Rejected by everyone but determined to fit in, he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team. But the whole idea of the bumbling newcomer developing into a top quality wrestler was still there, even if it was presented in a new way. Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. Discover how much the famous Movie Actor is worth in 2021. Find out how to subscribe to The Guillotine Newsmagazine. The action on the mat gets a bit over the top at a few points in the movie, but for the most part it looks and feels like wrestling. The full cast also includes Dennis Quaid, Katrina Bowden, Currie Graham, Costas Mandylor, Maurice Compte, Reno Wilson, and Ali Afshar. He’s singled out for harassment at school because of his Iranian heritage, and his uncle doesn’t have the money or desire to take care of him. In this inspiring tale based on true events, seventeen-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. An African American man played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and his wife adopt a white supremacist kid. Ali Afshar, Hadeel Reda Studio Lionsgate Rating PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) Purchase rights Stream instantly Details Format Prime Video (streaming online video) ... 5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful heartwarming inspiring true story.. Watch it now. This looks like a wonderful film that tells an inspiring and powerful story. The film centers around the world of competitive high school wrestling and stars George Kosturos as Ali Jahani, a 17–year old who escapes Iran in the 1980s after the Iran hostage crisisand must adjust to life in a small California town only to face more hostility in America due to the hostage crisis. As I am writing this, it is also available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Playstation Network. However, a few of the twists in the movie are a little different. His passion for speed and entertaining was evident at a very early age as his family could often find him racing motorcycles and horses at the age of 5 on their 200—acre ranch. This story has been shared 4,204 times. Then-young Ali sought to fit in with a new culture, surrounded by people who knew little, if anything, about Iran or its history. This has all the usual fight film tropes, and doesn't seem to be unique at all especially with the military subplot, but it … Despite a pandemic, growing economic anxieties and months of social and political turbulence, Christmas 2020 turned out to be very good for Ali Afshar… Inspired by true events can sometimes be the international sign for eye roll when it comes to movies. More than once I felt like I was seeing a retelling of Vision Quest; a newcomer to the sport of wrestling puts in a lot of hard work in an attempt to beat his rival who is, inevitably, a returning state champion. Raised in Northern California, Ali Afshar grew up in the green Sonoma Mountains of Petaluma. Posts about ali afshar written by moviejoltz. I think young wrestlers today will identify with the main character’s struggle for acceptance. Based loosely on a true story, Ali Afshar is a high schooler who struggles to fit into his new life in California. Set in the 1990s, the film follows Mickey as he finds himself pulled into an unsanctioned Mma tournament in the hopes of providing for his family. American Wrestler The Wizard movie https://teaser-trailer.com/movie/american-wrestler-the-wizard Directed by Alex Ranarivelo. - Nothing seems to work out for him until he stumbles across the wrestling coach. The bullying scenes are well filmed and a pretty realistic portrayal of the 1980s. Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. “American Wrestler: The Wizard” will be in theaters Wednesday for one day only. However, he faces more hostility in America due to the hostage crisis. Mr. Afshar’s friends and family members appeared in the film alongside professionals like Mr. Fichtner and Mr. Voight. He has no friends and no support system, either at school or at home. The struggle is symbolized in the movie by the letter jacket Afshar sees other students wearing and his desire to earn one for himself. In “American Wrestler,” George Kosturos stars as young Ali, who is pushed to excel by Coach Denny Plyler (William Fichtner). Based loosely on a true story, Ali Afshar is a high schooler who struggles to fit into his new life in California. The Dog Lover on DVD July 5, 2016 starring Allison Paige, James Remar, Lea Thompson, Jayson Blair. EXCLUSIVE: Memo details DHS strategy to cancel cooperation deals with states CORONA, CA (January 23, 2019) - Producer, Ali Afshar’s ESX Motorsports & Entertainment (Home of the Worlds Quickest and Fastest Subarus') is proud to announce an expanded sponsorship with Lucas Oil Products in 2019. The Washington Times “American Wrestler” takes the familiar path of a tournament narrative, with young Ali working to beat not only his opponents, but his own doubts and fears as a young man coming into his own. Like most wrestling people who see a wrestling movie, the first thing I want to know is how realistic the wrestling is. “All my best friends are Americans. For example, it’s the returning state champion who cuts down a weight class to get a shot at humiliating the immigrant. It starts out in Iran shortly after fifty-two Americans are captured and held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in the capital city of Tehran by Iranian militants. A new wrestling movie was released on my Playstation last month, so I figured I should watch it. Starring: Lauren Swickard,Josh Swickard,Ali Afshar. I would recommend wrestling people give the movie a try. The story is a compelling one that I think will appeal to a lot of high school kids. Many of the smaller indie films he acts in are never seen in a theater at all, he said, but he pushed hard for Mr. Afshar’s movie, believing strongly in the story and its message. We track celebrity net worth so you don't have to. “I didn’t need to sit back with this. "American…” The story is a compelling one that I think will appeal to a lot of high school kids. “I’m as American as they come,” Mr. Afshar said. JOIN NOW. Ali Afshar and his family escaped the Iranian Revolution, emigrating to Northern California while they were still able. Rejected by everyone but determined to fit in, he joins the schools' floundering wrestling team. Judge people for who they are not the color of their skin or religious beliefs,” he said. Ali faces a mountain of adv… Ali Afshar is an American actor and a racer who is also credited under Alex Dodd and Alex Todd. Sometimes you just go on a feeling,” he said. Wrestling fans, get out and see this entertaining and well-produced wrestling movie. Quiz: US Citizenship Test - Could You Pass? Ultimately, Afshar finds himself on the wrestling team and it proves to be his salvation. “I am very proud of Iranian culture and history. I have to say, it’s not bad. Real “Wizard” Ali Afshar’s story takes place in the early 90s, but the story has been changed to begin during 1980, in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis. He ended up looking like an experienced wrestler by the end of the film. THE RIDE. Movie Maker/Actor Ali Afshar Re-Visits his Racing Roots. Mr. Afshar said there remains in his adopted land a current of prejudice against Middle Easterners that he experienced as a young immigrant, and which has been somewhat reignited due some of the Trump administration’s rhetoric and proposed travel bans. Mr. Fichtner said that having “American Wrestler” be granted a theatrical release by Warner Bros., even if for just one day, is satisfying. “This is one of those movies, more than any film I’ve ever worked on, I have no doubt what [audience reaction] will be after they see it,” he said. Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie When wild animals escape from a sanctuary, Bear Grylls — and you — must pursue them and secure their protective habitat. I thought this might be a good time of year to try something a little different. However, life in America is hardly the utopia Afshar imagined it to be. What makes the story even more appealing is that it is local and true. This article first appeared in the June 9, 2017, issue of The Guillotine Newsmagazine as part of Things I Find Interesting Column. Ali Afshar was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. This only adds to Afshar’s frustration with the school. Monday, May 1, 2017, Trump still a GOP titan: ‘A restoration is coming’. “Everybody that he want to first grade with was in this movie,” Mr. Fichtner said with a laugh. “Obviously we made it a more entertaining story, so we took some Hollywood liberties. I was glad I got to see the movie, and it was a fun change of pace to write about it this month. Wanting to fit in, Ali joins the school's wrestling team and becomes the squad's star member. Since I ended up thinking it was a good film, I decided a movie review was in order. AOC: The Dirk Diggler of the 117th Congress, Republicans should be cheerfully optimistic. The people in his life gain respect for him when they see the hard work and discipline he displays on the mat. Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2020. The movie had a limited theater release that ended last month, but can be ordered on DVD from ESX Entertainment. Following a violent incident at 8 years of age, “a troubled youth from a white supremacist family is sent to a juvenile detention center by the courts. Watch now on Netflix. Ali Afshar and his family escaped the Iranian Revolution, emigrating to Northern California while they were still able. However, let’s be honest. Rep. Ilhan Omar says Republican Party is 'destroyed': 'They're becoming the Looney Tunes' American Wrestler: The Wizard is based on the true story of Ali Afshar, a teenage boy who escapes the unrest in Iran in 1980. 41 Likes, 1 Comments - TheDastanProject (@thedastanproject) on Instagram: “Inspired by the "True Story" of Wrestler Ali Jahani coming to a theater near you! “American Wrestler” was shot in Petaluma, in many cases in the exact same places where the early-‘80s events depicted in the film occurred. Transgender sprinters finish 1st, 2nd at Connecticut girls indoor track championships, “This movie is about me and my family,” Mr. Afshar told The Washington Times. The music was great too. True Story. Trace Adkins, Michael Roark, Ali Afshar, Pashsa Afshar and the rest of “Bennett’s War” cast really deliver in their parts — even Forrest Lucas appears in the movie. It’s not only a good wrestling movie, but also explores a number of issues such as the challenges of fitting in at high school and the positive effects a sport like wrestling can have on young immigrants. Quiz: Can you pass the Declaration of Independence test? Kosturos was a basketball player back in his high school days, so he had to learn to wrestle as part of his preparation for the movie. One thing I liked is how Actor George Kosturos portrays the main character, Ali Afshar. And the movie doesn’t want you to forget that characters are in the early 80s. A look into Ali Afshar's net worth, money and current earnings. Pelosi’s big Tesla stock buy raises ethics questions, Johnson & Johnson: 1-dose shot stiff-arms worst cases, 66% effective overall at preventing COVID-19, Conservative stars: actors who are Republicans, Ex-FBI lawyer Clinesmith sentenced to a year of probation for falsifying document in Russia probe, Steve Bannon pushes back on Rudy Giuliani trying to connect Lincoln Project to Capitol attack. Ponce Trained Wrestling Technique of the Week – June 15, 2017. Click to Read More If the problems don’t affect the principal, then, in his opinion, they’ve been solved. A California Christmas tells the story of Joseph, a wealthy businessman on a quest to get a promotion at work. The overall effect was a pretty realistic depiction of the time period. Watch all you want. “He didn’t turn his back on him.”. They love the West.”. Professor points to Declaration of Independence as cause to legalize all drugs, ‘Most patriotic thing I’ve done’: Tipsters aid FBI in most arrests in Capitol attack, EXCLUSIVE: Memo details DHS strategy to cancel cooperation deals with states, Rep. Ilhan Omar says Republican Party is 'destroyed': 'They're becoming the Looney Tunes', Transgender sprinters finish 1st, 2nd at Connecticut girls indoor track championships, Click Ali Afshar has led an interesting, yet a very inspirational life story to this point. 4,204 Netflix’s 'The Dig' True Story: What We Know About Sutton Hoo This story has been shared 4,029 times. Click Of Mr. Trump’s proposed travel ban, Mr. Afshar says that while there are certainly dangerous people who need to be kept out of America, a blanket ban is not the answer. His dad is brown (Sri Lankan), not Black. The movie I watched is “American Wrestler: The Wizard”. However, he said he was so taken in by “American Wrestler” — never mind its short shooting schedule and promise of a slim payday — that he immediately said yes. “Do it the right way. When character Ali Jahani arrives in America, political tension at his new school is nearly overwhelming. Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. The story the film tells is about the life of a pro BMX rider John Buultjens from Glasgow, Scotland. And if you talk to the people of Iran, they love Americans. The movie does a great job of using wrestling as a metaphor for the progress Ali Afshar makes assimilating himself in his new country. Sara Gold is a rising star at the United Animal Protection Agency (UAPA), a major animal rights organization that conducts animal rescues an I think the fact he had to learn to wrestle for the movie worked well because he did a very good job depicting an inexperienced wrestler during the early scenes in the film. Coach Plyler “was going through his own rough time, living out of his office and the gym, so somebody reached out to him to give him a helping hand, and he in turn paid it forward and reached out to this young man,” Mr. Fichtner said of the coach welcoming young Ali into the wrestling program. It would also be a good choice for a high school team to watch together. Created by Justin Leach (“Ghost in the Shell 2”), Yasuhiro Irie (“Fullmetal Alchemist”) directs the story of robots raising the last human child. Redbox isn’t loading it in their machines yet, but watch for it to possibly show up in the next few weeks. But Ali did eventually find a welcoming community in Petaluma, California’s high school wrestling community, where a local school coach encouraged him to excel despite the odds. THE wait was not too long before the waitress brought us our orders. Afshar struggles at his new school, trying various sports and activities in an attempt to fit in. Based on the inspiring true story, The Ride stars Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Shane Graham and Sasha Alexander and is available on Amazon Prime November 13. It's a great time to be a Minnesota wrestling fan. He discovers the uncle he lives with was a wrestling champion back in Iran. I have to say, however- one of the things that bothered me about the movie is that it didn’t always feel like it was breaking a lot of new ground in the genre of wrestling movies. I’ll admit I even got a little excited when the main character hit a surprise spladle to win a dual meet. Actors William Fichtner & Ali Afshar talk to The Inside Reel about perseverance, intention, America and adapting a true life story in regards to their new film: "American Wrestler: The Wizard". TOP STORIES The film also stars Oscar-winner Jon Voigt, and even features Mr. Afshar in a small role as his own uncle. “It’s a wonderful story and a story that needs to be told now in this [political] climate.”. He still struggles for acceptance, but slowly gains the respect of his teammates and the people around him. One choice changed his life, one family changed his heart. Additionally, the actual Buultjens — whose story this film takes many of its truths from — was in fact raised by an interracial foster couple. Ultimately, Afshar finds himself on the wrestling team and it proves to be his salvation. Similar sized plates were placed in front of us; mine had the food beautifully laid out with a row of shiny green vegetables stacked at one end and the … “I read it on a Tuesday, I had to tell them by Wednesday so I could travel on Thursday, and start working on Friday,” Mr. Fichtner said, adding he often likes to mull over a script for a few days. A True Inspirational Story, "American Wrestler: The Wizard" Winner of 10 Festival Awards Comes to U.S. Cinemas for One Night Only on May 3, 2017. It’s about a young Iranian who comes to the United States as an immigrant in 1980 at the height of the Iran Hostage Crisis. and View Comments, Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, - The wrestling action was helped a lot by the fact many of the teammates and opponents in the film were current high school wrestlers. With a chance to change how others see him, Ali must step up and learn to be a hero. Biden invites 10 Senate Republicans to White House to present their relief plan, Trump’s Afghanistan withdrawal in doubt under Biden, Most unbelievable upsets in Super Bowl history, Lip service: Democrats plan end run of GOP despite calls for unity, Doctor: “Doing This Every Morning Can Snap Back Sagging Skin (No Creams Needed)”, Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wall Street: ‘It’s a rigged game’, Romney: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump phone call: ‘Lies of a feather flock together’. Now an actor and film producer, Mr. Afshar will see his own life story dramatized on screen when Warner Bros. releases “American Wrestler: The Wizard” for one day only this Wednesday. After taking a few beatings during try-outs, he joins the team. Lauren Swickard stars with her real-life husband, Josh Swickard, in this holiday romance she wrote and produced. Mr. Fichtner said that both Coach Plyler and Ali were outsiders, which may be why the two formed such a bond. He certainly has some ups and downs as the movie builds to its conclusion, but once he embraces the confidence his new sport gives him, he is better equipped to deal with the turmoil around him. The movie has some nice scenes where the uncle bonds with Afshar and helps him train by sharing some traditional conditioning techniques and wrestling moves from Iran. Mr. Afshar said his investors were supportive of the film because it “shows an Iranian boy as the hero, not an Iranian bad guy, not a comic relief Middle Eastern guy, [but] like ‘Rocky’ or ‘The Karate Kid.’”. Afshar’s parents don’t want him drafted into the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for military service, so they pay to have him smuggled out of the country so he can live with an uncle in California. It included several iconic songs from the time period including a pair of Loverboy classics, “Working For The Weekend” and “Turn Me Loose”, along with “I Want You To Want Me” by Cheap Trick. 4,029 'All … Afshar: “The Ride” is based on a true story of overcoming diversity. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's failing wrestling team. here for reprint permission. Both were in the Springstowne Wrestling Academy in Vallejo, which hosted the film with a visit from Ali Afshar, the real-life wrestler and writer of “American Wrestler: The Wizard.”. Verified Purchase. Mr. Fichtner, who plays the wrestling coach in the film, is a veteran of over 80 movies including “The Dark Knight,” “Armageddon” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and thus has his choice of Hollywood roles. Born in the country of Iran, he and his family fled the country during the political turmoil of the late 1970s, settling in the City of Petaluma, California, which is located in Sonoma County (Petaluma is also home of several filming sites used for the 1970s hit movie, American Graffiti). The good wrestling stances on their feet and natural reactions on the mat made the action in the film believable. The clothing styles and the way the sets were designed all had an authentic feel to them. I graduated from high school at about the same time the movie was set in, so I saw a lot of the movie through the eyes of someone who lived and wrestled through the same time period. Overall, I give the movie a thumbs up. Although you’ll see the Flying Squirrel and wrestlers bridging through a half nelson against state tournament quality wrestlers, there is also some solid takedowns, emphasis on getting the opponent out of position, and a few nice hip throws. American Wrestler: The Wizard is a 2016 American sports biographical film directed by Alex Ranarivelo. Ali Afshar’s teammates rally around him and are the first group in school to support and defend him. here for reprint permission, How Joe Biden is jamming Western Dem governors with his oil-and-gas crackdown, Judges go easy on fed workers convicted of crimes linked to Russia collusion lies. But the whole theme of this movie is hope, inspiration — showing the American dream.”. It is a story of working through and seeing beyond differences to come together with love, and a … The attitudes displayed by the people in the movie toward Iranians, the willingness of the students to accept and act on stereotypes, and the rather cold relationships between the students and adults all rang true to me. “I could live there [as now] I know everybody.”. Quiz: The ultimate NFL Super Bowl trivia challenge - Are you ready for some football? Ali Afshar net worth is $1.5 Million Ali Afshar Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Ali Afshar is an actor and producer, known for Three … True to the times, the school’s principal, played by Academy Award winner Jon Voight, isn’t too interested in solving any of the underlying problems Afshar experiences, he just wants to see the fighting stopped. I felt like the movie effectively transported me back to the eighties. He did the voice of the Phantom Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo (1997) and Power Rangers In Space (1998). 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