DVD review: “Hell on Wheels”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Hell on Wheels”
The power struggles and bad-mouthing are almost as ugly as the fierce hits and broken bones in the roller derby documentary “Hell on Wheels.”
Oklahoma-born filmmaker Bob Ray unflinchingly follows a group of feisty Austin, Texas, women who set out in 2000 to revive roller derby, that strange sport combining high-speed skating, bone-jarring hits and blocks and sexy costumes, nicknames and theatrics.
Four disparate women – Heather Burdick, April Hermann, Nancy Lynn Haggerty and Anya Jack – emerge as the first team captains and organize the league as Bad Girl, Good Woman Productions.
With a scrappy and devoted band of skaters, they struggle for a year through grueling training, tedious fundraising and numerous injuries to stage their first bout. The rough and risqué sport quickly draws hundreds of fans and a national media spotlight, sparking a nationwide roller-girl revival.
But infighting threatens to wreck the league. Three of the four co-founders form a corporation and set themselves up as league owners. But the skaters, who are paying dues, buying their own equipment and worrying over bad business decisions, argue that they deserve a voice in governing the league.
The wrangling comes to a head when several players leave to form a skater-run league called the Texas Rollergirls. Whether the women are bickering or blocking, Ray gets up close to the action.
Not only does the film feature interviews with both sides of the dispute, the DVD offers separate commentaries with the Texas Rollergirls and the Bad Girl, Good Woman crew.
Other DVD features: Director commentary, many deleted scenes and Nashville Pussy and USS Friendship roller derby-theme music videos.
- BAM
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