raw, powerful, intense, bloody... The Wrestler is an authentic human drama with a formidable comeback performance from Rourke.

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2009)

The Wrestler (2008)
Top 5 - 2008
I am a strong advocate against Wrestling and even boxing - I think they are morally reprehensible and often disgusting activities. Despite this I have been consistently moved and impressed with the intensity and pathos of such sports movies. The Wrestler is no different.
The story of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, an 80s Pro-wrestler, who still wrestles 20 years after his prime, in order to survive while doing the one thing he is good at. An added quality to this film, which may have been intentional by director Darren Aronofosky is the casting of Mickey Rourke. Aronofsky initially cast Nicolas Cage for the role, but replaced him for Rourke at a late stage - that decision is not regrettable. Mickey Rourke's fortunes from a rising, rough Hollywood star in the 80s (most notable for his film 9 1/2 weeks) to a downfall and a retreat into nothingness. Rourke is an actor, 'The Ram' is an ageing wrestler way past his glory days. The actor/character parallels serve to strengthen the film enormously - or at least that is how I felt.
Aronofsky's picture is an intensely human drama, about the harsh realities of life and a simultaneous examination of wrestling, a 'sport' I very much dislike - The film has a sequence of Wrestling (the version with various nasty weapons) where the wrestlers staple each other, pierce their skins on barbed wire and shards of glass and one of them even presses a fork against the other's forehead. How do these wrestlers feel? Does their job ever get a bit too much? How does Randy the Ram feel in his mid 50s when he continues to wrestle in order to survive? There is a great scene where old wrestling stars set up their products in order to make some profit from admirers. We see 'The Ram' with his hearing aid (probably a result of being thrown around for years), we see an old wrestler on a wheel chair and so on. I felt that scene brought out the unglamorous side of such entertainment sports and the long term consequences. I guess though if you play hard, you have to pay the price. Anyway, placing emphasis only on the wrestling is an incorrect interpretation of the film.
This is a film about the bitter realities of life for many people - The Ram's overextended wrestling life, his part time work as a supermarket worker carrying packages and then working at the deli counter - a stripper which Rourke likes but cannot quite connect with her as she does not go out with customers (altough she does warm up to him at the end). The Wrestler is also a person with feelings, not just an entertainer - the film shows how Randy struggles to reignite a relationship with his grown up daughter who he virtually neglected when she was growing up as he was constantly away on the circuit. The stripper also has a family and wishes to quit her awful profession. The film is also a remarkable reminder to the fact that many of us lead unhappy lives decided through the need for survival. There are many good things about this film, which I cannot encompass in this review.
Problems arise when Randy has a heart attack, from all the straining, brutal activity and the steroids he takes to boost his figure. He quits wrestling as instructed by the doctor that he will die if he undertakes extensive activity. Meanwhile he tries to connect with his daughter and get a friend out of the stripper Candice. Through various reasons and faults of his own, Randy fails to build up an emotional bubble to restore his loneliness and isolation. So he goes back to what he does best... Wrestling - a last exhibition match with his old nemesis named 'The Ayatollah' - he knows he may die as a result, but why should he live for nothing? Better go out in style, with his own family as he proclaims to the cheering audience who watches him with admiration. During the fight, The Ram experienced shortness of breath and is asked if okay. Hesitant, he continues, despite the risks. The last scene shows 'The Ram' ready to make his favourite move the top rope diving headbutt against Ayatollah. He gets on the rope raises his arms and the film cuts off...
An excellent 'small film', with a guaranteed Oscar nomination for Rourke and possible win.
9/10