Man of 1000 Lives

Authors: Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

"Man of 1,000 Lives"



Directed by Danny Boyle
Written by David McKenna
Produced by Bruce Cohen
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki
Music by John Powell

Principal Cast:

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mick Foley (Cactus Jack, Mankind)
Jennifer Connelly as Collette Foley
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Leon White (Vader)
Minnie Driver as Sam (Collettes friend)
Alec Baldwin as Vince McMahon (WWE Owner)
Sam Elliott as Bill Baker (WCW Owner)
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Himself
Daniel Cudmore as Mark Calloway (The Undertaker)
Haley Nero as Noelle Foley
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick as Dewey Foley
Robert Vignisson as Young Mick
Peter Vack as Andy (Micks college friend)

Tagline: "The script is made, the moves are planned, but the dream was real"

Synopsis: Some people want to become firefighters, cops, doctors, Mick Foley wanted to be a professional wrestler. Growing up in Long Island New York, Mick Foley knew he was destined to become a wrestler, especially after seeing his first match in Madison Square Garden when he was a young adult where he witnessed a brutal steel cage match in front of his eyes, which is where the film first starts. It was then after when Foley tried to imitate the move by jumping off the top of his house onto his friend through a table. A family man Foley was, married to Colette Foley. In 1992 they had their first child Dewey.

Mick was always known for taking risks and having a hardcore style. His first wrestling character was by the name of "Cactus Jack", an insane institutionalized madman. In 1993 Foley had his first big break by joining WCW, a well known promotion, where he would then fued with Leon White (aka Vader), a 6'4" 450 pound athletic monster. Together the two had barbaric matches. In their first encounter Foley sustained a broken nose, a dislocated jaw and needed 27 stitches. After the match Foleys second child was born (Noelle), and decided to take time off from wrestling.

A month later the two met again, only this time Foley was slammed onto the concrete floor, giving him a serious concussion and losing sensation in his left hand and foot. Their final encounter was a show in Munich Germany, where Foleys head was tangled in between the ropes. When Mick tried to escape, he tore his ear off completely which would afterwards need surgery to reattach the cartilage from the ear to his head. Through this time in his career, the average Foley match involved barb wired baseball bats, thumbtacks, and tables with small explosives attached to them.

In 1996 Foley signed with the WWE (the worlds largest wrestling promotion) where his character was then changed to a masked demented crazed man named Mankind. His most significant match was with Mark Callaway (aka The Undertaker). It was called "Hell in a Cell" where a gigantic cell would surround the ring. Foley was thrown off the cell through a table and slammed through the cell with a steel chair landing on his face with thumbtacks in his nose and lip, Mick was seen smiling when this occurred. Foley lost the match and a tooth, but in the end the 2 received a standing ovation.

This was all fun with Mick, but the dark times were ahead. In 1999 at the event "Royal Rumble" Mankind was scheduled to fight the Rock in a hardcore bout with Foleys wife and kids at ring side. The match was going Foleys way until the Rock handcuffed his hands behind his back leaving him helpless. The Rock would then repeatedly bash Foley over the head with a steel chair, frightening his children and wife, who were seen crying at ringside. It was after this match Foley would ever be in anything so barbaric again.

Finally the time had come, the night after the infamous match with the Rock, Foley paid his dues from the blood, sweat, and tears, and defeated the Rock the following night to become the World Heavyweight champion, a life long dream. Yes, professional wrestling is entertainment, but to Mick Foley it was reality.

What the press would say:

Did you ever have a dream? A goal, mission, a calling? There's a job for every man out there, from making sticky tablets to performing root canal surgery. My job is to review and critique films, Mick Foleys job was to receive a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire to the face, and Danny Boyles job is to create it into a masterpiece. I was just like you, I hadn't known a thing about professional wrestling. I knew no names, no moves, no significant history, but what I do know now is beyond the big, oiled, muscular physiques, there lies desire and passion. To perform in front of a huge audience and leave memories, while leaving your life into another's hands, and your own as well.

This is a very dark, emotional thrill ride from start to finish. Danny Boyles pans and angles are truly noticeable at times even for a subpar viewer. Boyle shows the audience what they really want to see, without going overboard with his actions, example would be the scene where Hoffman is shown after a tremendous fall through a cell, bloody and battered with a thumbtack perfectly placed below the nostril. Watch the way Emmanuel Lubezki works with lighting during the match scenes and bed scene with Hoffman and Connelly. It brings out the emotions and feel to the scenes, as if it's actually telling the story.

The acting couldn't have been more mesmerizing as it was. Hoffman is the lead and showing off a new look with the long, black curly hair and bushy beard. The recent Academy award winner could be on his way for a second go-around for his portrayal of Mick Foley. Hoffman has always been known for winning over the viewers from the little things he does on camera, such as nose movements, hand motions, and body language in Capote. This performance is no different. His astonishing study and loyalty to the role is remarkable, from learning the accent and practicing moves with psychical contact. However, when Hoffman isn't amazing you with his in-ring ability, he wins your heart with the dramatic acting when he's shown with his family and children. Capote is the old, Foley is the new. Pruitt Taylor Vince should be in contention for best supporter. This is also a first for the actor known for his disturbing roles. As for the leading actress, there is no flaws in Jennifer Connelly's work. The scene when the family is at ringside is one of, if not the most powerful scenes in the film. The look of sadness on the face of Jennifer is one to put chills down your spine.

All in all, this is a different perspective from what we've seen over the years. The viewers wanted variety in Hollywood, variety they received. This is a story of hope, hazards, dependence, and admiration. This film will be talked about for years to come.

Possible Nominations:

Best Picture - David McKenna and Bruce Cohen
Best Director - Danny Boyle
Best Actor in Leading Role - Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress in Leading Role - Jennifer Connelly
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Pruitt Taylor Vince
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Alec Baldwin
Best Original Screenplay - David McKenna
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Original Score - John Powell
Best Makeup
Best Sound
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Song - "Invincible" by Stevie Ray Vaughan