Robles movie "Unstoppable"

[BigFella235]

Just watched it last night. Having read his book and watched his finals match live when he won his national title, I had a feeling they’d take some creative liberties to help sell the movie. All things considered, it wasn’t bad as a wrestling movie. They seemed to try to put it in the Vision Quest vein (sans romance angle) while also following a David and Goliath narrative.

One of my bigger complaints was that JLo whispered so many of her lines. It was hard to hear some of what she was saying at times. One of my other complaints, because I’m a former wrestling shoe collector, was the lack of accurate wrestling gear. For example, the Nike Tawa wrestling shoes weren’t around in the late 2000’s, nor was Project Rock apparel.

 

[nerfstate]

Watched it last night too. Was a little disappointed they didn’t cover Anthony figuring out how he was going to wrestle with his challenge—from previous recounts, that seemed like a more natural obstacle to overcome than some sort of artificial vision quest vs McDonough. But Anthony’s triumph stands out no matter how they simplified the story. Didn’t know any of that about his step dad. What a creep, was cheering for their ultimate confrontation and it going down exactly like I expected it to. Wonder how true to life that all was….

PS: Don Cheadle is such a great actor.

anyway:

 

[mvattivo]

As usual, Hollywood took a story that didn’t need altered and altered it anyway. Good movie; just tough when you know the actual tale.

This....... I was actually slightly disappointed with the movie, as I was really anxious to see it. I thought the story was great on it's own and didn't need the extreme inaccuracies. Did we really need the "Rudy"esque scene that never happened after they said the program missed an entire season, which also never happened. Why did they have to say that Robles lost in the finals the previous year? I get it, that is what Hollywood does, but, sometimes, I wish they wouldn't. They also made McDonough into a comical, unbeatable, bully type of guy, like a new age Brian Shute.

All of that said, I thought the wrestling scenes were decent (though almost every match ends in a dramatic pin). They did a great job showcasing the atmosphere at the NCAA's. I really liked seeing the things he had to deal with at home (assuming it's somewhat accurate). I hadn't known about that part of his life.

All in all, it was a solid movie that didn't embarrass our sport.

 

[82bordeaux]

I echo most of the sentiments already expressed. I think they have to cheese these wrestling movies up a bit for the general public. Most movie watchers don't comprehend scoring very well, but a pin they can understand. Let's face it, Rocky wasn't very realistic in the amount of punishment they were taking and still fighting. Those fights all would have been stopped. But it made a hell of a movie.
His second place finish in 2010 had be shaking my head, but who else would know that besides the knuckleheads like us? That's not who they made the movie for.
Overall it is good to have wrestling in a mainstream environment, so I'll take it for what it is. I would still enjoy a deep dive documentary into Anthony's life and career a hell of a lot more than "Unstoppable".

 

[Pitchfork Rebel]

If you guys knew just how bad the first Unstoppable was, you'd think this was a documentary.

Everybody who watches the Washington/Pine movie (which we all contributed to, courtesy of PA's infamous "movie credit") is dumber for having watched the movie.

It's starts with the engineer leaving the right seat (most need to be pried off) and the throttle notching itself up (you have to push down with significant force to move it) and it gets worse from there. If you turned every error into a drinking game and watched it to the end, you'd be in the ER for acute alcohol toxicity.

Most movies are delusions. Think what was going on in Vision Quest.

 

[creamery freak]

My conclusion about Unstoppable. Even Hollywood hates Iowa wrestling!

 

[mcpat]

The dude they got to play Tom Brands… let’s just say he didn’t look like someone Brands would pick to play him.

 

[baccafarmer]

Yesterday Amazon prime released movie about Anthony Robles, Unstoppable.

I enjoyed it, because I didn't know much about his backstory. I found one part interesting and that was right before the final match with McDonough , Tom Brandt was quoted to saying something like if you're at Iowa or if you're at Iowa and you're second place you're last.

Did he actually say that? Also if you're Iowa or at Iowa and you say third, fourth, or worse as a finisher at the NCA where is a team what is worse than last?


(Moderator edit - if this turns into a thread about Iowa, it's getting merged)

Watched it last night with my wife who is also a huge wrestling fan. When it came to the NCAA’s in Philly she pointed to my sweat shirt. I was wearing a 2011 National Champions sweat shirt. The first of many that I buy almost every year down at Rapid Transit on S. Allen. I probably have 12-13 hats …. so many that the people in our little town of 60 call me the Wrestling Hat guy.