Generally speaking, American films are the best in the world. The English expect their films to resemble stage plays, the French demand a ballet of sorts, the Italians need to see an opera on the screen, and the Germans, a military maneuver. But American film is traditionally obligated only to provide fun and excitement as it explores the caves in which life has been hiding. "Reversal" does just that.
Unlike many movies about the problems of ordinary people, however, "Reversal" portrays the ordinary people as ones you'd like to know, not as posturing dimwits and disjointed rubes. And unlike most "coming of age" movies, it focuses on a specific conflict -- the one between father and son; "Reversal" does not expose the protagonists (and us) to unrelated difficulties and extraneous events, for the sake of "color."
The wrestling scenes are perfectly executed, and almost overpower the underlying art of this dramatic film -- but not quite. The acting is simple, and surprising effective. The sets are immediately comfortable, and the camera moves like an Oklahoman. If only it has occasionally shown us, as a brief glance, some silent expression or bird-on-the-wing that was somehow supplementary to the dialogue -- a loose end -- "Reversal" could have been a small masterpiece. As is, it's a "7."
Kevin Cisneros
Unlike many movies about the problems of ordinary people, however, "Reversal" portrays the ordinary people as ones you'd like to know, not as posturing dimwits and disjointed rubes. And unlike most "coming of age" movies, it focuses on a specific conflict -- the one between father and son; "Reversal" does not expose the protagonists (and us) to unrelated difficulties and extraneous events, for the sake of "color."
The wrestling scenes are perfectly executed, and almost overpower the underlying art of this dramatic film -- but not quite. The acting is simple, and surprising effective. The sets are immediately comfortable, and the camera moves like an Oklahoman. If only it has occasionally shown us, as a brief glance, some silent expression or bird-on-the-wing that was somehow supplementary to the dialogue -- a loose end -- "Reversal" could have been a small masterpiece. As is, it's a "7."
Kevin Cisneros