Directed by: Mike Reilly
Starring: Mike Reilly, Julia Anderson, Poppi Reiner and Peter Abrams

Running this site I have been fortunate enough to get exposed to quite a few indie films that I wouldn't otherwise have even heard of. Some of these films are real really painful to sit through and are made by people who think they're the next Tarantino. Some of them, though, really catch me by suprise and turn out to be incredible films. Luckily, I was recently fortunate enough to come across one such gem in Road to Victory, film about a college football player dealing with suspected steroid use, impotence and a difficult relationship with a damaged stripper(I know, the phrase "damaged stripped" is the definition of redundancy).

At the center of the story is Elliot(Reilly), a talented football player fresh off of a hard on field hit resulting in a slight head injury. Elliot's whole life revolves around football and becoming a professional player. As such, the pressure to excel is a constant shadow hanging over his head when his performance on the field starts to slip he only finds more problems at home with his newly aquired girlfriend, Anna(Anderson) when he is unable to perform sexually. At first Anna is very understanding of Elliot's problems and supportive of him. Over time though, her understanding turns to frustration and anger when she begins to feel that Elliot's inability to become aroused reflects on her personally.

Elliot eventually goes to a doctor with his problems and when his tests come back with extremely low testosterone levels he is simply accused of taking steroids and is practically treated like a criminal by his own doctor. Over time Elliot is able to find a new doctor who specializes in his type of problem and discovers that the cause of his low testoserone and resulting impotence is caused by something no oe expects.

Road to Victory is a REALLY indie/sports character piece. The majority of the film is the relationship play between Reilly and Anderson who both play their roles superbly(as a matter of fact, Anderson has the PERFECT body to play a stripper!). Their troubled relationship frequently runs the entire gamut of emotions. Anna loves Elliot but feels like her young sex life is being wasted on a man who can't perform. Elliot loves Anna but feels constantly belittled by her angry outbursts. One question the film never definitively answers is whether Elliot actually does take steroids whih I think was a very interesting choice.

The thing I liked the most about Road to Victory is the fact that it deals with such intense, raw emotions and manages to show them all in a completely believable, realistic and relatable way. With Road to Victory, Mike Reilly delivers a film that is certainy worth the time of any sports film fan and one of the better indie films you'll ever be lucky enough to come across.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ROAD TO VICTORY WEBSITE!




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