Erica Derrick
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Tara and Andrew
Beyond the Mat is a very good sports documentary, with only a few things holding it back from being great. This was a movie that we selected at random to watch for our podcast (more on that in a sec), and despite some initial reservations we had going in, we both ended up liking it quite a bit. The documentary follows several different wrestlers over the span of a couple of years, some up-and-coming, others... uh... down-and-going? It sounds rough when it's phrased like that, but you get what we mean. It's a interesting look at the personal lives of these larger-than-life characters and how complicated their profession makes their lives and the lives of the people around them. Barry Blaustein, the movie's director, does a good job of showing portraying them in a neutral light, which sometimes is flattering, and other times not so much. The only negative things we really have to say about this are that the production values are simply adequate, and that Blaustein's narration is not great and mostly unnecessary.ANYWAY, speaking of podcasts (not the smoothest transition ever, but it'll have to do), the two of us review and discussed this movie in episode seven of our podcast, Tara and Andrew Versus The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide. You can find the episode here (https://www.taraandandrewversus.com/blog/2017/9/5/episode-6-beyond- the-mat) or in Apple Podcasts/Google Play/the podcasting app of your choice.
Python Hyena
Beyond the Mat (1999): Dir: Barry W. Blaustein / Featuring: Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Vince McMahon, Chyna: Exhilarating and provocative view of the world of professional wrestling as Barry W. Blaustein's regards the kind of person who does this for a living and goes home to a family. It takes viewers beyond the mat through Blaustein's early interest in wrestling, which is now a billion dollar operation headed for three generations by the McMahon family. He interviews Terry Funk who deals with a serious medical problem but his profession drives him from retirement. After a historical introduction into Funk's brutal bouts in Japan, we are subject to him as a family man preparing for his daughter's wedding. Mick Foley is shown being thrashed repeatedly with a chair as his wife and kids look on with horrid reactions. Foley was famous for pushing himself perhaps too far to the physical edge. Jake "the Snake" Roberts battles bouts with drugs and reunites with his daughter whom he hadn't seen in four years. Film also features Vince McMahon himself behind the scenes as well as the thoughts of fellow wrestlers and how they view McMahon's conduct. Chyna makes an appearance as one of wrestling's most unusual personalities. Media blows the wrestling image out of proportion but some aspects are too real to be faked. Score: 10 / 10
thebatsman
I first viewed this film on DVD and having scanned some of the reviews here on the site I can see that some people feel that there should have been more in the movie. Yes I can see that argument but to talk about drug deaths and those who have left the buissness not really able to cope with life outside of the wrestling is a movie that needs to be done with a script and actors. Wrestlers even Mick Foley who has been fairly honest in breaking character still protects the business even Jesse Ventura didn't break any new ground. Ventura could have said a lot about McMahon that was negative after all he sued McMahon over royalties and Venture was never known for keeping his mouth shut he was the wrestler who wanted to start a union in wrestling until Hulk Hogan ratted him out to Vince McMahonHad Blaustein gone in with the attitude that he was going to expose all of the underbelly of pro wrestling both Vince McMahon and the wrestlers would have handed this guy his butt. Most of the important issues in pro wrestling today like drug related deaths, the need for a union in the business. Both industry and the wrestlers are in denial about and will not address those issues in a serious way. Also Blaustein is an admitted fan and just wants to show wrestlers as being human rather then the characters we see on TV each week. Blaustein's choices are interesting Terry Funk is the old guy who just can't give it up Funk in many ways is a sad case heres a guy that can't stay away from the roar of the crowd. No matter how broken down he is as long as he can still get in the ring he will be thereJake The Snake Roberts is an interesting study and most likely could have been a movie itself. Roberts comes off as a needy self serving person who tries to use emotion to try and gain whatever he thinks can be gained from his daughter. But it is a work after seeing her he goes out and does Crack Cocaine. Roberts is the poster child for someone who got lost in the business.Mick Foley like Terry Funk needs the rush from the crowd when the interview section of the DVD was shot Foley was supposedly retired though has been back a number of times since and may always be back until the WWE decides it no longer needs to bring him back. Many have mentioned the scenes of his kids crying as he was being hit in the head with a chair by the Rock. It is my impression that his wife could have handle the situation better but I do agree with many who asked the question why were the kids there in first place.All in all I thought this movie gave as good as it could given the limitations that were placed on it. Ultimately Blaustein is a fan and yes he wants us to be too by giving us a human understanding of the wrestler
George Parker
"Beyond the Mat" takes a superficial behind-the-scenes look at professional wrestling with a disappointing conglomeration of the spectacle and the performers and few hard facts. The film gets schmaltzy over the big guys as it shows their human side which we could all pretty much guess anyway...the good and the bad. What it doesn't show is ring death stats, injury stats, CT scans and medical reports (except for some knee x-rays), wrestling politics, corruption and payoffs, drug abuse (except one bit on coke), insurance issues, contract fine print and exploitation, the ex-wrestler paraplegic or homeless person, sex with groupies, and all the stuff one would expect of an expose or investigative report. What we do learn is Blaustein really likes wrestling and it shows in his this one-sided perspective. Fodder for WWF fans and the like. (C)
