Search - Beyond the Mat [Unrated Director's Cut] on DVD

Beyond the Mat [Unrated Director's Cut]

Actor(s): Barry W. Blaustein, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Terry Funk, Vince McMahon, Mick Foley
Director(s): Barry W. Blaustein
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: NR
Content Advisory: Violence
Movie Release: 1999
DVD Release: 08/22/2000
Format: DVD - Pan and Scan
Edition: Director's Cut
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: English
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins
Studio: Universal Studios
Total Copies: 1
Genres: Sports & Recreation, Culture & Society, Extreme Sports, Sports, Sociology
See Also: Beyond the Mat, Beyond the Mat [Ringside Special Edition]

DVD Synopsis

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, All Movie Guide

Actors

Barry W. Blaustein - Interviewer
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Terry Funk
Vince McMahon
Mick Foley

Editorial Review of DVD

The controversial professional wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat was released on DVD in two versions. This unrated director's cut is superior to the R-rated re-edit. The image on this disc is a standard full-frame 1.33:1 transfer. The sound is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Although there are no subtitles, the soundtrack is closed-captioned. The highlight of the supplemental materials is the commentary track. In addition to director Barry W. Blaustein, Mick Foley, and Terry Funk, two of the subjects of the documentary, provide their insight into their lives and the film. Other features include production notes, cast and crew bios, and the theatrical trailer. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Damian M. (ratchet) wrote on 3/11/2009...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I have to preface this by stating I am not at all a pro-wrestling fan. But good documentaries make you care about the subject matter no matter your pre-conceived notion. And that's exactly what this one did. Now, thats not to say if I were a pro-wrestling fan I wouldnt get more out of this, I am sure I would. I think it works because it shows people - hopes and dreams are universal. This documentary focuses on McMahon and the WWF (when it was known as that) and the ECW (when it existed). Also featured are several wrestlers, but specifically Jake 'the Snake' Roberts, Mick Foley, and the iron man Terry Funk. Interviews included the Rock, Jesse Ventura and a variety of sub-players. There is nothing fake about the brutality and pain in the ring (and out of the ring in Roberts' case). Really puts a human face on this industry, to much of one for Vince McMahon who tried to sue to get this pulled from release.