Reversal

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.

Hard to believe this movie was made for only $500,000. Very professional, beautifully photographed, and it held my interest. Most, if not all, the acting was quite good. Good depiction of how high school wrestling used to be. However, with the pot, alcohol and references to sex, I would say it is inappropriate for my high school wrestler to see.

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.

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

Fortunately for me I get HBO here in Thailand. I've seen this movie a few times, once while in Cambodia and once while in Thailand. This movie is a little syrupy and the acting is not the best but for some reason everything works and the movie turns out to be pretty good. I am a relatively new father of two and this definitely is a father's movie. Check it out.