Beyond the Mat (2000)

Beyond the Mat (1999)
Directed by Barry W. Blaustein
Featuring Vince MacMahon, Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake Roberts
102 mins / Universal / Rated R
Retail: $29.95 / Street: $26

Mat-rific.

Beyond the Mat is a film that stops just short of being great. Like wrestling itself there's an air of falsness to much of the proceedings. Just when the story of Jake Roberts and his struggles with crack and his distanced relationship with his daughter begins to develop, the camera turns off and the film's attention goes elsewhere - it doesn't dewelve into
emotion itself.

Regardless of this, the film does have its moments of revelation and emotion. As Mick Foley watches a tape of his performance with his wife and the result is hearbreaking. He honestly feels saddened for what he put his family through - he's a gentle and intelligent man, so it's good to hear that he's semi-retired and away from the more bone crunching antics that he went through during his many years of performing.

This film takes place during the new heyday of wrestling, when Vince MacMahon's WWF experienced unpresdented success. One thing is for sure in the world of wrestling documentaries, Vince McMahon is always portrayed as an asshole. There must be something to it. You can only interview so many people before believing it's true.

For people that have no interest in wrestling, Beyond the Mat won't change your mind. But for those of us who were casual or are still hardcore fans, it provides an unflinching look at the world of sports entertainment. Not an uplifting movie.

Movie Grade: B

Video: 3 out of 5
It's shot on 16mm and digital video, do don't expect much in terms of picture. This being a documentary, it gets things done.
Anamorphic widescreen 1.88:1

Ladder Match

Audio: 3 out of 5
Again, documentary quality.
English (Dolby 2.0)

Extras and Misc: 4 out of 5
There's some nice extras, which is rare for a documentary such as this. There's a wonderful included commentary with director Blaustein. He's a good talker, and funny too. The man was once a writer for SNL (and interviewed in the great book, Live From New York.) There's a commentary with both Blaustein and featured wrestler Terry Funk. The two talk about wrestling's storied history and recount stories. My favorite extra is Mick Foley's commentary in which he all too shortly talks about his scenes in the film. He's funny, charming and intelligent. More than I can say for many director commentaries that I've heard before (Chris Nolan? Great director, terrible speaker.) The director's cut also includes additional footage not seen in the theatrical release. The disc is a single disc in a keepcase.

Overall: 3 out of 5
Fans of wrestling new and old would be well advised to pick this movie up. For the rest of you curious documentary fans, it'd make a fine addition to any collection.

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