Critic Reviews
Murderball (2005) Rank 3 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (218) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Fair
1
(0)
Poor
0
(0)
Reviews by Score:
Baltimore City Paper (Eric Allen Hatch)
La Presse, Montréal (--)
Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
It's an ode to the indomitable stubbornness of people, really, to pursue what gets them off, no matter what it takes. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
New York Times (Stephen Holden)
... gripping sports documentary ... ...read the complete Murderball movie review at New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Boxoffice Magazine (Sheri Linden)
The filmmakers capture the game's high energy, the players' off-the-court highjinks and moments of intimacy with equal skill. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Sheri Linden)
Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
[Rubin and Shapiro] were good enough to recognize wheelchair rugby as a prime documentary topic and lucky enough to uncover a collection of human stories that makes Murderball more than just another sports movie. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
Empire Magazine (Steve O'Hagan)
A leftfield sports documentary that’s as insightful and thought-provoking as it is fast and furious. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Empire Magazine (Steve O'Hagan)
Variety (Robert Koehler)
A blast and a half -- as entertaining as mainstream American docus get. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Variety (Robert Koehler)
Film Threat (Jeremy Mathews)
Murderball isn't a documentary played in the key of those Olympics stories that inspire you with sugary drivel, although it is ultimately inspiring. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Film Threat (Jeremy Mathews)
The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
The evenness of its emotional pitch almost incidentally helps the film become an unusually deep exploration of sports, machismo and the competitive spirit. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Los Angeles Times (Kevin Crust)
A thoughtful and provocative look at a previously little-seen world. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kevin Crust)
IGN Movies (Fred Topel)
With all the summer movies disappointing audiences, here's one that's sure to give you your thrills. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at IGN Movies (Fred Topel)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Most importantly, Murderball isn't afraid to depict its characters in a less than flattering light, so we really get a good feel for what each of the individuals are like. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
filmcritic.com (David Thomas)
depicts the hope that comes from challenging those notions in a very unsentimental, yet moving, way ...read the complete Murderball movie review at filmcritic.com (David Thomas)
The Onion (A.V. Club) (Tasha Robinson)
Along the way, Murderball surpasses the typical who-will-win sports-film dynamic and becomes a fascinating and personal exploration of quadriplegia. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Tasha Robinson)
Nehring The Edge
Apollo Guide (Dan Jardine)
Most entertaining when it is being honest and unflinching in its portrait of the film’s central figures. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Apollo Guide (Dan Jardine)
Cinemania (Dan Jardine)
Murderball is most entertaining when it is being most honest and unflinching in its portrait of the film’s central figures. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Cinemania (Dan Jardine)
The Boston Phoenix
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")
Fulvue Drive-in
BeyondHollywood.com
The World's Greatest Critic (J.C. Maçek III)
Cinema Blend
By this point, forget this is a documentary; it’s a sports movie. What started as a magazine article for Maxim, the documentary Murderball is truly amazing, beautifully shot, full of fantastic editing, graceful transitions and completely reframes the ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Cinema Blend
Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
Palo Alto Weekly (Jeanne Aufmuth)
Its energy is unmistakable, born of a fiery determination and single-minded spirit rarely witnessed onscreen or off. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Palo Alto Weekly (Jeanne Aufmuth)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The emotional resonance that results from the focus on several unique individuals is what makes this a worthwhile viewing experience. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
This insightful and entertaining documentary scores because it lets these champions reveal their whole selves. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Liam Lacey)
Reportedly, after seeing the film, rapper Eminen is anxious to play a wheelchair athlete in a coming movie. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Liam Lacey)
Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Entertaining jock-umentary. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
It's original, outrageous and murderous fun. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
While the game itself is enough to hold viewers' interest, the filmmakers go much further. They delve into the psyche of the players. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
It is the full-bodied personalities we meet in Murderball that really make it more than either a sports movie or one about overcoming disability. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
Newsday (Gene Seymour)
You're roused from your seats by men who aren't able to get up from theirs. How cool is that? ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Newsday (Gene Seymour)
Newark Star-Ledger (Lisa Rose)
Even though Murderball founders in the sports department, it's a champ as a character-driven piece of entertainment. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Newark Star-Ledger (Lisa Rose)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro ... pack an amazing amount of storytelling into these 86 minutes, alternating between several distinct narrative threads to create a documentary as engrossing as any fictional movie. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Toronto Star (Geoff Pevere)
Murderball 's most impressive blow is the one it strikes against feel-good stereotypes. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Toronto Star (Geoff Pevere)
Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
Ultimately, the film is an affectionately manly tribute to these athletes, for whom every game -- and every day -- is a triumph. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
None of this is treated as anything but what it is: trying to get the most out of life by --- to paraphrase the famous Warren Zevon hockey tribute -- getting the ball, keeping it and trying to hurt somebody. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Real human drama doesn't get much more gripping... ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Reno Gazette-Journal (Forrest Hartman)
Murderball and everyone portrayed in it are winners. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Reno Gazette-Journal (Forrest Hartman)
eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
Who would expect a documentary with such a title about these men to be such a moving exploration about life after a period that many would consider as death ...read the complete Murderball movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Never less than intriguing, and often adrenalized....[depicts] men who live harder than most "able-bodied" individuals. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Denver Post (Michael Booth)
Wheels us through an emotional obstacle course so rigorous and satisfying you'll be gulping for air by the end. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Denver Post (Michael Booth)
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
What wins us over isn't our front-row seat at the exciting rugby games but our intimate access to the lives of the players. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
Tail Slate (Sarah Vance)
Tail Slate (Sarah Vance)
Big Picture Big Sound (David Kempler)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
As a tale of human courage and personal triumph, Murderball works. As a sports documentary, it falls short of the mark. Fortunately, Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro's crowd-pleasing movie (it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Sundance) ...read the complete Murderball movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Boston Herald (James Verniere)
The Sydney Morning Herald
Entertainment Insiders (Stephen Wong)
TheCinemaSource.com (Andrew Casertano)
DVD Times (Mike Sutton)
Hollywood Jesus
Truth Be Told (Ross Williams)
New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Pajiba (Daniel Carlson)
filethirteen.com
Blogcritics - DVD review (Matt Paprocki)
Bina007 Movie Reviews
Reel.com DVD review (Ken Dubois)
MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)
Film-Forward.com (Kent Turner)
The Lumière Reader
The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
digitallyOBSESSED.com (Rich Rosell)
Cinema Blend (Lexi Feinberg)
A Nutshell Review
DVD Town (Justin Cleveland)
MediaScreen.com
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Village Voice (Mark Holcomb)
What keeps Murderball from devolving into redemptive drivel is its insistence on treating the players it profiles as jocks first and disabled men second. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Village Voice (Mark Holcomb)
Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Has a lot of integrity, both in visual and conceptual terms, and seamlessly blends entertainment and education. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Wall Street Journal (Joe Morgenstern)
There are worlds within the startling world of Murderball. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Wall Street Journal (Joe Morgenstern)
TV Guide (Ken Fox)
The film is filled with humor, compassion and cajones, and never once glosses over the fact that these guys are prickly personalities who can sometimes act like jerks. There are also a few tears, but remarkably, not a single one is shed in pity. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Monsters and Critics (Ron Wilkinson)
Featuring quadriplegic athletes who don’t play well with others, “Murderball” is the essential human competitive spirit unchained. ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Monsters and Critics (Ron Wilkinson)
eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
"Honest and refreshing." ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
eFilmCritic Reviews
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)
Reel.com (Pam Grady)
PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
The Village Voice (Rob Nelson)
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Canadians came up with the name "murderball" for a rip-roaring contact sport now called quad rugby. The game is played by quadriplegics in custom-designed armored wheel chairs. These men, who have a hard time putting on their shoes, opening a card, and ...read the complete Murderball movie review at Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
DVD Verdict (Bill Gibron)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
moviereview (Colin Fraser)
Metroactive (Gretchen Giles)
In Review (Adam Suraf)
The Onion A.V. Club
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
hybridmagazine.com
Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
FilmStew.com (Kevin Biggers)
For 86 gritty minutes, Murderball lives up to its ‘pull no punches’ moniker. There’s hard checks sending quadriplegics tumbling over, there’s a grotesque, bloody surgery and, of course, there’s plenty of four-letter words to go around. More ...read the complete Murderball movie review at FilmStew.com (Kevin Biggers)
Metroactive (Richard von Busack)
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