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

Appeared on Entertainment Weekly's list of The 50 Best Movies You've Never Seen in the Jul 16, 2012 issue.

---

Quotes

Andy Cohn: When people in the community see you in a chair they kinda treat you like you're made of glass or that you're fragile; things like that. But, in wheelchair rugby, it's kinda like high speed bumper cars.

---

Connections

Featured in 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die: Episode 3 (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Light & Day
Written by Tim DeLaughter
Performed by The Polyphonic Spree
Published by Blue Newton Echo Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Hollywood Records

User Reviews

A Triumph!!!

Having seen one of the most brilliant documentaries several years ago called Hoop Dreams, I though there could be nothing that could even come close to its raw passion and emotional power. After witnessing Murderball, I realized I was wrong.

This documentary that follows a select group of quadriplegic athletes provides just the perfect amount of tension and joy, as witnessing the former trials of Arthur Agee, and William Gates and family in Chicago.

Some background is given on the sport as to how it's played (no less ironically on a basketball court), but Murderball's greatest asset is the depth in which it probes the players backgrounds and challenges, and our understanding of what it means to be in a chair (more than likely) the rest of your life.

Like Hoop Dreams, it isn't the games or the run up to the championship that becomes the most exciting part (as great as that may be), but is found in the little moments when a father makes an effort to be at his sons recital, an old friend comes to watch his buddy at the paralympics in Greece, a recent quadriplegic first gets into a "mad chair" for the first time, or a group of players confront a former coach and mention his "treasonous" grounds. It is the access the filmmakers have gotten to not just film games, but to be at the right place at the right time in these players lives. That is what separates a brilliant documentary from just a good one, also the filmmakers and distributors have believed in this film, and it contains some very slick production work to boot.

In the end, the audience for the most part who will be watching this as able bodied people, will come out with a sense of glowing pride for these athletes who play this crazy (perhaps) insane sport. This movie more than anything is about EMPOWERMENT, and the drive that succeeds in us all. When you watch these people in action you suddenly even begin to question how much you shouldn't complain about the everyday nuisances compared to what these players deal with on a regular basis.

It breaks down the barriers we people have towards individuals in wheelchairs to realize, that you know these people aren't always reflecting on what happened in their life as a lost chance, that they are okay, and more importantly you know what.. some of them may dam well be real jerks, but you know what.. that's okay too. But by golly, don't you dare even feel for sorry for them, just be glad that if you have a Zupan, Bob Lujano, or an Andy Cohn in your corner you may just have one of the coolest friends on the planet, and be a lucky person indeed. Cause for the most part they probably stand taller than you in every way.

Rating 9 out of 10