The Hammer (2010)

A coming of age drama following the life of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Wrestling Championship.

Director:

Oren Kaplan

Writers:

Eben Kostbar, Joseph McKelheer

Stars:

Russell Harvard, Raymond J. Barry, Shoshannah Stern

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Russell Harvard	...	Matt Hamill
Raymond J. Barry	...	Stanley Leroy McCoy
Shoshannah Stern	...	Kristi Jones
Michael Anthony Spady	...	Jay Jakubowski
Courtney Halverson	...	Michelle
Susan Gibney	...	Janet Hamill
Joseph McKelheer	...	Ron Gross
Eben Kostbar	...	Coach Cantrell
Rich Franklin	...	Coach Pruitt
Stephen Dodd	...	Coach Rich
Gavin Bellour	...	Pat Hamill
Theodore Conley	...	Young Matt Hamill
Lexi Marman	...	Kelly
Kara Luiz	...	Vivian
Cory Knauf	...	Dale

Storyline

THE HAMMER is a sports drama depicting the struggles and successes Matt Hamill faced on the way to becoming a champion. Raised among those with the ability to hear, Matt later finds himself no less an outsider amidst the Deaf Community. Through sheer determination, he uses his perceived disability as an asset, and becomes both the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Championship and an inspirational force to the hearing and deaf alike.

---

Plot Keywords:

deaf | wrestling | sign language | lacrosse | montage | 

---

Taglines:

He knew he could be a champion. They knew he could be much more.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hamill

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,442, 24 October 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$75,729, 3 November 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Harvest,Fifth Year Productions,Sawhorse Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

You can spot Coach Cantrell, played by Eben Kostbar, in the final UFC scene with the real Matt Hamill.

---

Goofs

The grandfather told him that RIT would consider him for a scholarship in his second year if the first went well. RIT is a Division III school and cannot offer athletic scholarships.

---

Quotes

Stanley Leroy McCoy: After a couple of flashing lights and a teddy bear, you're gonna tell me my grandson is deaf and dumb?
Dr. Hoffman: No. After a couple of flashing lights and a teddy bear, I'm going to tell you you have a highly intelligent grandson... who's profoundly deaf.

---

Connections

Featured in MMA H.E.A.T.: R You Ready? (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Pleasant Day
Written by Ian Young
Performed by Ian Young
Courtesy of Ian Young

User Reviews

Great Movie about the life of hard of hearing wrestler

I took two hours train to see this movie in New York City. I felt that this movie is very powerful to tell a story about deaf culture and wrestler who was deaf from birth. This movie can show what it is like being deaf and hard of hearing person. I wish movie chains can run more show times and theaters. I suggested my friends who are not deaf to go see that movie but they said there is no show times in their local movie theaters. Switched at Birth is television programming that has many great examples of deaf culture. I definitely recommended everybody to go see this movie. Matt Hamill is a perfect role model for deaf community. Deaf doesn't mean we cannot do anything like wrestling, playing sports and getting a job.