"The Wrestler" is One of the Best

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2009)

"The Wrestler" is so very touching and poignant. Mickey Rourke is awesome. Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" is the best movie of the year. Mickey Rourke inhabits aging professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson with a profound authenticity. His performance resonates true. He gives Randy such heart, spirit, and humanity. At the telling story arc, Randy confesses to Cassidy (stunning Marisa Tomei), "You know the only place I get hurt is out there" Randy loves wrestling more than life. The physical beating he experiences in the ring pales in comparison to the heart wrenching losses he endures in the real world. The screenplay by Robert Siegel is absolutely moving and inspiring-- perfect.
Aronofsky creates an inspired vision, and all his performances are dead on. Marisa Tomei as aging mother and stripper Cassidy is astounding in her stark vulnerability. She and Rourke are not only literally nakedshe as the stripper and Randy in his tights, but emotionally bare, and fearless. Tomei in a quietly powerful scene tells Randy, "I'm here. I'm really here" Evan Rachel Wood as Randy's estranged daughter Stephanie is powerful and uncompromising. Rourke has a heartbreaking scene where he asks for forgiveness from sullen Stephanie, "I just don't want you to hate me Okay?" Then later in the scene Wood runs up beside Randy, and hugs his arm. That just touches your soul.
Aronofsky touches the heart, and elicits such humanity and compassion in all the performances. Mickey Rourke put on about 40 pounds of muscle. His face, either from bad plastic surgery or prolonged steroid use, strangely distinguishes Randy's authenticity, or fosters profound empathy for his character. Deep down Randy is a good man, and a hero. Marisa Tomei, who is in her forties, looks amazing as stripper Cassidy. However, that is eclipsed by the mesmerizing vulnerability she breathes into Cassidy.
"The Wrestler" follows Rourke's Randy "The Ram" 25 years after his professional wrestling zenith. In the 80's "The Ram" was The World Champion and the Hulk Hogan of his day. Now the aging and damaged Randy is relegated to weekend wrestling matches at local school gymnasiums for chump change. He works at a local market, and can't make enough money to make rent, getting locked out of his own trailer at a trailer park. Randy is sweet on Cassidy, who is a stripper at the local strip club. Cassidy is a single mom, and unlike Randy, knows her days as a stripper are numbered. Tough Cassidy has a soft spot for Randy, but she knows that hooking up would be a bad idea. Randy has a daughter in college, who wants nothing to do with him. Randy is literally a broken down "piece of meat", held together by painkillers and steroids. Everyone on the circuit loves Randy, because he is such a good and decent soul. He always has a hug and "How you doin' brother?" for his fellow wrestlers. Even his drug supplier cuts him slack when doesn't have the money.
Randy suffers an unexpected physical tragedy, and is forced evaluate his life. Strangely, things begin to look up for Randy. He begins a relationship with Cassidy (Tomei). He makes peace with his daughter Stephanie (Wood). He lines up a reunion match against his legendary rival The Ayatolla (good Ernest Miller). However, big hearted Randy is cursed with his self-destructive nature. What Randy loves to do is wrestle. Wrestling is his life. For Randy getting beat up in the ring is less painful than the beating he has taken in life outside. That is the poignancy and nobility of Aronofsky's "The Wrestler". Mickey Rourke is stunning, compassionate, and powerful. He deserves to win an Oscar for the heartfelt courageous performance. Marisa Tomei is fearless and compelling as Cassidy, deserving an Oscar nod as well.
"The Wrestler" is one of the most moving, and touching movies you will ever see. It is also one of the best movies you will ever see. .