What's the best film you've seen in the last few years? Doesn't matter when it came out
Recommendation
(reddthat.com)
If you liked The Wrestler and have not seen Beyond The Mat (1998), do that. Randy "The Ram"'s entire story is basically a straight copypasta of the section on Jake "The Snake" Roberts, one of the best wrestlers of his era. "Best" is used here in a very loosely-defined way, because well, we're talking about Pro Wrestling.
But I was like 12-15 during the high years of the WWF, I was watching some of the most legendary names, and Jake was my absolute... ok well it's a tossup between Jake and George "The Animal" Steele, who was older, looked like my grandpa a little bit, managed by Captain Lou Albano (both vintage heels turned face) from the Cyndi Lauper videos and had an excellent "crazy ape man" kinda schtick. He also would destroy a turnbuckle every match and I loved the vandalism.
For a kid of the right age, mid-80s WWF was the best entertainment going, in a time when you had 13 channels if you were lucky. VCRs weren't even completely ubiquitous yet. What else going on? Family Ties, Growing Pains, Lawrence Welk...
But Jake was an absolute dark horse with incredible intensity, and totally unique - most were using steroids then, he had a very basic physique and didn't give a shit. Most wrestlers would be high fiving and gesticulating and getting the crowd whipped up as they walked out. Jake would just walk out staring at the ring or his opponent, neither hurrying nor dallying, just a purposeful walk, with his grey sack containing a python slung over his shoulder. Great finishing move, great schtick, one of the absolute legends.
Finding out over a decade later that his life was this Shakespearean (think Titus, not Romeo) tragedy the whole time was just wild, but also not at all surprising, because anyone who watched his matches could see that this was a different type of dude from your typical wrestler.
Don't sleep on Beyond The Mat. It's also got some amazing stuff with Mick Foley and Terry Funk, two dudes who have done more damage to each other than the Romans did to Jesus, and who love each other intensely for it. Lots "holy shit what the fuck did he just do" clips.