Road to Victory

I saw this film with my entire family at the Village D-Cinema in Lisbon. Some scenes are tough to watch sitting next to parents. I liked how the movie didn't try to make the main character seem like Superman. He was just trying to be good at being a football player but it screwed up his life. I expected him to win the Superbowl in the end, but the movie had a very serious feel to it.

Given how important family was to the film, the end made the other scenes that were uncomfortable to watch because of sexual stuff worth it. The football scenes were also good, and the strip club scenes were cool too, but it would have been better to see more naked girls.

I talked about this film to my friends a lot afterward, and I think I liked the film even better once I'd had a chance to think about it some more. I am looking forward to seeing it again, and hopefully showing other people so I can hear their opinions.

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.

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.

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.

Just viewed this at the Silver Wave Film Festival in Fredericton, N.B. within the past week ! Man, this film has layer after layer of plot ... it is precisely the kind of film that one can undoubtedly view again and again and take something different away following each viewing. And, I know from others who attended the screening that empathy with the leading characters may vary by gender of the viewer with each being completely moved by the shear honesty of the film , albeit form differing perspectives. Road To Victory tells it like it is ... and it is the very kind of current and relative story that Needs to be told in an honest an exposed manner. It honors the Healing Power of Vulnerability !