Reversal

The word "reversal" is a scoring term in competitive wrestling. It is also the title of an Alan Vint directed film about a high school wrestler named Leo who questions his own motivations for wrestling, and confronts his well-meaning but pushy father who also happens to be the wrestling team coach. The father sees a wrestling scholarship as a way for his son to escape a dreary future working in the Pennsylvania coal fields that surround the town where the story takes place. The kid appreciates his father's love, but grows tired of the endless training and self-discipline. A big issue in the story is the unhealthful practice of weight loss that was, at one time, part of the real-life training regimen among American high school wrestlers.

Based on the real life of wrestler and screenwriter Jimi Petulla, "Reversal" is a simple, straightforward story packaged in a film devoid of stylistic flourishes. What you see is what you get. As such, the film comes across as an after school special, aimed mostly at young wrestlers and other athletes. On the other hand, non-athletes may find value in the film as a realistic portrayal of the relationship between father and son, in contemporary America.

The film's strength is also its weakness. Real-life wrestlers play key roles. Hence, the wrestling matches are quite authentic. But wrestlers do not necessarily make good actors. And in this film, their performances, for the most part, are wooden and stilted. Indeed, the real-life wrestler who portrays Leo mumbles his lines, rendering dialogue that is almost inaudible at times. I was impressed, however, with the performance of Kelly Vint, as Leo's romantic interest.

For a low-budget film, "Reversal" is well made. The cinematography looks professional and the soundtrack sounds professional. Given the film's runtime and the simple plot, the pace could have been improved with some editing out of unnecessary scenes.

"Reversal" reminds me of the film "Prefontaine" (1997), which has a similar theme, though different sport. The plots of both films convey a sense of the constant and agonizing struggles required of young athletes, as they train to win. Ultimately, as "Reversal" shows, it's up to each young athlete, not the parents, to say whether "being a winner" is worth all that pain and sacrifice.

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

Jimi Petulla has done a more than noteworthy job of addressing the repercussions faced by parents who want their children to succeed, but sometimes go too far in trying to make it happen. Based on a true story, REVERSAL is about a father-son relationship and is told with high school wrestling as the backdrop.

As a lifelong fan of amateur wrestling, I thank Mr. Petulla for his authentic portrayal of the sport I cherish, and for attempting to show the world that the lessons learned in sport, especially wrestling, are transferable to life.

Whether or not you like wrestling, this movie is a good story about a parent pushing his kid too hard in athletics. The main character, Leo, is pushed by his father his entire life to be a great wrestler. His dad is even the high school coach. Leo, a district champion, faces a new challenge when a new wrestler, Thurman Ellis (played by Univ. of MO wrestler Jeremy Spates) moves to his town to challenge Leo in his weight class. Leo also struggles throughout the movie to make weight. Some of the scenes with Leo cutting weight shed a bad light on the sport of wrestling but it is an accurate depiction of what some wrestlers go through. This isn't another cheesy remake of Vision Quest. The acting is solid, the wrestling is outstanding and the story in interesting.

Although, yes, some of the choices in this movie were difficult to understand for most people, it is because they have never been through what Leo went through. As a fellow wrestler this movie appealed immensely to me because i could identify with everything the main character was going through. The dropping weight, the dehydration, and the competition on the mat was depicted flawlessly in this movie because it was made by someone who understands what wrestlers go through. This is not an attack on you personally tommyboy16, but unless you are to go through stuff like dropping weight and starving, and training like that which was depicted in the movie, it will be difficult to understand, but that is not a reflection of the quality of the movie. The overall message appeals to everybody, but the little details of the experiences of the main character will most likely appeal to athletes more. That's all, enough said.