WHIP IT Clockwise from left: the Auld Reekie Roller Girls; the Hurl Scouts team in Whip It; an Irn Bruiser; Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar (aka Babe Ruthless); Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven.
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LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, Whip It, is the high-octane story of indie-rock misfit Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) who escapes small town family life by joining the US roller derby circuit. But does the film get close to capturing the real excitement of the sport? In the spirit of our Glasgow vs Edinburgh issue we’ve asked old rivals (actually firm friends) the Glasgow Irn Bruisers and the Auld Reekie Roller Girls to pass comment. Interviews by Paul Gallager and Paul Dale.
IRN BRUISERS
What did you think of the film? Lethal Loulou: I think it’s brilliant and I think everybody should go and see it! It’s really feel- good, and shows why roller derby is so awesome; how it lets you put such confidence in yourself. That’s what the whole film’s about, because everyone’s trying to force Bliss into being a beauty pageant queen, and she secretly goes off and plays roller derby and ‘finds herself’ and then has the guts to say ‘this is who I am’. Coco Pox: If it was a film about a boys’ sport, we’ve all seen that kind of thing before, but this is a women’s sport, where a woman is the hero and the romance stuff takes a back seat. And she doesn’t go off into the sunset; she goes off to the derby! It is Hollywood-ised, Poison Delight: definitely, but there are some elements that are 28 THE LIST 1–15 Apr 2010
quite true, like the reasons people get into roller derby, and that feeling you get when you’re with a bunch of girls that you have a lot in common with. Sarah McMilan: It wasn’t as good as Juno, but it was a step above the generic sports film. I saw the trailer for it the other night and shivered again; every time I hear her say ‘I’m in love with this’ I get goosebumps. Was it a fair representation of the roller derby scene? Lethal Loulou: It was really good for showing what it’s like in America. It’s growing in popularity. Hundreds of people support teams and they have special warehouses where they can go and train and play games. We’re starting to get there and hopefully in a couple of years that might be us getting our own warehouse. Sarah McMilan: The age range of the players in the film is great. You have people like Juliette Lewis and Drew Barrymore who are
my age – mid 30s – and that’s very representative. Our team’s ages go up to 43, and that’s the wonderful thing about roller derby, it’s for all women of all shapes and sizes and ages.
Was there anything in particular that you wished it had included? Sarah McMilan: I think some bits in it were unnecessary. But it’s a Hollywood film, so it’s a good idea to make it look glamorous and exciting and a bit offbeat. We don’t punch people though! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a full- contact sport, but you don’t punch anyone. Coco Pox: [tongue-in-cheek] That’s for the after-party. Do you think the actors could survive on a Glasgow track? Lethal Loulou: Yeah I do. I think they could give us a good run for our money! A lot of the skaters in the film are actually real skaters, so