Hey folks, Harry here with more on BEYOND THE MAT, that Wrestling documentary that we here at AICN just feel so strongly about that we're just not gonna let a little thing like 'lack of advertising time' get in the way of letting you find out about this little treasure. Now, earlier... Father Geek posted up a piece from a fella that came out to defend USA Networks, claiming that the ads were bought through the WWF... and if the WWF wishes to pull the ads, that's their perogative. Now.. That might very well be true... concerning the ads that were bought to be aired during the WWF shows... but according to the folks we've talked to, Lion's Gate had asked USA to move the ads from the Wrestling Shows and place them in front of PACIFIC BLUE and LA FEMME NIKITA. They couldn't even do that, though. USA isn't running ads for the film anywhere, at any time. This isn't controlled by the WWF, but USA, acting under pressure from the WWF. That's the thing that's crucial. So... Whatever... sounds like some network is on 'spin cycle' at the moment. Meanwhile, we'll introduce two additional raves for the film. FOLKS, GO SEE THIS DOCUMENTARY. It's wonderful.
Harry, I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview of "Beyond the Mat" in Boston on Thursday. Terry Funk himself was in attendance and even answerd questions for the audience afterwards. He was pretty frustrated about Vinnie Mac pulling the adds from USA and UPN. "I'd like to punch him in the head right here" Terry told us, jokingly but I'd guess there's some truth to it. He said that Vince is a cut throat businessman and wants to make every dollar in wrestling but he added that no matter what anyone says about Vince he always delived everything that he promissed to him.
I loved the movie, being a big wwf fan but I think that even non wrestling fans would take much away from this film. Any person who says that "wresting is all fake, it doesnt hurt, they know how to fall, etc" will never feel the same way again after seeing up close the gash The Rock put in Mick Foley's head with repeated chair shots, hearing the prognosis on Terry Funk's knees, and seeing the families of both Mick and Terry wince and cry as they are physically punished in the ring. Terry sarcastically told us that when people tell him that "its all fake" he replies by telling them that he has a little hellicopter rotor on his back that lets him onto the ground gently after being tossed out of the ring. The viewer gets to see beyond all the acting and beyond the show to look into the lives of these men.
Mick and Terry far from the characters that they portray in the ring lead very ordinary lives. These are juxtaposed with the sad tale of Jake "The Snake" Roberts who at one time headlined Wrestlemania but now wrestles for crowds of 100 in school gyms. This story was particularly moving and shows the dark downside of life on the road 28 days of the month, 12 months a year and what it can do to a human being. If you watched wrestling in the 80s and early 90s and were a fan of Jake's, you'll be saddened to find that the real Jake Roberts has had a rough life to say the least.
"Beyond the Mat" truly shows the real people behind the wrestlers and characters, except for Vince McMahon. Maybe its a comment on the man himself or maybe he couldn't put the act aside for the cameras but the Vince in this documentary is the same Vince that we have seen week in and week out on tv. Anyway whether you like wrestling now, used to like it as a kid, or even detest it, check out "Beyond the Mat." You will find new respect for these great entertainers who put their bodies on the line day in and day out and you will see that they are people not much different from ourselves. Lets hope that Barry Blaustein can make some money off this film to which he devoted three years of his life. Word of mouth and the Internet can make up for some of the lost publicity tha Vinnie has caused, so lets get behind this deserving movie.
HHH (the man who founded the Great Depression)
And here's a New York critic... Kael...
Hey Harry and Moriarty. I am a recently hired film critic for a magazine here in New York City and a long time reader of AICN. A few weeks ago I went to a critic's screening of Beyond the Mat and really enjoyed the film. I had heard rumblings that the documentary would not be receiving support from the WWF, and now I see that they are actually trying to bury the poor thing. Well, I wasn't able to get my review in to my magazine before press time, but I see that this film needs championing now more than ever, so I thought I'd share some of my comments with AICN readers if that's okay.
Like Harry, I was a wrestling fan in my younger days, even going so far as to see it live on several occasions. Therefore, I took special delight in Barry Blaustein's documentary which really lets you see what kind of people wrestlers actually are (as opposed to the larger-than-life personas they project in the ring). And Blaustein covers all his bases. We see the "sport" through the eyes of various up-and-coming wrestlers just wanting shots at the big time. We see it through the eyes of a superstar at the peak of his popularity (Mick Foley a.k.a. Mankind). And most chillingly, we see it from the point of view of one of its fallen idols--Jake "the Snake" Roberts.
The documentary's conceit is that, just like you, it already knows wrestling is fake and staged. The real revelation the film presents here is the toll wrestling takes on the participant's physical and emotional lives. One would never imagine that these big lugs had such feeling. The wrestlers become all too human. When we see Mick Foley's children crying as they watch their dad get pummeled in the ring, we know how tough it must be for him to come home every day and explain to his family why he does what he does. The dangerous wake wrestling leaves really hits home when we see what's become of ol' Jake the Snake. Apparently he's a crack addict now and completely estranged from his family. And still he's trying to make it in the wrestling game--playing in front of crowds of a hundred when he used to fill whole stadiums. The scenes of him crying to the camera as he drives from his daughter's house are guaranteed to shake and upset you.
That's not to say the film's not without it's lighter moments as well. Essentially, the movie is meant to give you an insider's portrait of what it means to be a professional wrestler--warts and all. And it's not just for wrestling fans. In fact those unfamiliar with the stuff will probably like it all the more for debunking some of their stereotypes. It's a shame that this enlightening little documentary isn't going to get the publicity it deserves. Especially now, in the words of wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, I suggest you give Vince McMahon and co. the big two finger salute and rush out to see this movie when it comes to your town. What'cha gonna do, brother, when Beyond the Mat runs wild on you?
Kael
