I don’t normally like to spoil a movie’s ending, but I’m going to go ahead and tell you that in Man on a Ledge, the guy on the ledge jumps! But in a movie that has as many twists and turns as this one, that’s not really much of a spoiler.
Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) tries to talk Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) down in "Man on a Ledge."
You can’t really blame Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) for wanting to go out like that. Especially when you consider that it wasn’t long ago that he was a respected police officer who now finds himself in prison for supposedly stealing a nearly priceless diamond from the Donald Trump-like David Englander (played with voracious villainy by Ed Harris). Cassidy’s reputation is further tarnished when he uses his father’s funeral as a means of escaping from prison, embarrassing his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) and other friends and family in the process.
Knowing he will eventually be captured, Cassidy has no choice but to check in to a fancy New York City hotel, have room service deliver a hearty last meal and climb out onto the ledge to proclaim his innocence. Having recently dealt with a similar suicide situation, fellow cop Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) is called to the scene to talk him down. It doesn’t take long for her to suspect there’s more to this story than Cassidy (or anyone else) is revealing.
Angie (Génesis Rodríguez) wears a really tight black body suit. I think she's also trying to break into a vault or something.
As Cassidy’s story unravels (along with the nerves of pretty much everyone else involved), some strange occurrences begin to develop across the street – in Englander’s headquarters. There we find Joey and his beautiful girlfriend Angie (Génesis Rodríguez, who looks like one of those incredibly hot women from Telemundo soap operas because she is one of those incredibly hot women from Telemundo soap operas) clumsily attempting to pull off a Mission: Impossible-like heist without the secret agent expertise.
As the pieces fall into place, we begin to see that Cassidy may actually be innocent, while Englander is as despicable as they come despite a public perception that portrays him as a businessman who has weathered the storm of a tough economy. And just as Cassidy and Englander are not who we first think they are, Joey and Angie’s elaborate scheme is also not motivated purely by the desire to obtain a piece of Englander’s wealth. But pretty much nothing is as it appears to be in Man on a Ledge, which gradually becomes more apparent as police, news reporters (even an uber-Caucasian reporter played by Kyra Sedgwick has the comically ethnic name Suzie Morales) and anyone close to Cassidy get closer and closer to the truth of what’s actually at hand.
So by the time Cassidy finally takes the plunge, the result is not as morbid as you (or the ever-growing group of curious onlookers) might expect. And once the proverbial smoke clears, we see that Cassidy’s prison break plot was even more thoroughly planned than it first seems, with yet another huge twist before the credits role.
Man on a Ledge. Directed by Asger Leth. Starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Génesis Rodríguez and Ed Harris. Rated PG-13. www.manonaledge.com.
Since its inception nearly a decade ago, Ring of Honor has set itself apart from other wrestling organizations by offering hard-hitting matches that often last upwards of 30 minutes, leaving the performers physically and mentally drained. To die hard ROH fans, the focus on mixed martial arts and Japanese strong style athletic displays offers a more realistic alternative to mainstream wrestling, with every match feeling like it could be the main event. To critics, the lack of buildup from opening matches through midard conflicts to main event payoff cheapens the overall product, mentally exhausting fans well before the dramatic climax of the main event.
With Gateway to Honor, which took place in Collinsville, Ill. Nov. 6, 2011, ROH looks to be changing its formula up a little bit (perhaps to appeal to the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which now owns the company). From offering first time matches like Mark Briscoe vs. World Television Champion Jay Lethal and the American Wolves vs. the All Night Express to a surprisingly competitive match between the diminutive lumberjack Grizzly Redwood and the House of Truth‘s powerhouse Michael Elgin, Gateway to Honor really showcases many of ROH’s strong points without overdoing things. There’s even a women’s match between the Embassy’s Mia Yim (in her first ROH match) and MsChif that is better than some men’s matches (let alone female contests) in other promotions. And with women’s matches being such a rarity in ROH, that is one area where the company really makes it count (which is something the bigger promotions can’t say, despite having their own women’s divisions).
Unlike most ROH events, Gateway to Honor actually treats the opening matches like an undercard, kicking things off with an exciting and quick (especially by ROH standards) conflict between the increasingly impressive Tommaso Ciampa and Andy “Right Leg” Ridge that includes plenty of interference from the Embassy and a comical save by Delirious that includes him laying a sloppy kiss on Yim. The second match, pitting Jay Briscoe against TJ Perkins, is another relatively short match that, despite being an entertaining bout with some good spots, mostly serves to show just how over the Briscoes are with the ROH crowd. The commentary (not typically one of ROH’s strong points) is dead on when one commentator (not sure if it was Kevin Kelly or Dave Prazak) says, “No matter where Ring of Honor goes, fans will always cheer for the Briscoes.”
Another thing that Gateway to Honor (and ROH in general) does well is showcase solid tag team wrestling. The always entertaining Bravado Brothers and the team of Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino offer a bit of comic relief while Future Shock (consisting of Adam Cole and Davey Richards‘ protege Kyle O’Reilly) puts up an impressive fight against World Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team (after which Benjamin commends the younger team by saying it’s only a matter of time before Future Shock is wearing the belts).
All of these matches (and more) build to the main event of Richards (who resides in nearby St. Louis and is honored in a pre-show homecoming that appears as a bonus on this DVD) and Eddie Edwards against Kenny King and Rhett Titus. Both the Wolves and the All Nighters pull off some great tandem teamwork, with King hitting some amazing moves outside the ring. The main event eventually builds to a typical ROH spotfest, with each man trading moves and punches with his opponent and giving his absolute best physical effort. And the conclusion of the match serves to establishthe ANX as one of the company’s strongest tag teams while also furthering the growing rivalry between American Wolves partners Richards and Edwards as their impending match for the World Championship looms.
If Gateway to Honor is any indication of things to come for ROH (which it seems to be based on the events that have taken pace since then), then ROH is finding a great balance between what its loyal fans want to see and what might attract more casual wrestling fans who are used to an entirely different kind of product. And that’s something that past promotions such as Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling have been unable to do when trying to take the next step towards reaching larger audiences.
Rodney Mack is likely best remembered by wrestling fans for his White Boy Challenges of the early 2000s, where, under the managerial guidance of Theodore Long, he gave many Caucasian members of the Raw roster opportunities to last five minutes in the ring with him. Though he was a dominant force for most of his WWE career, he was only there for a few years before returning to to the independent circuit. Trained by the Junkyard Dog, Mack has continued to be a tenacious competitor mostly in Mid-South promotions, showing many competitors (not just white guys) why he is often called the Badd Dogg. Alongside his wife Jazz (who has held many titles, including the WWE Women’s Championship), Mack also runs Downsouth Championship Wrestling, one of the Mid-South’s biggest promotions. This week Mack returns to action in Universal Championship Wrestling, an Atlanta-based promotion featuring many former World Championship Wrestling and WWE talents such as Buff Bagwell, Luke Gallows and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. As he prepares for three big UCW shows this weekeend at Hiram High School, the North Atlanta Trade Center and the Inspiring Kids Academy, Mack talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his recent achievements and his role in UCW.
You’ll be part of three UCW shows this weekend. Have you worked with UCW before?
I’ve worked with UCW in the past and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s one of the few companies that I still choose to work for out there for the simple fact that it’s old school, man. It’s kind of like Mid-South [Wrestling] in the way that it’s not all about glamor and glitz. It’s just old school, old fashioned wrestling and that’s why I’ve been part of it.
Do you know yet who you will be facing at each of this week’s shows?
No. I don’t really know. But it really doesn’t matter because I train seven days a week. The only time I don’t train is when I’m actually at an event. So it doesn’t matter. I’ll be ready for anybody.
UCW has monthly shows scheduled throughout the Atlanta area for 2012. Do you plan on continuing to work for the promotion and becoming a regular member of the UCW roster?
Yes. I was working with UCW regularly at one time, but they slowed up for a while. But I am officially on the roster.
There are several titles in UCW. Is there a certain title you plan on pursuing or do you have any other particular goals in this promotion?
Not necessarily. In every company that I’ve worked for, I’ve always put being the champion on the top of my list. In each and every promotion I’ve worked for, that’s just how I am. I want to be the best and that’s just how it is. Honestly, I really think I have the experience and the knowledge to go out there and represent the company in a respectful way. I can hold my own and dominate the other guys. I have a lot of confidence in who I am and I think I can really represent UCW as its champion.
Are you and Jazz still doing well?
Yes, we are. We train together every day. We have a set of twins that’s three years old and they actually train to wrestle with us every day, too.
Wow! They’re getting an early start. Does Jazz still wrestle actively as well?
Yes they are. And yes, she’s still very active. Matter of fact, we’re both honestly in the best shape of our lives right now.
No. If I went back to a bigger promotion, it would be WWE. But I’m not really looking for that. I’m having a blast and I’m accomplishing what I’ve always wanted to accomplish in the business, and that’s being as successful as I can possibly be. I still study every day and I’m still getting better every day. So if I went back to WWE, that would be great. But TNA doesn’t really interest me.
What other promotions to you wrestle for on a regular basis?
Well, I work for Downsouth Championship Wrestling, which is my own promotion. I also work for NWA Battlezone in Mississippi, Oldskool Wrestling down in New Orleans and NWA Wildkat, which is out of Slidell, Louisiana. Those are the main ones I work for. And, of course, UCW.
Do you hold titles in any of those promotions at the moment?
Yes. I am the current NWA Mississippi Champion, the DCW Champion and I’m the number one contender for the Oldskool Heavyweight Championship.
Who are some of the other talents on your roster in Downsouth?
Oh, there’s a lot of guys. I have Kevin Douglas, who once was a student of mine, out of Dallas, Texas. I have Chaos from Lafayette, Sweet Daddy Jones out of Mississippi, Jazz, of course, and Angelina Rush out of Missouri. We’ve got quite a troupe from various states.
Wrestling with Pop Culture has free tickets to all three of this week’s UCW shows. Just comment below with how many tickets you’d like for each show (up to six per person per show) and we’ll email you with details on how to get your tickets.
Channing Tatum's usually the one kicking ass. But in "Haywire," it's Gina Carano who does all the ass kicking. Photo by Claudette Barius
From the opening scenes of the mysterious Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) entering a rural New York diner with subtle battle wounds on her face, Carano is a captivating presence in her first starring role. For those not familiar with Carano, she’s not only a badass mixed martial arts fighter, but she was also known as Crush on the most recent incarnation of American Gladiators (hosted by wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and also featuring Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s Matt Morgan).
As a spy-for-hire globetrotting from a Barcelona mission to a hastily planned Dublin duty, Carano’s athletic background clearly prepared her for the many fight scenes that dominate Haywire from its onset, through its flashbacks all the way to it’s current-day climax. But Carano also proves to be a charismatic actress, holding her own alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton and Michael Douglas.
With Haywire, Soderbergh’s cinematography is fast-paced, yet fluid, and is complemented by the spy film score of longtime collaborator David Holmes, giving the film a retro James Bond feel. And in many ways Kane is like a female Bond, with Carano giving the character depth that is simultaneously sexy, sophisticated and strong.
When she's not kicking ass, Gina Carano likes to jump across rooftops and stuff. Photo by Claudette Barius
As she begins to realize things are not going according to plan (or more importantly, that there may be an entirely different plan at play), Carano portrays Kane with confidence, charm and the inventiveness of a survivor. Plus, watching her chase bad guys and evade capture Run Lola Runstyle through European streets and rooftops, put people into submission holds (with her legs) or showcase her abilities to drive really fast (sometimes backwards), outwit her would-be assassins and generally kick everyone’s ass (while making it look easy) is, for some odd reason, really entertaining. But as she goes about exacting revenge on those who have betrayed her, Kane proves that she’s able to think on her feet just as well as she can kick with them.
Haywire. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Starring Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton and Michael Douglas. Rated R. www.haywiremovie.com.
A motion capture game featuring Hulk Hogan from the same publisher that gave us the video game adaptation of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Majesco Entertainment) doesn’t really drum up too much expectation. Expecting a game with those ingredients to be an instant classic would be like expecting a recent Hulk Hogan match to be a classic. However, Hulk Hogan’s Main Event fails to meet even the lowest expectations.
Main Event has the standard features that we have come to expect from wrestling video games; a season/career mode that takes a single character from the bottom rung to the top of the ladder, a create-a-player mode and a one-on-one exhibition mode that pits player against the computer or another player. In the career mode the default character Caliente begins in a back yard wrestling event hosted by Hulk Hogan, with the winner receiving a shot at the big time. This seemingly daunting task requires you to win one match against Atlanta’s own Jim Bob, then you’re off to the “big time” with Hogan as your corner man.
Hogan being your corner man is the bulk of his involvement in the entire gaming experience. This is not only a storyline device, it is also a key component of the game play. Each match is divided into a series of segments known as stunts. In each stunt the goal is to beat the opponent by performing the motions that the Hulkster demonstrates in a small insert box that appears at the bottom right of the screen to pull off predetermined moves. (Yes, there is a leg drop. But the big boot is sadly missing.) These stunts devolve into a boring game of Simon Says with an aging wrestling icon. About 70 percent of the motions work about 70 percent of the time, but everything else is a crap shoot. There is one positive, and that is that in some stunts you do not need to be a carbon copy of digital Hulk and you are allowed to throw hands the way that you see fit. These stunts, however, are too few and too far between.
Graphically, Hulk Hogan’s Main Event is on the lower end the spectrum of what is acceptable for a game on the Kinect platform. The atmospheres are bright and reasonably well rendered, but the character definition is dreadful. Most characters are just pigment swaps of one another with the occasional wacky accessories thrown in for good measure. If a character is black, he is literally black (see Tombstone) and most every character has a look more akin to the bruisers of the 1950s. If not for this game’s complete lack of attention to wrestling, Lou Thesz would have been a perfect addition.
Every aspect of this game is lacking. Even the game’s menus are difficult to navigate. But it is not the randomly responding controls, the lackluster graphics or the repetitive mimicking that is passed off as game play that makes any wrestling fan tap out on Hulk Hogan’s Main Event. What is truly this game’s downfall is a complete disregard for the basic structure of professional wrestling. The matches have to stop and load between stunts, moves occur at inappropriate times and a headbutt does the same amount of damage as a massive Samoan drop (which the commentator calls a suplex). The pinning combination literally takes ten seconds. I will repeat, it takes ten seconds to count to three. The best way to describe this game is “lame.” It is a lame attempt by a video game company to capitalize on what is left of the name of Hulk Hogan by employing strategies like sprinkling in bro speak and Internet lingo to appear to be cutting edge. This game has X-Pac-like heat. At its finest, wrestling is about storytelling and emotion. Hulk Hogan’s Main Event offers none of the first and even less of the other.
Wrestling with Pop Culture is giving away a copy of Hulk Hogan’s Main Event. Just comment below with the name of any character Hogan has played in a movie or TV show. We’ll randomly pick from the correct answers and announce the winner on the WPC Facebook page on Jan. 27.
An expansion of Stephens’ 2002 production of The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man, these new singalong adventures come about as the Gingerbread Man runs from a hungry dog that has been chasing him since he first emerged from the oven. After encountering Barry, a furry blue fairy who makes the Pinocchio-like promise to turn the Gingerbread Man into a real boy if he carries out three acts of kindness, the Gingerbread Man stumbles into three other familiar folktales: Hansel and Gretel, Androcles and the Lion and The Frog Prince.
While he doesn’t necessarily do so intentionally, the Gingerbread Man finds himself carrying out the required three acts of kindness during his interactions with an old hag who lives in a gingerbread house, a misunderstood monster and other innocent variations on fairy tale victims and villains. With the dog never far behind, the Gingerbread Man’s adventures are motivated not by his desire to become a real boy, but to simply not have the dog chasing him any longer. While his pride in being a cookie is noble, little does the Gingerbread Man realize that by becoming a boy not only will the dog no longer want to eat him, but many of the other obstacles he encounters during his adventures would also be easier to overcome. But thanks to his flawed judgment, it looks like the Gingerbread Man’s adventures might continue.
Through song, humorous dialogue and use of various types of puppets, Stephens (a performer for The Jim Henson Company and Sesame Street) gives his story a definite Henson-like look and feel. And even though his tale is intended for children (who were clearly delighted by the performance I attended), it’s hard to imagine anyone not being amused by this new version of these whimsical childhood favorites.
The New Adventures of the Gingerbread Man will be at the Center for Puppetry Arts through Jan. 22. For more information, go to www.puppet.org.
During her professional wrestling career, the woman best known as Madusa helped legitimize women’s wrestling in the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. She held the Women’s Championship in pretty much every organization she worked for and was the first and only woman to ever hold the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (just one of many firsts for the woman also known as Alundra Blayze). Having put her wrestling career behind her, Madusa is now a successful Monster Jam truck driver (driving the Madusa truck, of course), having won the World Finals Championship in both freestyle and racing. As she readies for this Saturday’s Monster Jam event at the Georgia Dome, Madusa spoke with Georgia Wrestling History‘s Georgia Wrestling Now on Jan. 9. Here are the highlights from the interview, conducted by Wrestling with Pop Culture, Nemesis, Matt Hankins and Harold Jay Taylor.
You’ve been driving monster trucks for several years now. Did you go directly from wrestling to monster trucks?
I had my first show [of the year] last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma and just slapped the snot out of the boys. I love it. Altogether I’ve been driving about 10-12 years. But we only drive three months a year, so actually only maybe two-and-a-half, three years. I’ve won two championships and it has not come easy, I’ll tell you that.
I was still wrestling when I went into monster trucks. Monster Jam approached me because they wanted a cross promotion and wanted a name to get more little girls in seats and that’s exactly what they’ve accomplished.
Do you make more money driving trucks than you did in wrestling?
Oh, hell no. I made more money in wrestling. However, I’ve been frugal and smart and have other businesses and things going on. So I can enjoy what I do and I’ve been blessed. Monster trucks are sort of how wrestling was 20 years ago, so I think it’s going to take another ten years or so before the pay is the same. I remember the days when I had to drive 300 miles and I made five bucks. But you’ve got to love what you do. If you don’t love what you do it will show. Little boys have dreams of being in the spot I’m in and I just fell into it. I had never been to a monster truck show, never really seen one and never could really give a hoot, so I’m lucky.
When you first started driving a monster truck there were several other wrestling-themed trucks. None of those are around these days, but you’re still here. Why do you think you’ve outlasted the other wrestling trucks? Are you just that damn good?
Yes, I am that damn good. However, they had a contract with WCW for some of the names in WCW. I was the only talent that actually drove their own truck. Goldberg, NWO and all of them, they licensed their names over to Monster Jam. None of them drove their trucks. Goldberg’s quote was, “There’s no way in hell I’m getting in that truck. You are crazy, girl.” I’m an adrenaline junkie. I love it and it was a great marriage. It was perfect. And for 10, 12 years I’ve just been jamming it, kicking it to the top, winning two championships.
It has not been easy being a woman in a man’s world – not just once, but twice – and have to prove yourself from the bottom up all over again. When I finally did win a championship, that’s when I earned the guys’ respect.
How many female monster truck drivers are there?
There’s not enough. I think there are about five of us now. Being the First Lady of Monster Jam and opening the doors for others, it’s a great feeling to see the change and possibilities. We have some great female drivers, so it just feels so good to see them rising through the ranks. I hope one of them gets a championship here soon because it would be good to have another woman on board to feel this great feeling. When I won the championship, I won it in racing. It was against Dennis Anderson [and] Grave Digger, so when you have man against woman, student against teacher, Ford against Chevy and icon against icon, I almost couldn’t breathe! When I’m sitting at that starting line and that light is red, waiting to turn green to go, I was as calm as could be right then and there. The only thing I could think of is, “Oh my gosh! This is like ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney, and I’m gonna kick his ass.” And I did. It was awesome and it was the best feeling ever.
Have you ever thought of branching out into other types of racing?
Honey, if I was 20 years younger I probably would. I’ve always been a motorhead. I’ve been riding Harleys for over 20 years and dirt bikes and four wheelers and I love to hunt. I’m a girlie girl inside at times and I love to put on makeup and jump in the high heels. In my earlier years I was always ahead of my time. From wrestling to boxing to going to Japan to whatever, it just feels so good to have been able to pave a lot of avenues for what it is today. I really wish I would have thought of NASCAR 20 years ago or so. I would’ve been good.
You’re good, but you’re also a character that people want to go see. It seems like drag racing and other sports could use someone like that.
Madusa isn’t just a name or a character any more; it’s a brand. It has taken many years to do that, but it’s a brand. But talking about top people? Oh, honey. You look at them Force girls. I wish I could be one of them. One of the Force girls said, “I dig that Madusa chick in her monster truck.” Well, little does she know I dig her and her racing. She’s got a great push, a great name and some great talent, so she’ll be able to go a long way in her sport and carry it along for other women.
Which do you think is more physically dangerous, wrestling or driving a monster truck?
I get hurt more in this truck than I did in wrestling. After 18 years of pro wrestling, broken bones, blown knees and whatnot, you can imagine what 10,000 pounds of g-force in mid air will do to your body. You’ve got to take precautions either way. But anything is dangerous. Walking out of the house is dangerous. You’ve just got to think smart and be smart. They take 100% safety precautions in any arena they’re at, so it is what it is.
You’ll always be remembered in wrestling for taking the WWF Women’s Championship to WCW and throwing it in a garbage can on Monday Nitro. You obviously accomplished a lot in wrestling aside from that, but if there’s anything you’d like to be remembered for in wrestling what would it be?
I was under contract and I was told to do that by Eric Bischoff or “there’s the door.” But there’s a lot of things to be memorable for. Opening the doors for the new Divas division, opening the doors for women to be who they are today, changing up women’s wrestling, making it legit wrestling, bringing Japanese wrestling into women’s wrestling. Do we actually throw in winning championships? I don’t know. You tell me.
Do you keep up with what’s currently going on in wrestling?
I don’t make a point to watch it. If it’s on TV and I’m surfing and see it, I will [watch it]. Lately I’ve been catching Beth Phoenix on there and I thought, “Dang. It’s about time we got some girls on there that can kinda wrestle, look good, have some knowledge. Every time she wrestles someone, she’s the one that’s carrying the opponent. And she has to always set herself back to make the other person look good. You know what that reminds me of? It reminds me of when I was there and it pisses me off. I feel like they’re stiffling her a little bit because [they] don’t have somebody of her caliber. So what do you do? There’s other girls coming up the ranks that are starting to be as good as her, but she’s untouchable right now in WWE.
You still have the title belt you took to Monday Nitro and you recently issued an opportunity to Beth Phoenix to challenge you for it. Do you think you have a chance of that happening?
Well, let’s get something straight. If you’re referring to the YouTube video I posted a few days ago, I was merely talking about my merchandise and the questions I’m being asked. So I was just answering a question. That is not throwing it out there and saying, “I want to come back.” What happened is that video went viral, so I was like, “Why is my merchandise so crazy? Wow, great. More T-shirts sold. That’s awesome.”
