Road to Victory

My husband and I had the opportunity to catch this truly remarkable independent film at the Sacramento Film and Music Festival this past weekend.

We haven't stopped talking about it since then. I'm going to go first and then he gets his turn but we both agree this is film is quite special. From a female perspective I found it erotic, fascinating, and the subject matter so well handled that when the end credits rolled and the audience thumped their hands together I felt as if I had personally been on a journey with the main characters. Their acting was sheer brilliance and the story line is probably one Hollywood won't touch unless Allan Ball's name is attached to it but it's about time somebody got around to tackling this subject matter. The story is so thought provoking and so gently handled that I can't imagine this film staying simply on the festival circuit much longer, it should be given a broader audience. Looking around at other females in the audience I was stunned to see that their reactions seemed to mirror mine. I absolutely refuse to give away the ending, but from the middle of the movie until the credits roll this film just builds and builds. Furthermore, my husband and I are still arguing over a few questions the film deliberately doesn't answer! You will however, walk out of the theatre waiting for this film to hit the big screen so you can see this special treat again.

Now to my hubby's turn...

The storyline was extremely thought provoking and actually brings the viewer into the film to the point where I felt I was actually a part of it and experiencing the same things as the lead actor. We've all had tough decisions to make in life but maybe few of us men have had to experience the decisions presented in this film. First timers Mike Reilly and Julia Anderson are superb in their roles. Cinematically the use of voice over narrative, black and white and what appears to be some home video all complement a very professionally filmed piece. I'm eager to see some more of this new film maker's work in the future. I would encourage every father to see this film, especially if their son, regardless of age, participates in a contact sport.

Saw this film at ReelHeart Film Fest with my boyfriend. We both liked this film, but for totally different reasons. He liked because he was an athlete in high school, and a little bit in college, so he completely identified with the main character. I thought it was more of a relationship film, which showed some of the realistic difficulties couples go through.

Given what the film is about (sexual dysfunction), some of the scenes were really tough to watch, but at the end of the film, we ended up walking out of the theatre hand in hand, not really saying much, but just thinking about the film.

I think this film would be good for couples to watch, especially young couples, or even old couples who find themselves going through a tough time. We talk about the film sometimes, and how what we saw relates to us (not that my boyfriend has ED!), but more how sometimes we fight because we're too proud to say that we're hurt. I don't consider myself a movie critic, but I liked this film for its message, and how I felt after I saw it.

This is such a good movie! OK, this has got to be the most realistic relationship movie I have ever seen. I kept changing my mind about the couple the entire way through the movie. Sometimes I liked them, and then I thought they were horrible, and I wanted them to break up, and then I wanted them to stay together but thought they would break up, and then the ending was so sad, but it had this note of hope to it. I did not like the strip club stuff. I hate the way women degrade themselves for money or power over men, but I know they do it, and in this case, it totally fit the main character, Anna, who I just wanted to shake some sense into!

The other main character, Elliot, made me cry a couple of times. I just wanted to be there for him, but in real life I probably would have been too scared because he was so strong, and even when he was quiet, you could tell how angry he was.

I hope I never have a relationship like this, where we're mean to each other because we too insecure to know what to say.

I think that a lot of young couples should see this movie.

Road to Victory is a wonderful debut from the multi- talented Mike Reilly. As sensitive as it is compelling, Reilly bravely tackles the subject of Erectile Dysfunction. Viewers everywhere will relate to this moving and human tale, and couples will find themselves squirming with recognition at some of the uglier scenes that take place between the protagonist and his girlfriend.

E.D. seems to be one of the last taboos amongst men, and seldom tackled on celluloid. To find such a young sufferer who exists within such a traditionally macho environment (he's a football player) adds a really compelling element to this story. Beautifully shot and acted, the film contains some of the most believable characters that I have seen on screen for a long time.

Well, I can't really say I wanted to see a movie about ED, but the story was pretty good. The female actresses were pretty hot. In fact, movie would have been better if we could have seen some more female skin.

I played football in high school, and i have never seen more tears in my life than in the football locker room, and I think this movie captured that with the main character pretty well. I also thought that the football scenes were pretty much right on. Most football movies have terrible football sequences that are only believable to 12 year olds, but these were pretty solid.

It's kind of tough to watch this if you're a guy because no man wants to think about what it would be like to be impotent. Some of the statistics in the movie about how many men have to deal with this were pretty frightening. But, I think girls would really dig the relationship aspect, especially since the main character's problem potentially involve having kids.