Aarcflick

 ESPN's intriguingly structured two-part documentary 30 for 30 The American Gladiators Documentary shows that there's a lot more to one of the biggest cultural phenomena of the 1990s than meets the eye. Director Ben Berman's comprehensive and playful look at a horribly reviewed "sports" competition show that drew thirteen million viewers in syndication each week spends roughly ninety minutes each on two different, but intersecting tracks. The first half of The American Gladiators Documentary looks at the day-to-day running of the show through the eyes of the producers, directors, contestants, former "gladiators" and, predominantly, the larger-than-life co-creator, Johnny Ferraro. The show, which revolved around ordinary people attempting to best burly, athletic giants in a variety of physical challenges, harkened back to a time when the safety and well-being of said participants was secondary to creating a bigger show. than life. Think of it like pro wre...