Have we talked about “Unstoppable”
- Thread starter artradley
- Start date
My wife cuts Matt’s wife’s hair and they were flown out for the premiere. Not sure exactly what they thought of the moxie. My brother and college roommate both wrestled at Iowa and the guys I know from the program generally feel that any exposure is good for the sport. Being portrayed to be the bad guy in a movie is fine if it’s helping bring more eyes to the sport.
When it comes to wrestling, Robles’ condition, when trained, was an advantage not a disadvantage on the mat.
When it comes to wrestling, Robles’ condition, when trained, was an advantage not a disadvantage on the mat.
Pics...
Cesspool trained..
Let me guess…vhsalum is your brother.
As for Robles, it isn’t a matter of just “training.” He turned an incredible disadvantage and found a way to make it his advantage in an unprecedented way, because of HIS efforts. No one has done it at the highest level before or since. Plus, I’ve spent time with him and he’s a fantastic guy. That’s why he deserved all the kudos and praise.
No, I’m Dan Gogel and my brother Matt was on the team in the late 90s.
Ex-teammate of vhs!
It’s was ok.
the scorched earth Iowa look not the best angle.
I laughed out loud when I saw the actor portraying Brands. I think the producers confused intensity with anger.
The Steve Mocco line delivery was comically bad.
Couldn’t they just get the rights to The Season?
Finally, I appreciated that they didn’t entangle a love story angle with Anthony and focused on his family and wrestling.
the scorched earth Iowa look not the best angle.
I laughed out loud when I saw the actor portraying Brands. I think the producers confused intensity with anger.
The Steve Mocco line delivery was comically bad.
Couldn’t they just get the rights to The Season?
Finally, I appreciated that they didn’t entangle a love story angle with Anthony and focused on his family and wrestling.
*on prime video.
As reported by Prime Video.
(note, i don't actually doubt that this is currently the most popular movie on prime right now. just find it amusing)
Alright, I am going to try to explain why having one leg may be an advantage in wrestling besides strength and being allowed to stay in a 3 point stance. Please don’t read into this that I am downplaying Anthony’s accomplishments. He had an outstanding career.
In 1991 I had a wrestler at the NHSCA senior nationals. At the tournament I saw Jeff Loyd, a state champion from Tennessee. He was completely missing a leg. He did have a small foot but it was all the way in his singlet and wasn’t much to grab. I watched him as much as I could. I noticed that when he got in on a shot it was very hard to defend. The reason was the ease of resquaring his hips. If you tipped him to his hip with a belly whizzer he would just straighten his leg and he was back in good position. If he was in deep you could not go through the crotch, you would slip right off. He could also cut the corner easier because you can’t reach across the other leg. You have to work above the hip to secure the takedown. Jeff placed 4th at that event and later an NAIA All American.
In the late 1990’s I ran into Andy Rousch from Wilton. I was talking to him and we discussed how he could take advantage of his physical attributes. He had figured a lot of it out already (he really didn’t want to do a 3 point stance at that point).
I know of 3 wrestlers who are missing and entire leg. 2 were state champions and one placed 3rd a couple of times. I doubt there were more than 30 others from Jeff’s senior year state title, 1991, to Anthony’s senior year, 2008 (I bet that is an extreme overestimate). Those stats people out there can do the math but I am betting that is statistically better than any other demographic. To be clear I am only talking about missing an entire leg, not a partial leg.
In 1991 I had a wrestler at the NHSCA senior nationals. At the tournament I saw Jeff Loyd, a state champion from Tennessee. He was completely missing a leg. He did have a small foot but it was all the way in his singlet and wasn’t much to grab. I watched him as much as I could. I noticed that when he got in on a shot it was very hard to defend. The reason was the ease of resquaring his hips. If you tipped him to his hip with a belly whizzer he would just straighten his leg and he was back in good position. If he was in deep you could not go through the crotch, you would slip right off. He could also cut the corner easier because you can’t reach across the other leg. You have to work above the hip to secure the takedown. Jeff placed 4th at that event and later an NAIA All American.
In the late 1990’s I ran into Andy Rousch from Wilton. I was talking to him and we discussed how he could take advantage of his physical attributes. He had figured a lot of it out already (he really didn’t want to do a 3 point stance at that point).
I know of 3 wrestlers who are missing and entire leg. 2 were state champions and one placed 3rd a couple of times. I doubt there were more than 30 others from Jeff’s senior year state title, 1991, to Anthony’s senior year, 2008 (I bet that is an extreme overestimate). Those stats people out there can do the math but I am betting that is statistically better than any other demographic. To be clear I am only talking about missing an entire leg, not a partial leg.
I was going absolutely nuts during the match when he got down on his knees with him and tried to wrestle his style. I was shocked. We didn’t take his weakness away from him. Great story, though kid persevered to a situation most would lay down to.
I thought the Iowa depiction as the villains angle has been pretty overblown. I told my wife prior to watching it that I had heard that Iowa is made out to be the bad guys. It doesn’t really happen though, like at all. It shows Anthony being obsessed with Iowa as a HS kid, and wanting to go to Iowa because they are the best. Drexel treats him well and offers him a full ride scholarship, but he turns them down because they have never produced a national champion.
Iowa doesn’t offer him a scholarship (neither does any other D-1 program, his coach hangs up on an unnamed Michigan coach who won’t take a chance on Robles). Arizona State allows him into their program as a walk-on.
McDonough (hilariously played by Buckeye Johnny DiJulius) is simply billed as the best of the best. “Started wrestling when he was 3 and has never lost”. The Brands and McDonough characters aren’t in the movie that much and never do anything really villain-like. Lots of fictional scenes depicting moments that didn’t actually happen (like McDonough pinning Robles “the first time they wrestled for a national championship”).
All in all it’s a pretty decent movie. J Lo was surprisingly good in it, and the kid that plays Robles is great.
Iowa doesn’t offer him a scholarship (neither does any other D-1 program, his coach hangs up on an unnamed Michigan coach who won’t take a chance on Robles). Arizona State allows him into their program as a walk-on.
McDonough (hilariously played by Buckeye Johnny DiJulius) is simply billed as the best of the best. “Started wrestling when he was 3 and has never lost”. The Brands and McDonough characters aren’t in the movie that much and never do anything really villain-like. Lots of fictional scenes depicting moments that didn’t actually happen (like McDonough pinning Robles “the first time they wrestled for a national championship”).
All in all it’s a pretty decent movie. J Lo was surprisingly good in it, and the kid that plays Robles is great.
There is zero reason to read beyond this.
The movie definitely had a very cheesy delivery to it. I thought the main actor playing Robles came across very amateur and after every scene he was in he would give a face like he was in anguished pain then stare off into the distance.
It was like the casting director had a budget of $ and went out and cast all these accomplished actors for lesser roles and then realized Oh shi* I have no $ left to cast the main character.
And even the accomplished actors were meh because even the most talented actors can’t shake that much cheesiness.
They came across like a group of lawyers who decided to meet at a city’s jailhouse to defend their worse offenders pro bono because they all believed in the cause.
That’s what watching these actors were like… going through the motions because they appreciated the premise and the story’s cause… but know at the same time the movie’s script gives them no chance to perform at their potential.
It was like the casting director had a budget of $ and went out and cast all these accomplished actors for lesser roles and then realized Oh shi* I have no $ left to cast the main character.
And even the accomplished actors were meh because even the most talented actors can’t shake that much cheesiness.
They came across like a group of lawyers who decided to meet at a city’s jailhouse to defend their worse offenders pro bono because they all believed in the cause.
That’s what watching these actors were like… going through the motions because they appreciated the premise and the story’s cause… but know at the same time the movie’s script gives them no chance to perform at their potential.
In 2004, Dan Klavitter (sr) of Dubuque Senior got runner-up at 103 lbs.3A. In a really talented bracket too and Klavitter had barely 1 short leg, that didn't do much for his movements. He got 8th place in 2003.
Lost to Russell Weakley (soph) of Ft. Madison 10-4. Weakley was mobile in the match but also aggressive. And tough/strong for 103 kbs
3A 103LBS 2004
1.Russel Weakley-- Ft. Madison (So)
2. Dan Klavitter-- Dubuque Senior (Sr)
3. Jeff Rau--Lewis Central (So)
4. Zack Morely-- Urbandale (So)
5. Kody Pudil-- Iowa City West (So)
6. Cody McClintock--Ft. Dodge (Jr)
7. Jeff Miller-- Sioux City East (Sr)
8. Zack McCool --West Deleware (Fr)
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Wrestled with Jeff in college and became good friends with him, awesome guy. One of the best memories was seeing him All American that year.
My best assumption would be that you have never wrestled in a high school or college wrestling match.
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Read through this thread yesterday…. Watched the movie last night. Corny hollywood trash. 2/10
I'm going to be smarter than you. I will just take your word for it that it is only "corny hollywood trash" and not watch it.
You should watch it. Pretty ok movie. It’s about wrestling and a great story except for accuracy and For McDonough fans.I'm going to be smarter than you. I will just take your word for it that it is only "corny hollywood trash" and not watch it.
I don't watch movies anyway and despise Hollywood as a whole. I don't even watch TV other than local news and Hawk sports.
He was not injured when he wrestled Robles for the National Championship
This. By McDs standards he was as healthy as he ever was in college.
Good to see college wrestling in the spot light.
Robles is a great story. Much respect.
Good to see IOWA wrestling being featured as it should for carrying the sport as long as it has.
JLO still looks great at 55. Much respect to inventors of Botox and face moisturizers.
Good to see a PSU wrestler getting stuck in the movie.
Don Cheadle 👏
Iowa is more portrayed as the big bad wolf than a villain. It could be worse - see the Illini wrestler kicking Robles in the face repeatedly. Or being absent from the movie like OSU and football school tOSU.
Johnni DiJulius 👏 That worked out about as well as it could for Matt McDonough.
Robles is a great story. Much respect.
Good to see IOWA wrestling being featured as it should for carrying the sport as long as it has.
JLO still looks great at 55. Much respect to inventors of Botox and face moisturizers.
Good to see a PSU wrestler getting stuck in the movie.
Don Cheadle 👏
Iowa is more portrayed as the big bad wolf than a villain. It could be worse - see the Illini wrestler kicking Robles in the face repeatedly. Or being absent from the movie like OSU and football school tOSU.
Johnni DiJulius 👏 That worked out about as well as it could for Matt McDonough.
I’m so mad this board made me decide to watch that movie. Christ, that was trash. I couldn’t make it through it.
I’ll never understand in the finals when McD would get down on the mat giving up leverage. I was losing it watching the match slip away as I couldn’t understand evening the table. Kudos of course to Robles. IMO if McD stays on his feet vs knees he wins easily.
At that point in his career, I am not sure there has ever been a 125 that beats Robles "easily"......However, I definitely agree that there needed to be a vastly different strategy in neutral and staying on his feet could have helped McD considerably, depending on how the refs would have called the match from there....
Dad and I used to have some fun disagreements on this. Dad's argument always was, "He's basically a fricking 165 lber", to which I'd reply, "yeah, except for the missing leg!". Damn I miss our wrestling convos.
What Robles accomplished given his disability and how he was able to compensate is incredible. It sucked to see it cost McD a title but at the end of the day it's historic.
I would not trust the movie critics on this board. Maybe watch the movie and decide for yourself. My wife really enjoyed the movie and has little to no interest in wrestling. I thought it was pretty good. I'm not surprised some of the Iowa fans disapprove. I am surprised that it took a full page before a fan claimed MC D was injured. Some and certainly not all Iowa fans believe their wrestler never gets beat, the other guy stalled, or their wrestler was injured. Now you can throw in the other guy had an advantage because he only had one leg. Can't make this up.
Another penn state dumbass graced us with his presence.
