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The Sheik

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The Sheik (2014)

April. 26,2014
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7.1
| Documentary
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When Khosrow Vaziri became the World Wrestling Federations Iron Sheik and camel-clutched his way to fame in the 1980s, he achieved the American Dream by personifying a foreign villain. Losing his world championship belt to Hulk Hogan became a defining moment in professional wrestling. These days, the Sheiks smackdowns are on Twitter, where hes gained a new following. Once an Olympic hopeful, bodyguard to Irans Shah and pop culture icon, we witness Vaziri struggling with addiction and despair as a family man. But with the help of Torontos Magen brothers, the Sheik begins a road to redemption and renewed status as a public figure. Showcasing his powerful past and at times painful present, this is an insightful look at one of wrestlings biggest stars, but also a powerful story of personal sacrifice that, in the Sheiks own words, will make you humble.

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Wordiezett
2014/04/26

So much average

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Nonureva
2014/04/27

Really Surprised!

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Bea Swanson
2014/04/28

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

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Kaydan Christian
2014/04/29

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

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Sean Lamberger
2014/04/30

A quick-hits personal history of the mighty Iron Sheik, retired WWF champion turned profane social media phenomenon. Beneath his tough, big-front attitude, the Sheik has a deeply involved, complex story to tell, though an irritating lack of focus stops us from dwelling long enough to appreciate it. The film, well-produced and stuffed with big-name testimonials, seems more interested in his recent, superficial, second limelight than in his roots as an Iranian Olympian or even as foil to the likes of Hulk Hogan and Bob Backlund. Which is a shame, because I found the story of his abrupt exodus from the middle east and roundabout path to pro wrestling superstardom far, far more intriguing than his Twitter routine or appearances on Howard Stern. Maybe a lack of available footage from the Sheik's heyday is to blame, or maybe the producers found themselves too involved (they double as his social media advisors). Whatever the reasons, they leave the story hamstrung early and it sags badly for the last half-hour. Occasionally amusing and only rarely enlightening, it isn't half as enjoyable as just reading the guy's Wikipedia entry, checking out his last dozen tweets and calling it a day.

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Alex Ellis
2014/05/01

I felt genuine sympathy for The Sheik in this movie. His shocking addiction to crack at such an old age was wrenching. It was good to see him getting better. He really is a real life character in the true sense. The brothers who saved him and made the film did this man a great service. You can't help but love The Sheik. Sad, happy, sorrow, smiles, all you will feel. Great documentary. He had tragedy within his family, he was a hero in Iran, He raised daughters, had a wife, lived a life and made a comeback. I'm having trouble making this the minimum 10 lines. What started out a a fun review has turned into a school assignment. Oh I made it. Good doc, it's on Netflix.

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gavin6942
2014/05/02

"The Sheik" is a pop culture documentary that chronicles Khosrow Vaziri's electrifying career. From his upbringing in Iran, to his journey in America, to his unprecedented experiences as America's most hated villain.While you could make a story about any wrestler of the 1970s and 1980s, including those mentioned in this film (like Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Jake the Snake Roberts), the Iron Sheik makes for a good story because then you can bring in foreign relations. He was Iranian, spent his early years there, and later came to America and helped train the Olympic team. How odd it must be to play "the Iron Sheik", a villain, when you are proud of your Iranian roots and your American status.Through his story, we see the rise of WWF to a form of legitimacy, and what could be called the "mistake" of Hulkamania... or was it not a mistake? Indeed, through Hulk Hogan, wrestling achieved a level of pop culture influence that it never saw again.

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wllm995
2014/05/03

I had heard of this documentary from a friend; and went into it hoping for an interesting story - and got that and more.The story of the Iron Sheik (the iconic wrestling name Khosrow Vaziri took as his stage name) takes us all the way from his birth in Iran in the early 1940's right up to the present day.And what a story it is! In his lifetime Mr. Vaziri was a various times a multiple times amateur wrestling champion of Iran; a personal bodyguard for the then Shah of Iran; a coach for a U.S.Olympic Gold winning wrestling team; a world reviled villain in the WWE who also at one time was the World Champion of the WWE; a devastated and hopelessly drug addicted man who lost his loving wife and two beautiful daughters; and finally a risen up again loving husband and father (and grandfather) who became an U-Tube and Twitter sensation. And those are just the highlights of this fascinating man's long and winding journey. This documentary does a fine job of presenting Mr. Vaziri's story through not only his own inimitable words; but through the words of many, many of his contemporaries from both the amateur and professional wrestling worlds which were such a huge part of his life; along with many well chosen news clips and pictures showing his strange odyssey. I can highly recommend that you see 'The Sheik'

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