| HITMAN HART : Wrestling with Shadows |
| Directed by Paul Jay. Featuring Bret Hart , Stu Hart , and Owen Hart. |
| Bret Hart is a professional wrestler. Bret Hart is a role model. Bret Hart is a hero in a world of anti-heroes. This documentary on the final year of Bret's tenure in the World Wrestling Federation is as much about an internal struggle of one mans own personal loyalties and ideals as it is about wrestling. As our story opens we meet Bret "Hitman" Hart , WWF Champion on the night before his final match with the company. A years worth of toil , anguish, and frustration obviously weigh down on this man. Some from the changing climate of the hero / villain roles in modern day America , some from the physical and mental toll of a busy touring schedule, but mostly from a seemingly uncaring and coldhearted boss in one Vincent K. McMahon. Why is the weight of the world on Bret's shoulders? Why does Vince seem like a cold vindictive man when it comes to the Hitman? We're about to find out. |
| Rewind one year earlier. A more jovial and easygoing Bret is on tour with the WWF. As we see more of him in day to day life in and out of the ring , it's easy to see Bret's deep rooted ties to family. He tours much of the time with his son Blade , who is obviously a locker room mascot to many of the workers. You can visibly see Bret's chest swell with pride as he speaks of his son. We then briefly meet Bret's brother Owen and his brothers-in-law Jim Neidhart , and Davey Boy Smith. The Hart family , along with the late Brian Pillman make up the Hart Foundation , a collective that Bret takes great pride in being a part of. We then get to meet a few more of Bret's compatriots in the business , and for the most part Bret is very complimentary to them. Then we meet Shawn Michaels. |
| Shawn Michaels is described by Brett as cocky and arrogant ; and even though Bret considers him an incredible performer , he makes it a point to say that "...there's something very unlikeable about him". We're slowly beginning to see the layers chip away in Bret , down to the point where this usually cool player gets his buttons pushed. Bret envisions himself as a sort of old school western sheriff fighting for law and order in a world where cocky egos and anti-heroes have become a flavour of the month. He obviously wants to be a role model in the classic wholesome image ; but society now cheers the villain , and Bret feels a little left behind. |
| It's here that Bret lets us into his family life and history. It's quickly obvious that Bret has infinite respect for his father ( he will refer to him almost exclusively as "Stu" and not as "Dad" or any other fatherly moniker) , but more over Bret's life has been about striving to gain that same respect from his father. Again , the ongoing themes here are family and loyalty. Bret even takes us into the legendary "Dungeon" , the place where many of todays top wrestlers were born , and many pretenders screamed out in pain. Stu , even at his advanced age , is a master of submission. It's easy to see why his children give him nothing but fear , respect , and loyalty. It's this virtue of loyalty that gives Bret Problems these days. |
| Bret has worked for the WWF for 14 years. Vince McMahon has made Bret an icon. Now with his contract near its end, Ted Turner has offered the Hitman nine million dollars to join World Championship Wrestling. Bret wants to do right by his family , and 9 mil would go a long way to securing them financially , but Bret's loyalty to the man who made him haunts him from the shadows. Bret decides to 'leave with who brought him to the dance' so to speak , and stays with the WWF. He feels that at least there when he's ready to leave the sport , he can go out the hero. This however, is part of the problem. |
| After meeting a few more workers , Bret reveals to us that the mood is changing. The 'bad is good' mentality has swept the fans , and the days of the hero are dying. Bret begins a storyline role with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that will not only change Bret's character , but will change Bret himself as well. While the "Hitman" character becomes the villain with the explanation that the fans have turned their backs on him , the sad truth of the matter is that those aren't just his characters views , but they've become Bret's personal views as well. As he begins to believe that his choice was a wrong one , we can't help but agree. |
| When Shawn Michaels comes back into the picture , Bret's outlook and attitude seem to go even more downhill. Shawn becomes Bret's biggest rival not only in the ring , but he seems to be the new icon as well. When the WWF begins to lose to WCW in the ratings , Vince decides to take the company in a new direction , with Michaels as the superstar on the rise. When Ted Turner and WCW come knocking on Bret's door once again , he feels he has no alternative but to take the deal. With a month left in the World Wrestling Federation , Bret begins firing shots at the direction Vince has decided to go; chastising him for the raunchier, more vulgar content being produced. Vince then 'leaks out' that Bret took the WCW contract strictly for the money. Both sides have become very heated , and it will all culminate in the final match of Bret's career ; the Hitman vs. Shawn Michaels for the world title in Bret's own backyard , Montreal. |
| Vince wants Bret to lose the belt to Michaels , but Bret resists. Hart does not want to lose the belt during the Canadian tour. He even offers to lose the title live on national television in one last match. Finally they agree to allow the match to end in disqualification and then the subsequent forfeiture of the title the following night... but it won't go down that way. The documentary ends with a legendary "screwjob" and equally legendary meeting afterwards between Bret and Vince , that is to say the least....explosive. |
| Documentaries are usually hard hitting and dark , and this one is no exception. It's a struggle of dignity vs. loyalty that's gripping from beginning to end. There are no heroes or villains in a story like this , just victims. It's a gripping tale almost in the Hamlet-esque style of a good man in a very bad world. |
| Entertainment : 4 out of 4 |
| Watchability : 3 out of 4 |
| Overall : 3.5 out of 4 |
| Guest Review by King Jeckyl |
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| SECOND OPINION - by Blake |
| What more can I say? This documentary chronicles the short time period where wrestling lost its innocence. Where the sport of kings slowly began to unravel into the mess it is today. Whether you're a rabid wrestling fan, a detractor of the sport, or one of the millions of disillusioned fans out there, this makes for some compelling viewing. It's just a pity that McMahon being punched out wasn't caught on film. |
| Entertainment : 3 out of 4 |
| Watchability : 3 out of 4 |
| Overall : 3 out of 4 |