Review of Reversal

Introduction

One of my favourite films ever is The Breakfast Club. Emilio Estevez’s Andrew Clark is the wrestler within the club, mercilessly teased by Judd Nelson for eating the perfect diet and having the perfect life (although not as perfect as Anthony Michael Hall’s Brian…). All is not as it appears though as Estevez reveals what his life is really like and what his relationship with his father is like. Wrestling is the means to a scholarship, which leads to a college education. There is much pressure placed on American kids to achieve this goal by whatever means necessary.

Reversal looks at the story of Andrew Clarks the world over, based on the true story of Jimi Petulla who not only produced this film but stars in it too. Petulla plays Edward Leone, a man who has been training his son Leo (Danny Mousetis) to be a champion wrestler from the age of seven. Leo’s life is a life of training, hard work and sacrifice, but something he really doesn’t mind as he is pretty much focussed on the end goal and his fathers dreams.

Ten years later, things begin to change. First off, Leo meets girlfriend Shaw (Kelly Vint) who loves Leo but can’t quite get to grips with Leo’s dedication to his sport. Secondly a rival for his spot on the wrestling team arrives in the shape of State Champion Thurman Ellis Jr (Justin Spates) and his overwhelming father Thurman Ellis Sr (Guido Föhrweißer). The latter is itching for a grudge match between Leo and his son, and the arrogance of Ellis Jr starts to irritate both Leo and his team-mates.

Leo finds his concentration wandering, and is also finding it harder to lose the weight he needs to wrestle in his class. Tragedy makes him look at his life and relationships, and decides exactly where and what he wants to be.

This independent film won awards at the Indie Vision Tribeca Film Festival, the Malibu International Film Festival and won a Dove Family Award.

Video

Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo soundtrack that is more than adequate for this type of film. Jeff Danna provides a suitable American heartlands-type score against a backdrop of the gorgeous scenery of a small American town.

Audio

Cinematographer William H. Mollina provides a stunning backdrop to this backwater town tale with some gorgeous sweeping shots, bristling with autumnal colour.

Features

Plenty of extras, although most are geared towards either fans of wrestling or wrestling athletes (which is unsurprising given that both Jimi Petulla and Danny Mousetis are both wrestlers…).

Those who are athletes amongst the viewers also get some useful tips on diet and workout as well as a nice reminder on changes within the law with regard to the sport after the deaths of three intercollegiate wrestlers in 1997.

There is a segment on some obscure American law called Title IX in which an elder stateman of wrestling pleads with the viewer to help save wrestling from ‘proportionality testing’ or reverse sex discrimination.

Conclusion

So this is what home life for The Breakfast Club’s Andrew Clark was really like, eh? Lots of running, weight lifting, dieting, binge eating, head over the toilet being sick to lose any weight gained. Was it any wonder he enjoyed himself so much in detention on Saturday morning?

This is quite an interesting film, examining the relationship between father and son. The father seems to be one of those pushy parents who is living out his dreams through his son, with the son growing up with the dedication needed to succeed as it’s the only thing he has known since the age of seven; that same drive that spurs on the very best of sports men and women. Quite early on though, we’re introduced to the real bad parent in Thurman Ellis Sr who wants his son to have the top spot in the team so bad he ends up fighting full-on with his son just before a big fight.

The film does its best to redress the balance that all sports dads are bad dads and it’s clear that Petulla believes that he is paying respect to his father through this work. Unfortunately the film’s flaws don’t quite accomplish this goal. With the focus on the father/son relationship, mum is effectively left high and dry. Mum clearly has some problems, but dad just ignores it all, sitting in his car most of the night rather than go in the house; and when he does he leaves his wife to sleep on the couch, while he goes up to bed alone. I felt really sorry for the mother, she deserved far better than she got from either her husband or her son.

The appearance of girlfriend Shaw is a pivotal moment, but there’s also something missing here. I don’t want to spoil it by revealing too much, but a major event is effectively glossed over and forgotten about to focus on the sport. I’m not sure even the most dedicated sportsmen could do that and still remain human. You’ve guessed it now, hmm? Damn.

Still, it’s an interesting examination of the life of a high school athlete within the bubble of their own little world. It won’t change my life, but I now have a greater understanding of the dedication needed to even attempt a career in sport (although I think I might just stick to my books and DVDs, thanks).

Maybe a film that sports dads the world over should be forced to watch…