BOWDREN HAS A UNIQUE VIEW ON T
By: Jeff Bowdren
11/21/2003 11:59:00 AM
|
|
"It was NOT....what...I wanted!!"
Al Pacino uttered that famous line during the film Godfather III. I got a chance to sit
and watch the DVD of that film a couple of weeks ago, completing the legendary
trilogy of the Corleone family. It was a couple of days after that I sat and watched
the two part shoot interview with Bret Hart that was done by my good friends at
RFVIDEO (my new motto: "Desperately trying to be used for a quote in the RFVIDEO newsletter!") Shoot interviews are, by their very nature a mixed bag, but
at the conclusion of this interview, I felt it may have been the best one they've done.
Bret Hart is such an interesting figure in wrestling history, either a victim or a part in
the most elaborate ruse in the history of the business (depending on your point of
view). It was as I sat and watched the end of the video that I found myself thinking
back to the Godfather series, and began to compare the character of Michael Corleone (Pacino) to Bret Hart. Pacino's character was of course, son of the original
godfather, Vito Corleone, who had built an empire from humble beginnings. He was
an older man by this point, and realized that he would soon be turning over the
"family business" to one of his sons. The one son who wanted nothing to do with
the business was the college educated Michael.
I mention this because during the interview Bret mentions that in his younger days
he really wanted nothing to do with the wrestling business, all the while realizing
how innately talented he was and understanding that his father was looking for a way
to get out of the business.
Back to the Godfather, Michael takes over the family business, and soars to national
recognition by doing business with several characters who may not have his best
interest at heart.
Oh please, you really don't need the corollary there, do you?
Godfather 3 finds Michael trying desperately for the respect that he feel will only come from being "legitimate", and breaking away from his criminal past.
Bret discusses on the tape how he loved to plan out the big matches on PPV as
though they were legitimate fighting contests, feeling that if the fans thought they
were seeing a match as a legitimate fight it made for a better event.
Godfather 3 reaches its climax as Michael is forced to deal with the anguish that
is his business and that the life he has lead has resulted in the death of his daughter.
Bret discusses the pain and emotional turmoil resulting from the death of his younger
brother Owen, and the anguish it caused himself and his family.
Godfather 3 concludes with an older Michael...sitting by himself in a yard....slowly
toppling over and dieing. Alone.
The interview ends with the best interchange ever captured by the RF crew.
Bret is asked...."What's the one regret you have?" He responds that he regrets not
getting Owen out of the WWE at the same time that he left. He says that he had
envisioned a life where as older men, he and Owen could sit on a back porch of their
homes, recalling fondly their days as wrestlers, watching their children grow. Now,
he says, that will never happen. Its truly a poignant moment.
And I thought of Michael Corleone. Sitting in that yard, all alone. And I thought
about the day that Bret Hart will be sitting on that back porch. Alone. With only
his own memories to warm him. The best there was.
1
|
