Beyond the Mat

Theatrical Release Date: 1999 10 22 (USA - Limited) / 2000 03 03 (USA - Expanding)

UPC: 025192091025

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Violence]

Summary: In a rare foray into documentary filmmaking, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment produced this behind-the-scenes look at professional wrestling, shot on digital video by director (Barry W. Blaustein), screenwriter of several hit Eddie Murphy comedies. An unabashed wrestling fan since childhood, Blaustein nevertheless takes an unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the "sport," as he shadows a trio of wrestlers representing three very different aspects of the profession. Mick Foley is a superstar shown to be the complete opposite of "Mankind," his successful wrestling character. At work, Mankind is a bloodthirsty animal, but when his mask is off, he's a loving, doting father clearly worshipped by his two young kids, who are traumatized when they witness Foley being bloodied at an Anaheim, California, event. Terry Funk is a portrait of what Foley could become, a former legend now at the end of his career and in desperate need of knee surgery, but continuing to perform dangerous stunts in the ring. Jake "The Snake" Roberts, on the other hand, travels in second-class wrestling circles, a recovering drug addict who has a painful reconciliation with his daughter. Blaustein also interviews the World Wrestling Federation's boastful bigwig Vince McMahon. McMahon later tried to block the release and promotion of the film. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Category: Culture & Society

Features: Feature commentaries by Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Barry W. Bloustein
Theatrical trailer
Production notes
Cast & filmmakers

Beyond the Mat

Format: DVD

Release Date: 08/22/2000

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 108 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Chapter List.
0. Chapter List.
0. Menu Group #1 with 20 chapter(s) covering 01:47:46
1. My Wrestling Addiction. [3:19]
2. The WWF. [3:25]
3. A Potential Superstar. [5:47]
4. Boot Camp. [5:26]
5. The Tryouts. [4:26]
6. The Living Legend. [5:52]
7. Ecw. [6:27]
8. The Most Normal Wrestler. [8:33]
9. Jake The Snake. [:13]
10. All Kinds of Wrestlers. [11:14]
11. Time to Go Home. [7:40]
12. Jake's Daughter. [10:06]
13. No Self-Pity. [7:57]
14. The Royal Rumble. [2:01]
15. It's Showtime! [:01]
16. Daddy's Getting Hurt. [7:19]
17. It's Just a Boo-Boo. [2:10]
18. The Last Laugh. [2:53]
19. Epilogue. [5:58]
20. End Titles. [2:02]

Andrea LeVasseur

Promoted with the tagline "The Movie Vince McMahon Doesn't Want You to See!," the documentary Beyond the Mat was challenged by the WWF mogul to halt its advertising campaign on television. It's not that the film views wrestling in any kind of negative light, it just brings some compassionate human interest to the brutal sport. It doesn't even attempt to question the deep-seated homoeroticism of the spectacle, but maybe that's another subject. Writer/director/interviewer Barry Blaustein clearly has respect and admiration for the individual wrestlers who participate, yet he sounds kind of embarrassed to admit his fascination with the sport. Although it covers a wide variety of wrestlers, the film's emotional focal point is Mick "Mankind" Foley. His human tragedy involves a conflict between a rising superstardom and a sincere commitment to his family. Even though the fights are obviously staged, his adoring wife and kids are still traumatized by the severe beating in the ring, which Foley is then made to watch on videotape. Blaustein is clearly interested in the sadness behind the lifestyle, with much time devoted to the wistful wannabes risking major injuries with hopes of one day making it big. The aging, drug-addicted Jake "The Snake" Roberts appears as a washed-up has-been, a warning sign signaling the results of constant body damage. Though not incredibly ambitious, Beyond the Mat does manage to get at the heart of the motivations behind this unique cultural phenomenon. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Barry W. Blaustein  Director 
Barry W. Blaustein  Producer 
Barry W. Blaustein  Screenwriter 
Brian Grazer  Producer 
Ron Howard  Producer 
Nathan Barr  Composer (Music Score) 
Barry Bloom  Producer 
Michael Rosenberg  Producer 
Barry W. Blaustein  Actor 
Jake "The Snake" Roberts  Actor 
Terry Funk  Actor 
Mick Foley  Actor 
Vince McMahon  Actor 
Joanie "Chyna" Laurer  Actor 
Darren Drozdov  Actor 
Jesse Ventura  Actor 
The Rock  Actor 
Tony Jones  Actor 

Country: USA