Hammer

Theatrical Release Date: 2011 10 27 (USA - Limited)

UPC: 796019824446

Studio: Anderson Merchandisers

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:null

Summary: A young man struggles to overcome a physical handicap in this drama based on a true story. Matt Hamill (Theodore Conley) was born to a single mother (Susan Gibney), who was told her young son was bright, talented, and entirely deaf. Without a father to rely on, young Matt turns to his grandfather Stanley (Raymond J. Barry) as his male role model; Stanley encourages the boy not to allow his deafness to hold him back, and urges him to take up wrestling. Matt shows tremendous promise as a wrestler, but while the sport helps him build confidence and muscle, he isn't sure how to deal with others, particularly girls. After graduating from high school, Matt (now played by Russell Harvard) attends Purdue on a wrestling scholarship, but he's forced to leave school due to poor grades. However, he has an opportunity to redeem himself when his wrestling skills earn him an invite to the Rochester Institute of Technology, a school with a special program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. For the first time, Matt has peers who are also deaf, and he befriends his roommate Jay (Michael Anthony Spady) and falls for pretty coed Kristi (Shoshannah Stern). But it's a challenge for the lifelong loner to open up to other people and admit his weaknesses, and he also has to learn a new way of communicating by using American Sign Language after spending his life as a lip-reader. The Hammer (aka Hamill) was based on the life of Matt Hamill, a three-time NCAA wrestling champion who has gone on to become a successful mixed-martial-arts competitor. Due to its subject matter and large hearing-impaired audience, the film was exhibited as Open Caption (with onscreen readable text) in theaters. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Film Presented – AFI Fest

Features: Deleted Scenes
Interview with Matt Hamill and A Look Behind The Scenes
Writer, Producer, Director Commentary

cc

Hammer

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 01/31/2012

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 109 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Hammer
1. Profoundly Deaf [8:12]
2. Wrestling Practice [10:05]
3. Believe in Yourself [8:49]
4. Prom [10:57]
5. R.I.T [7:42]
6. Rezac vs. Hamill [6:57]
7. Meeting Kristi [4:23]
8. Maybe, Maybe Not [4:17]
9. Saying Goodbye [7:11]
10. Campaigning [2:48]
11. National Championship [8:06]
12. End Credits [11:22]

Cast and Crew: Dan Caldwell  Executive Producer 
Kip Konwiser  Executive Producer 
Frederico Lapenda  Executive Producer 
Wali Razaqi  Executive Producer 
Joseph McKelheer  Producer 
Joseph McKelheer  Screenwriter 
Oren Kaplan  Director 
Oren Kaplan  Executive Producer 
iZler  Composer (Music Score) 
Eben Kostbar  Producer 
Eben Kostbar  Screenwriter 
Bob Bartosiewicz  Executive Producer 
David Keinath  Executive Producer 
Russell Harvard  Actor 
Raymond J. Barry  Actor 
Shoshannah Stern  Actor 
Michael Anthony Spady  Actor 
Courtney Halverson  Actor 
Susan Gibney  Actor 
Joseph McKelheer  Actor 
Eben Kostbar  Actor 
Rich Franklin  Actor 
Gavin Bellour  Actor 
Stephen Dodd  Actor 
Theodore Conley  Actor 
Anthony Traina  Actor 
Lexi Marman  Actor 
Cory Knauf  Actor 
Kara Luiz  Actor 
Lauren Fox  Actor 
Bob Hiltermann  Actor 
Sara Fletcher  Actor 
Gabe Stolt  Actor 
Rocky Abou-Sakher  Actor 
Matthew Dickens  Actor 
James Tristan Moore  Actor 
Will Kurz  Actor 
Trevor Gross  Actor 
Lilly Hisenaj  Actor 
Avi Rothman  Actor 
Craig Young  Actor 
Jason, Bovenzi  Actor 
Paul Burress  Actor 
Stan Main  Actor 
Christopher Marvin  Actor 
Cody Goodfried  Actor 
Andrew Grillo  Actor 
Scott J. Klein  Actor 
Christine A. Klein  Actor 
Timothy D. Klein  Actor 
Jill Burress  Actor 
Brian Lantry  Actor 
Tyler Gross  Actor 

Country: USA