The beauty of subtleness.

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2008)

I'm very shocked to learn that The Wrestler wasn't nominated for Best Picture of 08 at the Globes. What the hell were they thinking? They weren't even thinking!
I hate to be the one to give more hype to the film, but The Wrestler deserves every bit of praise it is receiving. Darren Aronofsky redefines himself by working on something that is yet again, unexpected, but goes in hand with his other work. In case you haven't noticed, in all of Darren's films, the main character(s) are on the verge of breakdown. What happens before and after doesn't matter, what matters is that Darren likes creating and/or working with individuals that have nothing (but ultimately everything) to lose. Same case with The Wrestler.
What moved me in this film is the unprecedented realism of it all, and not just from Mickey, but from everything and everyone in the film. This film feels like something made by Werner Herzog.
The realism and honesty of the performances is a sight to cherish. And let me start off by praising Mickey Rourke, who has given here what I believe to be the best performance of 2008. Honest and heartwarming- all hidden under the main character's broken down exterior that isn't afraid of reaching the limit. Mickey's method acting is at full force here, and the fact that his life is so similar to Ram's makes it easier for him to know the character better than anyone; up close and personal. There are so many subtleties and nuances in his performance that deserve being written, but I won't spoil the good stuff.
Mickey is accompanied by two very beautiful and talented women who also got snubbed by the Globes- Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei. As with Mickey, these ladies bring everything to the platter, i.e., they bring the goods, and not just physically (Tomeihrmph). Fantastic acting thanks to the talent at hand and Darren's direction.
As with his other films, the performance are those of quality; Darren knows how to work with actors- Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans and Hugh Jackman being prime examples. The visual direction is outstanding, but not in the way you might think. It is outstanding in the realism it presents, not in its flashy editing or cinematography tricks like those in Darren's other films. Also, Darren's longtime friend and collaborator Clint Mansell, created a score (with Slash from G&R) that accompanies the film beautifully and personally.
The script is nuanced, but slightly predictable. That being said, this film wasn't trying to reach the stratosphere like other movies out there, it knew what it was and you should expect nothing more from that. A simple story about an aging Wrestler with personal problems that discovers his one true love, and embraces it, despite of its consequences.
Most people are missing the subtlety in the Wrestler. Seeing Mickey's face before he jumps off the top rope at the end of the film is one of the many examples. A single image backed up by powerful acting speaks volumes; it doesn't trick you, it tells it like it is. Nothing is thrown at your face here, you just have to find out the meaning for yourself.
9.3/10, powerful cinema.