The Trade

Title: The Trade
Director: Matt Burns
Released:  2017

Plot: Documentary charting the career and legacy of deathmatch wrestler “Sick” Nick Mondo

Review: While I might be a wrestling fan the bloody and violent world of deathmatch wrestling is something I’ve only been aware of in passing and which for the uninitiated is wrestling pushed to its extreme as weapons from chairs, light tubes, barbwire and even fire are not only legal but just the start of some of the things which you get to see wrestlers use against each over the course of the documentary. 

Written and Directed by it’s star and subject Matt Burns better known by his ring name “Sick” Nick Mondo it is unquestionably a personal project and a way for him to encapsulate his career from his mischievous childhood to his career in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) were he became iconic for the levels of brutality and risk taking in his matches. He also focuses on the weight of the legacy he left behind as he inspired others to follow in his footsteps in particular Rory Gulak aka Little Mondo.

Featuring extensive footage from his wrestling career as well as home videos he made with his school friends getting into mock brawls and performing jackass style stunts as Burns presents a real openness when it comes to talking about his life both in and out of the ring, while the match footage shows a real dedication to his craft including taking a weed wacker to the chest on one especially gory moment as he faces off against the ex-marine turned wrestler Wifebeater. At the same time, he is equally keen to focus on the bloody aftermath of his matches as we get prolonged shots of bloody wounds, scars and hose pipe baths which only makes you question what it is about subjecting yourself to such ordeals that has so many aspiring wrestlers keen to enter into this world. 

While the film features some insightful interview sequences as well as the usual talking heads we also are treated or perhaps that should be subjected to surreal montages which are supposed to project the battling personalities of his real self and his wrestling persona with the film culminating in the two facing off with each other. While they do help pad the film out to make its hour runtime, they ultimately add nothing but irritation to the film and made me wish that he had just stuck with his self interview segments than the internal monologue voice over.

While the documentary doesn’t provide any major insights into the mindset of the death match wrestler, it certainly delivers on violent spectacle which will either enthrall, intrigue or just leave you wonder what the point of all this bloodshed is. Either way it’s a fitting if at times over surreal way to encapsulate a career in wrestling earned the hard way.

You can’t kill David Arquette

Title: You Can’t Kill David Arquette
Director: David Darg, Price James
Released: 2020

Plot: Documentary charting David Arquette’s attempts to become a professional wrestler and make amends for the disrespect many fans feel he caused to the industry by winning the the WCW Title.

Review: Twenty years ago on the April 26^th edition of WCW Thunder David Arquette while on the promotional tour for Ready to Rumble the wrestling comedy which featured many of WCW’s most memorable faces Arquette won the companies top belt the WCW title. This has been the brainchild of WCW’s head writer Vince Russo (a whole other villian) who saw the belt as a prop and a way to get more mainstream press for the company which had begun it’s death spiral caring little for the legacy of the belt and what it meant to the fan (including Arquette). The end result however would see Arquette being branded as disrespecting the belt aswell as being responsible for one of the worst moments in the history of professional wrestling.

Now picking up Arquette’s story we find the one popular actor has hit on hard times as he is introduced as a functioning alcoholic, heavily overweight and unable to shake off the image of being a goofball which has left his career at an all time low. For whatever reason though it’s this current struggle that inspires him to make up for the disrespect that his fellow wrestling fans feel he gave to the industry by entering the ring once again and setting out to become a professional wrestler.

The first thing I heard about David Arquette returning to wrestling was hearing the aftermath of a deathmatch he had participated in against Nick Gage were he’d during the course the match had his throat slit. Needless to say it was a story I was keen to find out more about so when I heard about this documentary coming out it pretty much jumped to the top of my most anticipated list. What we get here though is a much more complex story than you might expect as this is not so much the story of Arquette attempting a new career path but also about finding his own redemption and salvation from the many problems he’s battled over the years.

Unquestionably a warts and all story, the first half of the film sees Arquette certainly at rock bottom despite having nice house and beautiful wife and kid while his initial misconception that it will be easy to make it up to the fans is soon crushed under the reality that his Hollywood status means nothing in this world. Still setting out full of enthusiasm for his new vocation as we are subjected to a cringe worthy photoshoot for new head shots for a wrestling convention Arquette is attending only to be left sitting at an empty table ignored by all attendees. Elsewhere his first steps into the industry are non the less spectacular as he gets into a scuffle with former wrestler turned promotor Brian Nobbs (one half of the 90’s tag team The Nasty Boys) for even proposing the idea he get involved in a Legends of Wrestling event while his first match in a backyard federation whose ring collapses partway through a match quickly turns into him being on the wrong end of a humiliating beat-down.

Now while many would see this as the moment to give up on this already questionable plan he doesn’t instead realising that he is going to need to actually train and so begin the really inspiring portion of the film as he finds a wrestling school willing to train him while finding additional mentorship from Diamond Dallas Page who himself lets not forget was responsible for saving two of wrestling greatest lost causes in Jake the Snake and Scott Hall as charted in the equally moving The Resurrection of Jake the Snake Roberts.

Even if your not a wrestling fan the film is still an engrossing watch with his journey really tapping into the independent scene of wrestling far away from the glitz and glamour of the likes of the WWE with Arquette’s training taking him to Mexico and even particpating in street wrestling matches that luchador’s carry out like street theatre at traffic lights for the loose change of those parked at the lights. All of which he is happy to throw himself into and with out a hint of privilege and entitlement as knows this is a world built on earning the respect of his fellow performers which we see him doing through the indie scene in what feels like a truly genuine experience rather than one crafted out for the benefit of the film.

While it’s true that Arquette might have a diversifying personality his love for the sport and the industry is clear throughout and to see him battling his addictions and personal demons through wrestling is certainly an inspiring journey as well as one which much like The Wrestler is just as keen to pull back the curtain on the industry for the uninitiated and show its inner workings as highlighted during one his early matches were shots of him competing in the ring are intercut with him working out how the match will play out with his opponent.

Now while this is hardly the film which is going to re-ignite his career it is unquestionably manages to capture his journey into this world he loves and perhaps in many way the kind of acceptance he’s spent so many years trying and failing to find in his acting career. While it’s left unclear whether this is a new career path for him at the end of the documentary you truly feel that you have been on this journey with him.

Andre the giant

Title: Andre The Giant
Director: Jason Hehir
Released: 2018

Plot: Documentary charting the life and career of wrestling legend and eigth wonder of the world Andre The Giant

Review: If we are to believe the legends surrounding Andre we would be lead to believe he had three rows of teeth and could drink 107 beers in a single sitting. But standing at 7ft 4 in Andre was as big as his legend not to mention one of the most recognisable faces in professional wrestling even to non wrestling fans and it’s this legend that director Jason Hehir attempts to find the truth behind as he features extensive interview footage with his family, his fellow wrestlers and “Princess Bride” cast members to craft a portrait of this iconic figure. This is a film certanly not afraid to showcase his life from the triumphant highs to the crushing lows which lead to his premature demise.

Charting his rise to fame in the first half it’s clear that Hehir is as fascinated with Andre’s status as a real life giant as everyone who saw him while he charts the making of his legend as he starts his rise through the wrestling ranks becoming a headline attraction back when wrestling was still broken up into territories defined by local television coverage. Soon ending up as one of the biggest stars of Vince McMahon’s “World Wrestling Federation” now better known as the “WWE” as he helped McMahon essentially bring the end to the territories as the company rode the introducion of cable TV.

One of the strengths of the documentary really is in how Hehir manages to make a film which is as appealing to the establish fan as it is to the newcommer as while there might be extensive talk of the wrestling territories and backstage politics here memorably highlighted by Andre chasing off his minder while he’s trying to play cards. Hehir manages to explain the mechanics of the wrestling industry to the newcomer without slowing down the pace of the documentary. To this extent it can be alittle jarring to have Hulk Hogan seemingly hijacking the documentary to talk about his own career but thankfully he’s on refreshingly modest form and its inclusion is more to build up the showdown between himself and Andre and their iconic match at Wrestlemania 3.

As a wrestling fan the film more than delivers especially with the wealth of archive footage which is included, especially for the lesser seen early portions of Andre’s career. The documentary also does not shy away from the brutal backstage politics of wrestling with many of the wrestlers interviewed openly discussing Andre intentionally roughing up wrestlers who either annoyed him or he perceived as threatening his spot and its refreshing that the documentary doesn’t shy away from the more negative aspects of Andre which only adds to the build up to his match with Hogan were going into the match Hogan had no idea if Andre was going to go along with his match plan or not.

While a large portion of the film is unsurprisingly devoted to his wrestling career Hehir does touch briefly on the making of “The Princess Bride” were he memorably appeared as the giant Fezzik a role which William Goldman had written with him in mind. Perhaps disappointingly to fans of the film this section is one of the briefest but it does feature some fond memories by his co-stars Cary Elwes and Billy Crystal aswell as Director Rob Reiner reminiscing of dealing with a drunk Andre suspended on wires so they could film a horse riding sequence.

Unquestionably this is both touching tribute to the legendary wrestler which wrestling fans will certainly enjoy but at the same time accessable enough that the uninitiated will still find much to enjoy here.