Compelling character study in the world of wrestling

Rating: 8/10 (23 August 2009)

The Wrestler is a fascinating foray into what happens to those muscle bound pugilistic "actors" when they get older and their glory days are behind them. We view this by following the steps of Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a pro wrestling champion back in the eighties who has fallen on hard times and still wrestles part time. Beyond seeing the tricks of the trade and the camaraderie between wrestlers (interesting in themselves), this movie is a human drama tackling themes such as loneliness, poverty, growing old and finding purpose in life.
It brought back Rourke to public consciousness and frankly he deserves all the praise he got. He inhabits the character both physically (he has the physique and the scars) and emotionally. His portrayal makes you care even if you find wrestling ridiculous. Marisa Tomei as his stripper friend is good and surprising because she dares to be topless more than once even though she's not so young anymore. There's an interesting parallel between the upcoming end of her career and the Ram who has trouble letting go of his own. Some of the most emotional compelling moments also come from the interactions between the Ram and his estranged daughter.
I also quite enjoyed when we see the Ram working at a normal day job. It's amusing but not in an over-the-top way (I since learned that some of it was improvised with real customers). The directing is sober, often following Rourke a few steps behind his back, perhaps to contrast with the flashiness of the wrestling shows. The fake wrestling, which is fake by nature yet dangerous nevertheless, looked authentic and realistic. I had issues with the open ending that's defensible dramatically but leaves you disappointed. Overall, it's a very good film, slightly overrated, on a subject rarely tackled seriously in fiction. It's well worth renting unless you're totally allergic to wrestling and even then. It should be requisite watching for wrestling fans but then it might lower their enjoyment of the "sport" afterwards.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10