Reversal (2001)

"Anyone who ever sacrificed for a sport needs to see this film" – Kurt Angle, Olympic Gold Medallist Based on a true story, Reversal is critically acclaimed for its truthful depiction of athletic competition. It is the coming-of-age tale set in the highly competitive world of high school wrestling. Leo Leoni (Mousetis) has been wrestling since he can remember and his life has been an endless cycle of training and sacrifice. His father/coach eyes college scholarship and athletic glory for his son. Now, Leo is seventeen and adolescence is making it difficult to stay disciplined and to concentrate. With the help of his girlfriend he is forced to grow up quickly and make tough choices in this real-as-it-gets tale of triumph of the human spirit.

Awesome movie

This was a great movie. It makes you very aware of the way things were done in that time. With the new rules now I feel that wrestling is a safer sport ( not that you don't have the kids that still take laxatives and starve themselves). The new rules just make it a little harder. The story was very down to earth. We can't make our children live out OUR hopes and dreams. It has to be something that they want. And this movie proves that you have to want it very badly and you have to work extra hard for it. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make a good family movie. April 20, 2008

The most heinous misrepresention of the realities of my sport that I have ever witnessed-pure rubbish!

Can I give this zero stars? Why do we indulge quitters in our society? If you know nothing about wrestling, don't watch this film as your introduction. I wrestled in high school and college and have been coaching for 24 years. If you are part of the fraternity of wrestling you will know that this movie has passed from our lore. People still watch Visionquest, because it illustrates the sacrifice and determination that is required to be a champion in sport or life.

This film is the same old tired dramatization of the angst of a kid who didn't have what it took and foisted the blame on everyone but himself. The saddest thing about it is that the folks involved probably made more money than any hard working high school coach will make in a career. My coaches pushed me extremely hard, and because of that everything in my life has been easier.

This story is pathetic. I live for the day that it goes out of print.
It is a blueprint for how to lose in sport and life.
February 11, 2008

Good action, bad acting

Reversal tells the story of high school wrestler Leo, who is trained by his father. I enjoyed watching other wrestling movies, like Vision Quest and Hadley's Rebellion and I'm glad I saw Reversal but there are more than a few problems with it.

The film's biggest fault is its lack of focus. It's not sure if it wants the main story to be the sacrifices teenage athletes have to make, or Leo's relationship with his girlfriend, or his father.

Also, a lot of the characters are paper-thin; more specifically, Jimi Petulla is spectacularly miscast. As the father/coach he should be a blue-collar coal worker who spends his time swabbing down the wrestling room floor but instead he looks as if he's just walked off the set of Desperate Housewives. In fact, he's such a nice guy it is hard to see what Leo is rebelling against.

Danny Mousetis as Leo is fine but he's so grumpy and sullen it's hard to have much sympathy for him.

The cinematography is great and the wrestling action is for real but this is not enough to save a movie which has so many acting and structural problems.

As the DVD extras show, a ducumentary on high school grappling is what is really needed. A wrestling equivalent of Friday Night Lights is something I would pay good money to see.






June 16, 2007

The Most Accurate Depiction of Wrestling

While Vision quest is sort of a classic, funny wrestling movie, Reversal is much more accurate and realistic. If you are a wrestler or just want to know what some of your wrestling friends go through, this movie really hits the nail on the head. The story is deep, and goes beyond just beating a "bad guy" and everyone going home happy.

Also note that the wrestling done in the movie is real, not choreographed. So you're looking at some quality wrestling here. February 4, 2006

The best movie ever about amateur wrestling

I thought this was the best movie I have ever seen about amateur wrestling. It shows both the good and the bad of the sport. It takes on the obsessive values and delves into the eating disorders that are almost encouraged. It also is a story about family and love.

This is a small independant film. Most of the actors from what I have read are not professional actors and it sometimes shows. It is based on a true story. The amateur wrestling is very real and done really well.

This movie has been recommended by amateur wrestling champions like Kurt Angle, Cael Sanderson and the great Danny Hodge. January 19, 2006

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