ViewGuide

Created Jul 07, 2012 06:43PM PST • Edited Jul 07, 2012 06:43PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Uplifting story of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win the national collegiate championship. This film more or less follows the formula of any sports story: underdog faces personal challenges, he is motivated by his coach (in this case his grandpa), works hard at success, achieves great things, and gets the girl. The twist here, of course, is the deafness. This movie goes to some length to give you that feeling. Making the soundtrack silent and giving you subtitles, rumbling muffled sounds to mimic what he hears, and so on. This can be distracting at times, but not overly so. Last, but not least, one of the coolest things about this movie is that much of it is set at my alma mater: RIT. Imagine that, RIT in a movie.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

   Russell Harvard is actually quite decent as the deaf guy. A goofy demeanor with all the typical anger management issues that wrestlers seem to have.

   Raymond Barry was great at no-nonsense grandpa

   Shoshanna Stern was pretty and dynamic as Matt’s girlfriend

   Michael Spady did really well as the deaf roommate – but I feel like he really needs to be in a speaking role.

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

17. Sex Innocent 1.2

18. Violence Gentle 1.2

19. Rudeness Polite 1.2

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0