Pushed to the Limit
Encyclopedia
Pushed to the Limit is a 1992
action
pro wrestling feature film
written by Mimi Lesseos
and directed by Michael Mileham. Starring Mimi Lesseos
and Verrel Lester Reed, the film is about a wrestling queen who finds out that a gangster is responsible for her brother's death and trains in kickboxing to avenge his death.
in a number of productions. She has stated that her interest in making a film of her own was in part a reaction to the exploitative roles which she had accepted in her earlier work, as she wished to portray a fit and strong female character who was not "sleazy or muscle-bound". Lessos wrote, starred in and produced the work. Half of the $600,000 budget was provided through an investor, while she provided the other half, selling property and, at one point, traveling to Japan
to raise money through her professional fights. While in Japan she found a distributor, and worldwide distribution was gained after taking the movie to the Cannes Film Festival
.
also panned the film, offering "...a film of the calibre of PUSHED TO THE LIMIT defies criticism by its multitude of mistakes, from Lesseos's self-aggrandizing screenplay to Michael Mileham's bungled direction—rendering it not good, not bad, but gleefully awful", "Thankfully, Michael Mileham's incompetent direction blunts any glorification of Lesseos. Mileham directs with his eyes closed--scenes are jumbled and the point of scenes obscured by characters who block the camera lens.", and concludes with "as a truly bad film, you can't get any better--or worse--than this shoddy and cheapjack ego".
Despite the film itself having poor reviews, star Mimi Lesseos received recognition when the film was screened at the 2006 Action On Film International Film Festival 14 years after its initial release and she received nominations for both "Breakout Action Star" and "Female Action Performer of the Year".
1992 in film
The year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards...
action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
pro wrestling feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
written by Mimi Lesseos
Mimi Lesseos
Mimi Diane Lesseos is an American female professional wrestler, actress, model and stuntwoman best known by her ring name Magnificent Mimi.-Early life:...
and directed by Michael Mileham. Starring Mimi Lesseos
Mimi Lesseos
Mimi Diane Lesseos is an American female professional wrestler, actress, model and stuntwoman best known by her ring name Magnificent Mimi.-Early life:...
and Verrel Lester Reed, the film is about a wrestling queen who finds out that a gangster is responsible for her brother's death and trains in kickboxing to avenge his death.
Development
Prior to starting work on Pushed to the Limit, Mimi Lesseos was an experienced professional wrestler and she had experience working in make-up, acting and stunt workStunt
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre, or cinema...
in a number of productions. She has stated that her interest in making a film of her own was in part a reaction to the exploitative roles which she had accepted in her earlier work, as she wished to portray a fit and strong female character who was not "sleazy or muscle-bound". Lessos wrote, starred in and produced the work. Half of the $600,000 budget was provided through an investor, while she provided the other half, selling property and, at one point, traveling to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to raise money through her professional fights. While in Japan she found a distributor, and worldwide distribution was gained after taking the movie to the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Partial cast
- Mimi Lesseos as Mimi
- Henry Hayashi as Harry Lee
- Verrel Reed as Vern (as Verrel Lester Reed Jr.)
- Barbara Braverman as Mom
- Greg Ostrin as John Cordon
- Rick Shaw as Fred
- Frank Trejo as Frank
- Michael M. Foley as Nick
- Amy Barcroft as Sheeba
- Christl Colven as Inga
- Terrance Curtis as Tony
- Alex Demir as Mike
- Alfons Giodano as Fernel
- Lorraine Hawkins as Terri
Critical reception
Girls With Guns gave the film a poor review, writing "Lesseos makes for a decent fighter and a tolerable actress, though the subplot which has her as a showgirl in Vegas is irrelevant, inane and positively wince-inducing...", "...it's the story that really kills this", and "...having a female lead is a nice idea, but much more effort is needed, rather than thinking this is sufficient in and of itself. TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
also panned the film, offering "...a film of the calibre of PUSHED TO THE LIMIT defies criticism by its multitude of mistakes, from Lesseos's self-aggrandizing screenplay to Michael Mileham's bungled direction—rendering it not good, not bad, but gleefully awful", "Thankfully, Michael Mileham's incompetent direction blunts any glorification of Lesseos. Mileham directs with his eyes closed--scenes are jumbled and the point of scenes obscured by characters who block the camera lens.", and concludes with "as a truly bad film, you can't get any better--or worse--than this shoddy and cheapjack ego".
Despite the film itself having poor reviews, star Mimi Lesseos received recognition when the film was screened at the 2006 Action On Film International Film Festival 14 years after its initial release and she received nominations for both "Breakout Action Star" and "Female Action Performer of the Year".