiences energized and inspired."
Claudia Puig, USA Today
"Zupan, the charismatic heart of the chest-thumper documentary is posed
to become one of summer's biggest and unlikeliest action-movie stars."
Entertainment Weekly
"The most engaging ensemble cast of the year so far. Could be the breakout
hit of the summer. Audiences who get to see it will not stop talking about
it." FOX News
"Rousing." A.O. Scott, The New York Times
"An inspirational crowd pleaser." Stephen Holden, The New York Times
"Gripping. Fast-paced and fluid. Unusually deep." Stephen Holden,
The New York Times
"Gripping. Fast-paced and fluid. The game sequences, many shot at wheelchair
eye level, are viscerally thrilling. The heart of the movie is in the
human dramas. An unusually deep exploration of sports, machismo and the
competitive spirit. Stephen Holden, The New York Times
"Raucous and bold. In going beyond sports and liking into these men's lives,
Rubin and Shapiro have crafted the best of this year's sports films –
fiction or documentary. Zupan…is an articulate and entertaining spokesman.
An inspiring story not only of how these men overcame challenges to become
great athletes but also of how they deal with the mundane everyday chores
such as buying groceries or washing dishes, Murderball is a thoughtful and
provocative look at a previously little-seen world. In allowing the players
to speak openly about subjects they are passionate about, they craft deeper
and more honest profiles. With topics including how people treat them in
public…the documentary humanizes a group of people who are often
marginalized by a society that doesn't see past the wheelchair."
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
"An astonishing sports documentary. The heart of Murderball is the story
of overcoming injuries and despair, and learning through rehabilitation
and training not only to function in the everyday world, but to become
Olympians." Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Energetic and riveting. Graceful editing." Shauna Lyon, The
New Yorker
"There's nothing like the real thing, and there's never been anything
quite as real as Murderball. The filmmakers…not only collected
incredible action footage…but individual stories of recovery, revenge,
redemption and even romance. The overriding message of Murderball is that
the spirit of competition remains whole with-in the diminished body –
it is a cause for celebration. Each of the players… is enacting
a personal drama on the order if "Cinderella Man," and you feel the entire
range of their experience, without suffering the sentimentality added
on by able-bodied filmmakers like Ron Howard. The joy these players feel
is transformative. And when you see them talking up the sport to Iraq
veterans with recent spinal-cord injuries, you know they are also doing
good work." Jack Matthews, The Daily News
"Startling. Stirring. The players are fueled by anger that is clearly
a positive byproduct of their disabilities. What sets them apart is not
so much their disability as the courage, hard-won wisdom and disarming
candor that informs their lives." Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
Among the few bright spots in this summers movie season have been documentaries
like "Mad Hot Ballroom" and "March of the Penguins,"…Now, best
of all, comes "Murderball…The directors offer rich portraits of
the two most charismatic characters to appear in a movie so far this year.
Superbly edited…Murderball alternates between rousing game excerpts
and the emotional stories of the two men as well as other murderball players.
The fast-moving, psychologically savvy Murderball…treats its subjects
not only with respect, but with humor." Lou Lumenick, New York
Post
"Provocative and entertaining. Could turn into the most popular documentary
of the year! Not only plays like a sports drama, it puts most of the latter
to shame." Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
"A moving story. It's impossible not to come away inspired." Lynda
Gorov, The Boston Globe
"Exceptionally stirring. Emotionally overwhelming. The twists and payoffs
in this authentic sports saga are often stranger – and stronger
– than fiction. Distinctively funny, profane and inspiring. Brings
a freshly authentic and touching perspective to athletic rivalry. ‘Murderball'
has uncovered a treasure trove of human interest. Subplots, twists and
payoffs that professional screenwriters would be unlikely to invent. One
stunning, uproarious and humbling insight after another." Gary
Arnold, The Washington Times
"A great piece of work. The genius of ‘Murderball': It doesn't
look away, it looks at. It's an up-close and personal view of what is
called quad rugby and, by extension, quadriplegic culture and life. It
not only celebrates the spinally injured men, it also removes to penumbra
of difference from them. It turns out they're just like us, only in wheelchairs
and the wheelchairs themselves tune out to be entirely incidental. And
you wonder about the gulf between you and them, as exactly as the movie
intends, and you conclude: What's the big deal?" Stephen Hunter,
The Washington Post |
