A winner

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2014)

Director Darren Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler' is a bleak and uncompromising look at a fallen star and what lengths he goes to in order to hang onto the very bottom rung of his former glory. Shot and edited in an almost documentary fashion, it's an incredibly immersive experience that makes you feel a part of the story.
For Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), the cheers of the sparse crowds that show up to his low rent wrestling events help to drown out the screams of his inner demons, and the toughest opponent he faces is not inside the ring, but inside himself. I found my self rooting for Randy despite his flaws and the obvious mistakes that he's made. A lot of credit for that goes to Rourke, who gives as good a performance as I've ever seen from an actor. It's just so note perfect that you'll forget you're watching an actor perform. With all due respect to Sean Penn, Rourke should've taken home the Oscar in '08.
This is no 'Rocky' style underdog tale. It's a harsh slice of life that is all too often the reality for those who reach the dizzying heights of fame and crash without a parachute.