Stuntman | |
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![]() Original film poster, as released at the 2018 LAFF | |
Directed by | Kurt Mattila |
Written by | Kurt Mattila |
Produced by |
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Cinematography | Keith Dunkerley |
Edited by | Kurt Mattila |
Music by | Jeremy Zuckerman |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | |
Release dates | |
Running time | 85 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Stuntman is a 2018 American documentary film, written and directed by Kurt Mattila. The events of the movie follow stunt performer Eddie Braun's recreation of Robert "Evel" Knievel's failed Skycycle X-2 jump over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. [2]
Originally released at the 2018 LA Film Festival in September of the same year by Endeavor Content, [3] [4] the film's wide-release was distributed by The Walt Disney Company through their Disney+ streaming service as a Disney+ Original on July 23, 2021. [2] The film was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, rendering it lost media by legal means. [5]
With no financial support from any industry, stunt perfumer Eddie Braun sets out to honor the legacy of his childhood idol, Evel Knievel. After the opportunity arises to jump the Snake River Canyon, Braun spends his life savings on his life-long dream. Enlisting the help of Scott Truax, the son of the original NASA rocket scientist who build Knievel's steam-powered rocket, the pair alongside the film crew experience and emotional journey unlike anything they've previously experienced. [1]
Initially announced in July 2018 as one of the featured documentaries at the year's Los Angeles Film Festival, [4] the official release date was confirmed later that September. Described as an action movie-documentary, the film portrays the 55-year-old's attempts to complete a stunt that his childhood hero failed. Created and directed by Kurt Mattila, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia served as executive producers, along with Alexander Dervin, Julie Benson, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz, and Kelly Knievel (Evel’s son). The project was a joint-venture production with a partnership between Driven Pictures and Seven Bucks Productions.
Johnson stated, “I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing stunt performers over the course of my career, the entire stunt community is the backbone of our business." Garcia stated that the film is "a powerful experience that exposes the level of passion and fearlessness required by these invaluable stunt actors." Endeavor Content handled distribution at the film festival. [1]
In July 2021, following The Walt Disney Company's purchase of world-wide distribution, a new poster was released alongside the debut of the first official trailer. In comparison, Disney's version is concise and streamlined, while also not including the production details of the film as LAFF's did towards the bottom.[ citation needed ]
The film premiered at the 2018 LA Film Festival on September 23, 2018. [1] [3] [4] In June 2021, it was announced that The Walt Disney Company had purchased distribution rights and would be releasing the film as a Disney+ Original. [6] Stuntman was eventually released on July 23, 2021. [2] The film was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, rendering it lost media by legal means. [5]
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 7 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.00/10. [7]
Dennis Harvey of Variety found the documentary film to be an "ambitious vanity" project that is "admirably accomplished," praised the tension across the movie, but stated the film lacks emotional depth. [8] Johnny Loftus of Decider called the project of Stuntman "admirable," complimented the revealing footage from the cameras on steam-powered rockets and board stunt vehicles, but said that the narrative is not emotional enough. [9] Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, complimented the depiction of positive messages, citing perseverance, and praised the presence of positive role models, stating Eddie Braun promotes tenacity, modesty, and bravery. [10]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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2018 | Los Angeles Film Festival | Best Documentary Feature | Kurt Mattila | Won | [3] |
Best Feature | Nominated |
Robert Craig Knievel, known professionally as Evel Knievel, was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Throughout his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. He died of pulmonary disease in Clearwater, Florida, in 2007, aged 69.
Robert Edward Knievel II was an American motorcyclist and stunt performer. He had also used the stage name Kaptain Robbie Knievel.
The Skycycle X-2 was a steam-powered rocket owned by Evel Knievel and flown during his Snake River Canyon jump in Idaho in 1974.
Viva Knievel! is a 1977 American action film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Evel Knievel, Gene Kelly and Lauren Hutton, with an ensemble supporting cast including Red Buttons, Leslie Nielsen, Cameron Mitchell, Frank Gifford, Dabney Coleman and Marjoe Gortner.
Edward Kidd is an English former stunt performer. He was paralysed and suffered brain damage following an accident in 1996. On 15 June 2012 it was announced that he had been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to charity.
A steam rocket is a thermal rocket that uses water held in a pressure vessel at a high temperature, such that its saturated vapor pressure is significantly greater than ambient pressure. The water is allowed to escape as steam through a rocket nozzle to produce thrust.
Snake River Canyon is a canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho, forming part of the boundary between Twin Falls County to the south and Jerome County to the north. The canyon ranges up to 500 feet deep and 0.25 miles wide, and runs for just over 50 miles. Perrine Bridge crosses the canyon immediately north of the city of Twin Falls; Hansen Bridge crosses the canyon to the east of Twin Falls. Shoshone Falls is located approximately 5 miles east of Perrine Bridge along the canyon. The canyon continues through Glenns Ferry and south of Boise, making it longer than 50 miles.
Captain Robert C. Truax (USN) was an American rocket engineer in the United States Navy, and companies such as Aerojet and Truax Engineering, which he founded. Truax was a proponent of low-cost rocket engine and vehicle designs.
Sheldon Arthur "Shelly" Saltman was a promoter of major sports and entertainment events including the worldwide promotion of the Muhammad Ali / Joe Frazier heavyweight championship boxing matches, creating the Andy Williams San Diego Golf Classic and helped to arrange the independent NFL Players Association games during the 1982 NFL season strike. Saltman was perhaps best known to the public as the man who Evel Knievel tried to beat to death with a baseball bat in 1977.
Dale Charles Buggins (1961–1981) was an Australian stunt motorcyclist who had built a national and international reputation by the age of 20. At 17, Buggins broke a world record previously held by American stuntman Evel Knievel when he jumped 25 cars with a Yamaha dirt bike, in 1978.
Harold Buttleman, Daredevil Stuntman is a 2003 film written and directed by Francis Stokes; the only movie he has directed. It won the Jury Prize at the Deep Ellum Film Festival in 2003. It was awarded the audience award in the Had to Be Made Film Festival in 2005.
Ken Carter, born Kenneth Gordon Polsjek, was a Canadian stunt driver.
Jungle Cruise is a 2021 American fantasy adventure film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay written by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, and Michael Green. It is based on Walt Disney's eponymous theme park attraction. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. It tells the alternate history of the captain of a small riverboat who takes a scientist and her brother through a jungle in search of the Tree of Life while competing against a German expedition, and cursed conquistadors.
Lathan McKay is an American producer, historian, actor, writer and co-founder of the Evel Knievel Museum. As a former professional skateboarder, he has amassed the largest collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia in the world. The collection now resides at the official Evel Knievel Museum alongside Historic Harley Davidson.
Doug "Danger" Senecal, born March 31, 1962, in Palmer, Massachusetts, is known as Doug Danger. He is an American motorcycle jumping world record holder and stunt performer and Stage 4 cancer survivor who lives in Oak Hill, Florida.
Evel Knievel is a 2004 American drama film directed by John Badham and written by Jason Horwitch. The film stars George Eads, Jaime Pressly, Lance Henriksen, Fred Thompson, Beau Bridges, Matt Gordon and Peter MacNeill. The film premiered on TNT on July 30, 2004. The movie is well known for its many gaffes and inaccurate portrayal of Knievel and his career.
Seven Bucks Productions is a production company involved with various platforms and mediums, credited with creating original releases for television, film, emerging technologies, and digital networks. The studio was co-created and founded by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dany Garcia. The company produces a variety of projects, directly in relation with Johnson's film slate, these films have grossed $4.6 billion at box office.
Dany Garcia Rienzi is an American film producer and businesswoman. She is the founder of GSTQ and the CEO and chair of The Garcia Companies overseeing a portfolio of brands in business, entertainment, and food, including Teremana Tequila, Athleticon, and the Project Rock Collection at Under Armour, VOSS, Atom Tickets, Salt & Straw, ZOA Energy, Acorns, and the UFL.
Behind the Attraction is a documentary television series on Disney+ produced by Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions and Brian Volk-Weiss's The Nacelle Company. The first five episodes were released on July 21, 2021, with the remaining five released on August 25th, 2021. The documentary is narrated by Paget Brewster. The series features interviews with fans and Imagineers and analyzes the history, popularity and transformation of Disney attractions and destinations over time.
The Evel Knievel Museum is a non-profit museum located in Topeka, Kansas, United States. The museum houses the largest collection of authentic Evel Knievel memorabilia in the world, including interactive experiences. It is 13,000 square feet and two stories. The museum is located adjacent to Topeka's Historic Harley-Davidson and opened in June 2017.