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Beyond the mat
Threat advisory: Under evaluation
Movie propaganda
There's no script for what happens beyond the ring.
Barry Blaustein's honest, intimate, revealing, highly entertaining, and critically acclaimed documentary about wrestling, takes viewers beyond the ring and into the lives of the men and women who inhabit this colourful, competitive, and surprisingly complex world. Beyond the mat offers a compelling examination of the inner workings of professional wrestling and the larger-than-life personalities who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
The combination of personal and professional struggle is the core of Beyond the mat. Blaustein spotlights professional wrestlers who are best known for being exaggerated figures, always larger than life, and shows us their humanity. Focusing on Mick "Mankind" Foley, Terry Funk, Jake "The snake" Roberts, Duane "The rock" Johnson, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer and other wrestlers, Beyond the mat depicts remarkable, unscripted moments in lives that are often built on illusion.
During the five years he spent working on the film, Blaustein discovered that the control wrestlers exert in the ring is often contrasted by the lack of control they have in their own lives. Some pursue dreams - others are pursued by personal demons. Mick Foley, a dedicated family man, wants to be known as the world's most polite wrestler. Veteran Terry Funk pushes himself to stay in the ring, even though his battle-scarred body rebels. And Jake Roberts, whose life has taken many dark turns, finds it impossible to maintain the very relationships that might have alleviated his pain.
Always relaying his love and respect for his subject matter, Blaustein travels on the open road with the wrestlers, shares their most intimate moments with their families, and witnesses their victories and defeats in the ring. Capturing the grit and the glory and the humour and the pathos of wrestling, Blaustein takes us beyond the spotlight, beyond the pain, beyond the mat.
Also starring Vince McMahon, Roland Alexander, Collette Foley, Dewey Foley, Noelle Foley, Brandy Smith, Paul Heyman, Tony Jones, Mike Modest, Darren Drozdov, Jerry "The king" Lawler, Michael Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Shane McMahon and Jim Ross, Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake Roberts and Paul Heyman. Directed by Barry W Blaustein.
Non-agency intellgence sources
- Studios and distributors:
Security censorship classification
M (Medium level violence, adult themes, medium level coarse language)
Surveillance time
103 minutes (1:43 hours)
Not for public release in Australia before date
VHS rental: 12 October 2000
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