Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers (2010) User Reviews

Rose City Roller Beauty!

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 17 June 2011]

'BRUTAL BEAUTY: TALES OF THE ROSE CITY ROLLERS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)  

Portland film documentary on "The City of Roses" roller derby team 'Rose City Rollers'.  The film explains the popular contact sport to the viewer and why those involved in it are so passionate about it while it focuses on Portland's local roller derby heroines.  It was directed by first time filmmaker Chip Mabry and features 'Marollin' Monroe', 'Cadillac', 'Madam Bumpsalot', 'Rocket Mean' (as their known to their team and fans) and many others.  The film is educational (at least if you know very little about the sport like myself) as well as entertaining and enlightening.   

Roller derby has been around since at least the 1920's and became widely liked as sensational sports entertainment (like WWE) in the 1970's.  The film explores why the sport has suddenly became so popular again and especially in Portland, Oregon.  A film crew followed the Portland team around for a year and a half; filming the girls at practices, games and in their home lives.  Through interviews and live footage of the girls in action the film attempts to determine why they're so driven by the sport and how they've won over so many adoring fans.  There's also detailed information on the rules of the game and how it works (for the uneducated) as explained by the 'High Rollers' coach (one of the three 'Rose City Rollers' teams) and local Voodoo Doughnut employee Rob Lobster.

If you're interested in the sport at all the film is interesting, it's a little slow paced at times but there's enough cool and beautiful footage going on (throughout) to make up for any downtime. The film is not only informative but emotionally impacting as well. As the movie starts out it's a little scattered, with a lot of people and information introduced, but as it goes on it becomes quite involving and builds to a pretty satisfying conclusion. The directing and editing is impressive and the soundtrack is beautifully fitting. If you're a fan of roller derby you'll definitely want to check this film out.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj550csrEQk

Rock & Roll! This documentary is on a roll. It's my type of jam!

[ironhorse_iv · 7/10 · 9 April 2014]

While, Roller Derby can be play both men and women. It's one of the few sports, where the women outshine the men. There isn't a lot of popular women sports out there, but Roller Derby is proved to be, a power player. It was even voted upon as an Olympic Sport in the 2020's Olympic Games. Being a documentary about Women Roller Derby, you get what you wanted in the film. A film with really tough chicks. The movie is all 'girl power' feminism, but it's pretty watchable if you're a guy like me. Not that much action as I thought, the movie should had. I was really hoping for more action footage as I saw some really brutal close quarter matches from both the Portland, Oregon's Rose City Rollers roller derby and others leagues around the nation. It was pretty tame. At less, it's realistic. Unlike, 2009's Whip it, that has outlandish violence or 1999's RollerJam on Spike TV that plays out like pro-wrestling with fabricated storyline with characters. This documentary made the sport seem like a sport when it got out of the Portland home teams and into the National sequence. They show how real, the sports get, with a example of one of the athletes breaking her foot. The language was a bit harsh, but I guess, it's not trying to be a documentary for younger audience. Still, in a way, I guess, they make better role models than most of the other media stars, these days. Produce by Rock Star Energy drink, and directed by Chip Mabry. The movie is pretty well done for such a low budget film. I'm glad that Rock Star didn't brand its product the living hell that it got annoying. I was a bit nervous about how much produce placement would be in this film. Yes, there were some scenes with the athletes drinking rock star, but at less, they mixed it up a bit, by showing them drinking water, wine, or Gatorade. I was inspired by their athletics and how serious they take the sport, while also having fun. You can see each player come alive no matter what their position on the team. None of them were unlikeable as all of the women had strength, ranging from the small woman to the largest. I just wish the movie focus more on a certain few, as we barely get to know them outside of the sport. There were too many people to keep track of. He got bits of information about most of the women, but I would love to see more: like what they do for a living. Some people are bit prejudice of the sport, because they think that most of the women are just made out of punks or dykes, but surprising in this film. It shows a lot of them are straight and happy married. The sport doesn't really care if you're gay/straight/bi/trans because it simply isn't a big deal, as long as you can skate. About them being punks, that is also an understatement, as in this film, some of them have good careers such as a social worker, daycare teacher or a lawyer. Still, only a few of the people being interview were shown doing their real jobs. I do like the sequence of Rob Lobster, a Portland doughnut maker and derby coach, provides a hilarious and informative lecture on the initially confusing rules of the game with doughnuts. I wish, they explain more of the history of the sport. Another thing, I wish the movie talk about is strategies and tactics. The movie never explain the ending the Jam where the lead jammer can end the jam at any time, thus she controls the opposing team's ability to score points. Nor did it said anything about passing the Star where The jammer for a team may "pass the star" to the pivot — that is, she hands the star helmet cover to the pivot, at which point the pivot becomes the scoring jammer for the team if the jammer feels fatigue, injury, penalty trouble, or because the pivot is in a better position to score. Last, it didn't explain the whip, where a blocker or pivot grasps her jammer's hand and swings her forward, thus transferring some of her speed and momentum to the jammer. Another thing is the movie never express is why the Roller Derby have character or team personality unlike other major sports. Most players in these leagues skate under pseudonyms, many of which are creative examples of word play with satirical, mock-violent or sexual puns, alliteration, and allusions to pop culture, some of which are the subject of some controversy. Yes, we find out why they choice their name, but we never really step into how vivid their characters are. Unlike, pro-wrestling, the outcomes are not predetermined. It's a really a real sport, but it's a show of sport entertainment. The movie fail to address that. The music, they choose is very well done, but sometimes, it's loudly overplay during the interviews that makes it hard to figure out what the people being interview are saying. Another fault is the movie doesn't make us, invested in rooting for them. Without spoiling the ending, it wasn't that compelling. Overall: It was still enlightening and entertaining for the most part. This is a must-see for any derby fan, but also newcomers.

Mildly interesting.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 21 December 2011]

"Brutal Beauty" is a mildly interesting documentary about a non-professional women's roller derby league. The teams in the film are from the Portland, Oregon area and despite the roughness of the sport, the women do it for the pleasure of playing--and get paid nothing. In fact, THEY have to pay to be in the league so it's obvious that they are really, really committed to the game.

Much of the film consists of a wide variety of interviews with the players and coach. Some of these are interesting (such as a social worker who plays and the women discussing their MANY injuries) and most of them, quite frankly, aren't all that interesting. And this gets to the heart of the problem I had with the film--a lot of it wasn't all that compelling and I think the film was much too long. Shortening the film and tightening the focus would have made for a much more interesting documentary.

By the way, if you do watch the film, don't be surprised with the VERY rough language--it goes with the territory!

Excellent sports film about strong women!

[redwriteraustin · 10/10 · 21 October 2011]

Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers captures the essence of Portland, Oregon's derby scene through colorful interviews and amazing sports footage. The cast of women who participate in this hard core sport are both beautiful and tough, showing their lives both on and off the rink. The film is both sexy and wholesome, highlighting the hard core aspects of derby with a masterful focus on the personal lives of women who've had their lives changed through this growing sport.

The film also contains an excellent musical score. Visually, it's one of the more beautiful sports movies around-- the characters are absolutely gorgeous. From a sports film perspective, the shots are crisp and action-packed.

A key scene involves one of the most creative descriptions of derby through the use of doughnuts. Rob Lobster, a Portland doughnut maker and derby coach, provides a hilarious and informative lecture on the initially confusing rules of the game.

If you like tattoos, if you like hot women, if you like sports films: Brutal Beauty is worth the watch.

A Must See

[RJMcGlade · 18 October 2011]

I'm not setting out to join a roller derby team, but I thought about it. Brutal Beauty is awesome. I found the footage engaging throughout and the music very well thought out. I was inspired and learned about how everyday women can express another side of their personality that is not typically supported. Of course, it's a girl-power film, but the men seem to love the intensity this sport brings out in the women who play.

The way the director drew out the passion in each personality on film appeared so genuine and seamless. You can see each player come alive no matter what their position on the team. The editing and directing were exceptional. The teamwork was apparent as much behind the camera as in front. We got an authentic view of the inner workings of a sport revitalized and a generation empowered.