Movie Notes: The Wrestler
= 5 stars
Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Synopsis
Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is determined to relive his past glory as a pro wrestler.
The Good
- Aronofsky, who amazed with Pi and Requiem For A Dream but lost me with The Fountain, returns to admiration by shooting this gritty, realistic character study almost documentary style. There are some interesting structural choices: one particularly bloody match using staples and ladders is shown aftermath first, then the match itself. And the best directorial choice is giving Rourke’s performance room to breathe, as it soon carries everything.
- Mickey Rourke one hundred percent becomes has-been wrestler Randy, struggling with a futile dream to revive a successful past, and obsessed to the point of damaging what few relationships he has. Also amazing about Rourke’s performance is how this ugly, violence-prone, and initially alienating character somehow becomes sympathetic — I wound up liking the guy.
- I don’t give a crap about wrestling or New Jersey, so forming a connection with Randy was a very big deal.
- Solid support from Tomei as reluctant stripper Cassidy and Wood as Stephanie, Randy’s estranged daughter.
The Bad
- Those expecting a sports movie (like Rocky) may be disappointed with few wrestling matches. It’s more a character study of those associated with that nutty profession.
Conclusion
Reminded me of two other sports movie masterpieces: Raging Bull — but the wrenching conclusion with Jake La Motta in a jail cell and dive bar — or a more realistic Rocky. I consider both 5 star flicks, and The Wrestler equals and occasionally surpasses both in some moments. It’s all because of one unlikely character to base a movie around whom you’ll never forget once the movie is over. One for the history books.
IMDB: The Wrestler
Wikipedia: The Wrestler
Rotten Tomatoes: The Wrestler 97%
I’m with you — I despise wrestling and have no particular fondness for New Jersey, yet I got sucked in my Randy’s plight. Mickey Rourke’s pitch-perfect portrayal drew you in and repulsed you almost at the same time.
I liked that the story could’ve gone for an easy, tidy Hollywood ending but instead took a more realistic tack — seeing Randy get so close to pulling it all together, only for it all to slip right through his fingers was agonizing — maybe all the more so because I’ve known (of) guys whose lives followed a very similar arc.
Slip through his fingers … Do you mean the bloody butcher counter
accident? Heh. Anyway, great flick.
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