One full-nelson with a side of despair , please.

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 2009)

It's funny to see that almost every film you read about, someone SOMEwhere thinks it's the worst film ever made. "The Wrestler" may be the truest film ever made, which is why it's so damn depressing and so good.
Todd Barry, as Wayne, the supermarket manager, was the best, slightly over-the-top PRICK I've seen lately in a film. His performance seemed like something you'd find in "The Young Ones", something on the line between believable and unbelievable. That "The Ram" had to take crap from this nasty little squid was humiliating. The only consolation was that Wayne was probably as depressed, or more, as Randy.
After the Ram agrees to work behind the deli counter, we see him take the long walk through the employee room, down the stairs, through the warehouse and the plastic curtain where we see him wash his hands. That's what's at the heart of this film, the goodness of Ram's character- he's walking through hell and he washes his hands, like the good person/employee he is. Wearing his "Robin" badge. Wow.
At the "autograph-signing event", the crowd has died down and the Ram is looking around at the other has-been wrestling stars. The shot ends on the urine bag (or whatever you call it) attached to his fellow's leg. Suicide, anyone? Which really is the point of this film.
The Ram knows his glory days are past and when the doctor tells him that continuing in the ring may kill him, you can see him thinking. What does he have to live for? He's living a life without love, he's past his prime and he's broke. What's the point? When he decides to do the rematch for no $$ is it because he wants to wrestle or because he sees it as the best possible "out"?
"A little more, a little less, a little more...". This is a comedic scene but it isn't played for comedy, they play it for real. So, it's funny while you're trying not to kill yourself in recognition of The Ram's crappy reality. It's the message at the heart of the search for security, "Yay, Im working more hours, I can pay my bills, someone please shoot me, put me out of my misery." This is why the Ram went into wrestling, to avoid the despair of the "secure" life.
Mickey Rourke underplays his whole performance which is why it's so powerful, probably, but the beauty of the film is indicated when Cassidy is giving him a lapdance and he's reminiscing about the old times and dreaming of future possibilities. He's there for her company, not for the minor thrill of having her undulate before him.
Of course, Marisa looks fantastic but God bless her for playing a part where she takes off her clothes and no one is whistling, no one cares. Mickey compliments her on her sexiness as an afterthought; she's bored, he's bored, everybody's just struggling to maintain some self-respect or a positive thought, pay the rent, stay in working shape.
Cassidy's lucky, she has a 9 year old to worry about but The Ram's daughter is old enough to take care of herself; he's just looking for a reason to keep on living.
The visual style of this film, or lack of it, only serves to emphasize the gritty, bleakness of the Ram's meaningless world.
Good film, powerful; not one likely to replace "It's A Wonderful Life" as easy inspiration, but inspirational anyway, in it's horrible, "what do I have to live for?" fashion.