WiseRatFlames
An unexpected masterpiece
Loui Blair
It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
figuredocs
If you try to pity the Doglegs fighters you might just get a whack to the face - at least it seems so after watching this rare, subculture-genre documentary that challenges the viewer to reassess what constitutes "disability." More than that, it's a hard hitting story - shot verite'- about a man (and group) trying to smash out their existence in Japan, a country that has a rep as overly conformist, but the people who challenge the physically (and mentally) challenged Dogleg fighters, in some ways, are the real stars of this film. Honest, brutal, but at times sublime - the final fight will have you wrenching, cheering and crying. This film changed the way I see disability and seems more like a litmus test for openness of mind.
Jason Lapeyre
I saw this documentary at Fantastic Fest in Austin, and after about 20 minutes I realized I was seeing something very special - an extremely bold attempt by a filmmaker to humanize a group of people for an audience that they would normally ignore or, at best, consider freaks. The film is about a group of men and women in Japan who have severe handicaps but participate in a pro wrestling league called "Doglegs". I don't want to give too much away about the story, but it is beyond moving the way the filmmaker makes you understand the difficult nature of the subjects' lives, as well as their hopes, fears, dreams and utter humanity - all while your jaw is dropped at the fact that there is a pro wrestling league in Japan for the handicapped! I have to admit that I had a bit of a predisposition towards the film as a fan of both Japan and pro wrestling, but I think anyone would be moved by the film's humanism and honesty, and especially by the courage of the filmmakers to tackle such a challenging subject and then hit a home run with the storytelling. Highly recommended.
Mart Pharbus
Just saw the premier of this flick at Fantastic Fest in Austin and was blow away. This movie really dissects what it means to be human, and the explores the meaning of achieving greatness. What really comes across, once you get over some initial shock and uncomfortableness, is people wanting to be treated like people. In the U.S. its easy to write this off as exploitation. I find that offensive, lazy, and false. These people are competitors and deserved to be viewed with autonomy and respect. It was clear from some audience reactions that some cannot watch films with an open mind. The director took the time show all aspects of these people's lives, the good and bad. They deserve at least that much. Don't believe the low review, see this film with an open heart and mind. Also post-production was spot on.
Bryan Kluger
I'm always excited to see a documentary in general, no matter what the subject matter is, but the icing on the cake is when I get to view a documentary on a subject that I never knew existed. Not only do I get to learn about this new subject matter, but I also get to go into the lives of the people who take part in whatever case study we're watching. This wonderful documentary here by Heath Cozens is called 'Doglegs' and gives us a glimpse at some of the lives who are involved in a pro- wrestling league in Japan. The kicker with this pro-wrestling league is that it consists of disabled people, some of whom can't use their legs, arms, or even stand up straight.In addition to that, this league also features able-bodied people who go up against these disabled performers and fighters and literally show no mercy or pity as the poster suggests. It's a bit brutal at times, but also very inspiring and emotional, as we see these disabled people fight in the ring with no special assistance. This league called Doglegs was founded a long time ago and is run by an able-bodied volunteer who sets the matches and even wrestles himself against the disabled.Over the last two decades, his main rival has been a disabled man named 'Sambo' Shintaro who is a kind, gentle man who always has a smile on his face. His goal in his late life is to have a respectful job and meet a girl beyond the ring, however, he wants one last match with his opponent before he retires, which he aims to win. Cozens takes us into the life of a few people, one of which can't even feed himself, let alone even stand up on his own and has a debilitating alcohol problem, but that never stops him from getting into the ring, and taking a brutal beating and even delivering some vicious kicks.Then there is a guy who is suffering from cancer and severe depression, who has a difficult time with in ring performances, which clearly has take a toll on him. We see their home lives, the people who care for them, and even their social lives, one of which includes Shintaro going to a sex museum with a date. Things get a bit emotional as well when we see the triumphs and failures of these athletes and fighters, as in opposition to the WWE, these matches in Doglegs are NOT pre- determined and is a mix of UFC and pro-wrestling. The real punches and kicks would be harsh to anyone, let alone someone in these people's condition.But that's the point here. These fighters in 'Doglegs' don't want our pity, sorrow, or mercy. They want to be treated just like the star athletes they look up to, and it's so inspiring that I want to fly to Japan and see a show. Cozens paces this documentary nicely, showing us the highs and lows of their training, fights, and personal lives. Much like the documentary 'Murderball', you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be forever moved by these spectacular athletes.Highly Recommended!
