Beyond the MatWhat kind of man becomes a professional wrestler, engaging in one of the most brutal and bloody of public spectacles? That question compelled screenwriter Barry W. Blaustein to investigate and chronicle the unseen world of professional wrestling, and is addressed in Beyond the Mat. Made over the course of three years and released in 1999, the film explores the personal and professional lives of an assortment of pro wrestlers. This includes contemporary stars of the WWF (now WWE) like Mick Foley (a.k.a. "Mankind"), workhorse legends like Terry Funk, historic talent like Jake "The Snake" Roberts--caught at an all-time low--and newcomers looking to get their break in the limelight.
|
|
One of the most common criticisms of pro wrestling is that it's "fake". Beyond the Mat addresses this early on by citing that while the choreography and outcomes are scripted, the action is brutal and the pain is real. It portrays pro wrestlers as the hard-working blood that pumps through the veins of this form of entertainment, putting their very well-being on the line for their devoted fans. The beginning of Beyond the Mat introduces several men who are looking to become the next legends of wrestling, joining the World Wrestling Federation stable under entertainment mogul and CEO, Vince McMahon. This includes a former Denver Broncos football player named Darren Drozdov, who intrigues McMahon as a potential novelty act due to his unorthodox ability to vomit on command; this earns him the moniker of "Puke". A pair of amateur wrestlers--Tony Jones and Michael Modest--hope to score their big break by debuting on a televised match for the WWF, and have been struggling to gain ground in their dream jobs under the stewardship of a man who acts more like an "accountant" than a promoter. This first act of Beyond the Mat underscores the difficulties in breaking into the field, simultaneously presenting the likes of McMahon as unsympathetic, working their employees into the ground like racehorses. Yet it feels that these scenes are edited in a deliberate way, reminiscent of the same kind of drama that is scripted for blood-and-sweat drenched soap opera that has cultivated pro wrestling into the multi-billion dollar entertainment franchise it is today.
The heart of Beyond the Mat comes from Blaustein's close involvement with the wrestling legends of yesteryear and today, getting to know them on a personal level and documenting their hopes and fears. This begins with Terry Funk, who Blaustein describes as a man he always wanted to meet because of his reputation for giving it his all in the ring and fearlessness on stage. Blaustein expresses his adoration for the man's famously long career in pro wrestling over a montage of his prior exploits, meeting him in his home town of Amarillo, Texas, where he is preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle for her wedding. Scenes include Terry visiting his doctor, where he is given an undesirable prognosis that his knees are suffering from degenerative arthritis--likely compounded by years of wrestling--and that he will need to have one of his knees replaced. Yet Terry has already committed to perform at the first pay-per-view event for the up-and-coming Extreme Championship Wrestling (or "ECW" for short), which he has personally supported. Compared to the WWF, the ECW is scrappier and has a down-to-earth vibe; consider when they are filming a promotional video, and a woman is ironing a towel off camera. Terry's patronage comes from a desire to see fresh blood have new opportunities for exposure, and for erstwhile superstars like himself and others (including a cameo by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan) to recapture those glory days gone by. Terry's arc culminates with a retirement match (what would prove to be the first of many) between him and Bret "The Hitman" Hart, refereed by a fellow wrestler and friend of Terry's named Dennis Stamp--who fumbles at concealing his disappointment at not being invited to participate from the start. Terry expresses his gratitude to his fans in a brief yet heartfelt speech that emphasizes that this wasn't just a job but a part of his soul that he was retiring.
The counterpart to Terry's uplifting sendoff is Jake Roberts, a man whose legacy in pro wrestling included historic use of psychology and elaborate props--like his snake, Damien--and is credited for introducing the popular move dubbed the "DDT". Jake Roberts still wrestles, but for small-time shows with devoted fans who mark their bodies in black marker to show their appreciation. Jake's story is filled with demons; he shares grim memories about his father and his desperate search for approval from him. A scene that emphasizes the gulf between them comes when Jake visits his father and they work in the yard. Even though they are only a dozen feet away from each other, it is as if they exist in different worlds, resenting one another's company. Both complete their tasks with a physical verve that suggests anger lurks behind each strike of the sledgehammer, or each shovel full of leaves thrown aside. Jake also reunites with his daughter, Brandy, who is pursuing a career in psychology; their encounter is an exploration of their respective wounds. Brandy feels alienated by her father, and Jake confesses that he is ironically guilty of the same crimes that his father had inflicted upon him in his upbringing, fostering the divide between them. Jake reveals that he has been addicted to drugs since becoming a pro wrestling star, and it is heavily implied that he was under the influence in one interview as he describes the high cost of living fast and hard.
Representing one of the shining stars in the WWF's firmament is Mick Foley, whose claim to fame is his self-proclaimed ability to endure a copious amount of pain. Mick's onstage persona is depicted as demented, wearing a leather mask that recalls Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs, and punching his opponents with a filthy sock, suitably named "Mr. Socko". But Mick is the quintessential family man offstage, who plays with his kids and enjoys walks on the beach with his wife, Colette. Mick built up his reputation as a consummate professional wrestler through years of adopting various personas--like "Cactus Jack"--and this is hinted at in his conversation with Terry Funk--the two men describe that despite beating each other up on stage, they are good friends in real life. Mick's greatest challenge ironically doesn't come from the abuse he takes in various death-defying stunts and brutal violence, but in how it affects his family. They appear to shelve their concerns for his welfare at first glance, but a pair of events force them to reevaluate their ability to cope with seeing Mick bleed and suffer, knowing that it won't be the last time. Blaustein captures a devastating moment for the Foley family when Mick is facing off against Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson during a savage "I Quit" match. Mick is thrown onto a tower of speakers from a railing outside the ring and is smashed repeatedly in the head by that quintessential prop of pro wrestling--the metal folding chair. What is more unsettling than the violence are the reactions not just on Colette's face, but on the faces of his young children in the audience, who burst into tears at seeing their daddy being beaten and bloodied. Blaustein arguably breaks his heretofore objective role as a neutral observer and shares this footage with Mick and Colette. This forces the pro wrestler to reevaluate his responsibilities to his family, gaining insight on what he needs to be for his children--a hero off the stage even more than being one on it.
Recommended for: Fans of a hard-hitting documentary that explores the dynamic and dramatic sport of professional wrestling. Even for those who are not fans of the sport, Beyond the Mat explores its very human drama from a multifaceted perspective, inspiring subsequent films like The Wrestler.
The heart of Beyond the Mat comes from Blaustein's close involvement with the wrestling legends of yesteryear and today, getting to know them on a personal level and documenting their hopes and fears. This begins with Terry Funk, who Blaustein describes as a man he always wanted to meet because of his reputation for giving it his all in the ring and fearlessness on stage. Blaustein expresses his adoration for the man's famously long career in pro wrestling over a montage of his prior exploits, meeting him in his home town of Amarillo, Texas, where he is preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle for her wedding. Scenes include Terry visiting his doctor, where he is given an undesirable prognosis that his knees are suffering from degenerative arthritis--likely compounded by years of wrestling--and that he will need to have one of his knees replaced. Yet Terry has already committed to perform at the first pay-per-view event for the up-and-coming Extreme Championship Wrestling (or "ECW" for short), which he has personally supported. Compared to the WWF, the ECW is scrappier and has a down-to-earth vibe; consider when they are filming a promotional video, and a woman is ironing a towel off camera. Terry's patronage comes from a desire to see fresh blood have new opportunities for exposure, and for erstwhile superstars like himself and others (including a cameo by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan) to recapture those glory days gone by. Terry's arc culminates with a retirement match (what would prove to be the first of many) between him and Bret "The Hitman" Hart, refereed by a fellow wrestler and friend of Terry's named Dennis Stamp--who fumbles at concealing his disappointment at not being invited to participate from the start. Terry expresses his gratitude to his fans in a brief yet heartfelt speech that emphasizes that this wasn't just a job but a part of his soul that he was retiring.
The counterpart to Terry's uplifting sendoff is Jake Roberts, a man whose legacy in pro wrestling included historic use of psychology and elaborate props--like his snake, Damien--and is credited for introducing the popular move dubbed the "DDT". Jake Roberts still wrestles, but for small-time shows with devoted fans who mark their bodies in black marker to show their appreciation. Jake's story is filled with demons; he shares grim memories about his father and his desperate search for approval from him. A scene that emphasizes the gulf between them comes when Jake visits his father and they work in the yard. Even though they are only a dozen feet away from each other, it is as if they exist in different worlds, resenting one another's company. Both complete their tasks with a physical verve that suggests anger lurks behind each strike of the sledgehammer, or each shovel full of leaves thrown aside. Jake also reunites with his daughter, Brandy, who is pursuing a career in psychology; their encounter is an exploration of their respective wounds. Brandy feels alienated by her father, and Jake confesses that he is ironically guilty of the same crimes that his father had inflicted upon him in his upbringing, fostering the divide between them. Jake reveals that he has been addicted to drugs since becoming a pro wrestling star, and it is heavily implied that he was under the influence in one interview as he describes the high cost of living fast and hard.
Representing one of the shining stars in the WWF's firmament is Mick Foley, whose claim to fame is his self-proclaimed ability to endure a copious amount of pain. Mick's onstage persona is depicted as demented, wearing a leather mask that recalls Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs, and punching his opponents with a filthy sock, suitably named "Mr. Socko". But Mick is the quintessential family man offstage, who plays with his kids and enjoys walks on the beach with his wife, Colette. Mick built up his reputation as a consummate professional wrestler through years of adopting various personas--like "Cactus Jack"--and this is hinted at in his conversation with Terry Funk--the two men describe that despite beating each other up on stage, they are good friends in real life. Mick's greatest challenge ironically doesn't come from the abuse he takes in various death-defying stunts and brutal violence, but in how it affects his family. They appear to shelve their concerns for his welfare at first glance, but a pair of events force them to reevaluate their ability to cope with seeing Mick bleed and suffer, knowing that it won't be the last time. Blaustein captures a devastating moment for the Foley family when Mick is facing off against Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson during a savage "I Quit" match. Mick is thrown onto a tower of speakers from a railing outside the ring and is smashed repeatedly in the head by that quintessential prop of pro wrestling--the metal folding chair. What is more unsettling than the violence are the reactions not just on Colette's face, but on the faces of his young children in the audience, who burst into tears at seeing their daddy being beaten and bloodied. Blaustein arguably breaks his heretofore objective role as a neutral observer and shares this footage with Mick and Colette. This forces the pro wrestler to reevaluate his responsibilities to his family, gaining insight on what he needs to be for his children--a hero off the stage even more than being one on it.
Recommended for: Fans of a hard-hitting documentary that explores the dynamic and dramatic sport of professional wrestling. Even for those who are not fans of the sport, Beyond the Mat explores its very human drama from a multifaceted perspective, inspiring subsequent films like The Wrestler.