The Wrestler (2008)

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 2008)

This is what I have been waiting for. Darren Aronofsky, the director of Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain, offers up his latest, and greatest, film yet (and I thought it couldn't get any better than Requiem.) The Wrestler stars Mickey Rourke as washed-up professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, in the greatest performance of this year. The Wrestler is a magnificent near-masterpiece that I haven't been able to shake from my mind; it will stay with you, I promise.
The Wrestler can be thought of as an expose on the professional wrestling industry, and the health and relationship issues its stars face as the years of abuse inflicted on their body, both outwardly in the ring, and inwardly through strenuous training and drug use, take hold of their lives. The Wrestler may also be thought of as an emotional father and daughter drama piece, as Randy attempts to make amends with his long-estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) after having an epiphany. In addition, the film can also be thought of as a story of mutual human compassion between Randy and an exotic dancer he has come to befriend over the years named Pam (Marisa Tomei); both feel trapped and alone, but their mutual friendship seems to be a light in the dark. But most of all, The Wrestler can be thought of as easily one of the greatest films of the year, rivaling many films I've seen in the past decade.
This film is gritty, violent, and extremely difficult to watch at times. It is heartbreaking, tragic, and yet also quite humorous at exactly the right moments. The finale will remain in my mind for years to come, with a mind-blowing ending that makes the ending of last year's No Country for Old Men look amateurish by comparison. Mickey Rourke is unbelievable; I cannot over-hype his performance in this. No matter what, it will be better than you think. One scene in particular echoes Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront, in which Randy pleads for his daughter's forgiveness. If there is one thing wrong with this film, it's that Rourke makes Tomei and Wood look weak by comparison, even though Wood gives an excellent performance as well.
I love The Wrestler, perhaps more than any film since 2006 besides WALL-E. It has heart in all the right places, especially the dialogue between the pro wrestlers backstage, and during Randy's job at a supermarket. You will laugh, you will definitely cringe, and you might possibly cry. The title of this film has a double meaning; going in, you will presume the title refers to the profession of the main character. Upon exiting, you will understand that the title refers to what the main character must do every day of his life as his health and relationships crumble beneath him: Wrestle with life.
9.5/10. See it now.