Murderball (2005)

Quadriplegics, who play full-contact rugby in wheelchairs, overcome unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Directors:

Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro

Stars:

Joe Soares, Keith Cavill, Mark Zupan

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Joe Bishop	...	Himself
Keith Cavill	...	Himself
Andy Cohn	...	Himself
Scott Hogsett	...	Himself
Christopher Igoe	...	Himself
Bob Lujano	...	Himself
Kevin Orr	...	Himself
Joe Soares	...	Himself
Dave Willsie	...	Himself
Mark Zupan	...	Himself

Storyline

Quad rugby as played by the US team, between 2002 games in Sweden and the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Young men, most with spinal injuries, play this rough and tumble sport in special chairs, seated gladiators. We get to know several and their families. They talk frankly about their injuries, feelings in public, sex lives, competitiveness, and love of the game. There's also an angry former team member gone north to coach the Canadian team, tough on everyone, including his viola-playing son. We meet a recently injured man, in rehab, at times close to despair, finding possible joy in quad rugby. After Athens, the team meets young men injured in war: the future stars of Team USA.

---

Plot Keywords:

team | rugby | paralympics | wheelchair | quad rugby | 

---

Taglines:

Dream. Believe. Achieve.

---

Genres:

Documentary | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

ThinkFilm [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gyilkos labda - A kerekesszék harcosai

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,750,211 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$57,286, 10 July 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,523,883, 2 October 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Participant Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The voice of Birmingham's NBC 13 anchor Mike Royer can be heard during a local news piece.

---

Quotes

Reporter: Tell us about Wheelchair Rugby.
Mark Zupan: We had been calling it Murderball, but you can't market Murderball to corporate sponsors.

---

Connections

Referenced in Q/A: Murderball (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Waiting
Written by Al Jourgensen
Performed by Ministry
Published by Thirteenth Planet Music, Inc (BMI)
Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group

User Reviews

Fascinating doc rises above so-so sports highlights

This recent documentary about quadrapalegics playing a violent form of rugby never found its expected audience. It was expected to be a breakout hit of last summer and was even released under the MTV Films label. It was eclipsed by last summer's surprise hit doc "March of the Penguins." Is it any good? The scenes in which we follow the players in their day to day lives are great. One portion of the film follows a recently paralyzed motorcross racer and his excitement in discovering the sport. These moments are touching, inspiring, and the doc's best moments.

The sport, though, is either filmed poorly by the directors or its just not that exciting. These moments are reminiscent of Oliver Stone's football scenes in "Any Given Sunday"--I can see a lot of bodies of banging together, but don't ask me what the heck is going on. It appears that who ever has possession of the ball is likely to score meaning that winning the game comes down to having the ball in the closing seconds.

As a sports doc, it falls short. It greatly succeeds, though, in exploring the lives of the athletes.

Recommended.

Read more at http://solipsisticblog.blogspot.com/.