The Wrestler (R-2008)

I like to reveal any bias I have that may affect a review: I was a HUGE Mickey Rourke fan before his career imploded. This movie certainly does nothing to decrease that! Rourke plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a one-time major pro wrestling attraction who is now working at a supermarket while playing small local wrestling shows. When he is told by doctors that he can not wrestle any more, he finds himself having difficulty re-adjusting to a life outside the ring. He finds himself falling for Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), the "stripper with a heart of gold" and tries to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). When he finds it difficult to maintain a "real job", he finds himself drawn back to the only world he knows. Rourke does an amazing job portraying a man who is completely down and out and trying desperately to salvage some portion of his life before he completely loses what little he has left. Director Darren Aronofsky may be the best at telling these dark stories of hopelessness, as anyone who saw "Requiem for a Dream" can attest to, and does another great job here. It is amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes in the world of professional wrestling. Although it is clear that wrestling is "fake", the punishment these bodies take in the name of entertainment is horrific. The rest of the cast is also very good, but this is definitely a showcase for Mickey Rourke, who re-launches his career here. My only criticism of this film is that I saw the ending coming a mile away. It becomes very clear about halfway through the movie where this is all heading. Despite that, I really enjoyed this one.

Grade: B+

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