Road to Victory, a RTV Pictures production of a Mike Reilly film, is the kind of indie work that does so many things right on a modest budget. Many similar films rush through the writing, production, and editing to the detriment of the DIY indie film movement. Even your most patient, open-minded film watcher is quicker to realize bad work in an small indie film than say, an explosion-filled, neurosis-inducing shit blast that is a

Michael Bay film.

But I digress.

Road to Victory is a timely story of a college football quarterback named Elliot. He is under pressure from his Coach and (I believe) the memory of his father, both who wanted and want him to perform up to pro standards. These scenes are played with subtlety by triple-threat Mike Reilly who takes what could be the cliché of a college football quarterback and quietly gives the role depth. Mike meets and falls in love with fellow college student and part-time stripper Anna  (Julia Anderson) who does a decent job playing naughty-and nice; not an easy task. Mike just has one problem though:

He can’t get it up.

If that’s not traumatic enough, Anna is falling for one of the customers at the strip club even as the young couple struggles to find the source of Elliot’s impotence. A curious side story develops when Elliot has ‘gender ‘trouble with his female doctor (Poppi Reiner), sending him on a mini doctor-shopping spree until he happens upon a doctor

(Peter Abrams) who seems to have personal experience concerning Elliot’s dark secret. I don’t want to reveal what that secret is because the film does a great job going through the treatments (traumatic!) and Elliot’s denial, frustration, and acceptance of the choices life puts in front of you.

What really stood out in Road to Victory is the production value. The cinematography (shot by Brent Buntyn, Steven Deneault, and Todd Bell) especially stands out in scenes in the strip club and on the football field. Beautifully lit tracking shots are cut very well by editor Kristoffer Newsom.

The film does hit some false notes, perhaps in the structure and pacing but overall a solid effort. Mike and his team will go on to make bigger and bigger films.

Go to www.rtvfilm.com for more information on the film and filmmakers