- Murderball (film)
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Murderball 
Theatrical release posterDirected by Henry Alex Rubin
Dana Adam ShapiroProduced by Jeffrey V. Mandel
Dana Adam ShapiroStarring Keith Cavill
Andy Cohn
Scott Hogsett
Christopher Igoe
Mark Zupan
Bob Lujano
Joe SoaresMusic by Jamie Saft Cinematography Henry Alex Rubin Editing by Conor O'Neill
Geoffrey RichmanStudio MTV Films
Participant Media
1More FilmDistributed by ThinkFilm Release date(s) July 8, 2005 (Limited)
July 22, 2005Running time 88 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $1,750,211 Murderball is a 2005 American documentary film about quadriplegic athletes with partial arm function who play wheelchair rugby. It centers on the rivalry between the Canadian and U.S. teams leading up to the 2004 Paralympic Games. It was directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro, and produced by Jeffrey V. Mandel and Shapiro. It was nominated for Best Documentary Feature for the 78th Academy Awards.[1]
Contents
UN screening
The film was screened at the United Nations uncut. One of its stars, Mark Zupan, winced when describing how embarrassed he was to have his mother hear his remarks on the sex lives of persons with quadriplegia.
Equipment
Murderball is notable for shooting with a very low budget. The main camera used was a Panasonic DVX100; a Sony PD150 was used to shoot some of the early interviews. The crew rigged a Sennheiser shotgun microphone to use as a boom, and relied heavily on Lavaliere wireless microphones as well. Available lighting was used almost exclusively. Additional light was provided using an inexpensive china ball. In one example of on-the-spot lighting, a flashlight was diffused using only a napkin.[2]
Campaign
"Get Into the Game" is a social action campaign that uses Murderball to increase public awareness about people with disabilities and to raise funds for the U.S. Paralympics. Funds raised provide sports wheelchairs for athletes in need.
Reception
Murderball garnered almost universally positive reviews; it currently holds a 98% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "An entertaining and gripping documentary that shows being confined to a wheelchair doesn't mean the fun has to end."[3] This film is also #1 on the Rotten Tomatoes countdown of the top sports movies.[4]
Awards
- Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 78th Academy Awards
- Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2005 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
- Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2005 Indianapolis International Film Festival
- Audience Award for Best Non-Fiction Film at the 2005 Indianapolis International Film Festival
See also
- Joe Soares, coach who first led Team Canada to victory against the United States
- Mark Zupan, captain of the U.S. Quad rugby team
References
- ^ "NY Times: Murderball". NY Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/318807/Murderball/details. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ Double Feature Murderball Interview w/ Dana Adam Shapiro June 4, 2009
- ^ Murderball at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Rotten Tomatoes Top Sports Movies 18 November 2010
External links
- Murderball at the Internet Movie Database
- Murderball at AllRovi
- Murderball at Box Office Mojo
- Murderball at Rotten Tomatoes
- Distributor page
- Roger Ebert review
- Murderball review
MTV Films Joe's Apartment (1996) · Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996) · Dead Man on Campus (1998) · Varsity Blues (1999) · 200 Cigarettes (1999) · Election (1999) · The Wood (1999) · The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) · Save the Last Dance (2001) · Pootie Tang (2001) · Orange County (2002) · Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) · Crossroads (2002) · Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002) · Jackass: The Movie (2002) · The Fighting Temptations (2003) · Tupac: Resurrection (2003) · The Perfect Score (2004) · Napoleon Dynamite (2004) · Hustle & Flow (2005) · Coach Carter (2005) · Murderball (2005) · The Longest Yard (2005) · Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) · Æon Flux (2005) · Jackass Number Two (2006) · Freedom Writers (2007) · Blades of Glory (2007) · Beneath (2007) · How She Move (2008) · Stop-Loss (2008) · Dance Flick (2009) · Jackass 3D (2010) · Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) · Love (2011)
Categories:- 2005 films
- American films
- English-language films
- 2000s documentary films
- American documentary films
- Documentary films about American sports
- Documentary films about people with disabilities
- Films shot in Rhode Island
- Rugby films
- Rugby football
- Sundance Film Festival award winners
- Wheelchair rugby
- MTV Films films
- Documentary film stubs
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