Well played sport movie

Rating: 9/10 (17 May 2011)

Randy "The Ram" Robinson is a pro-wrestler, who has seen his better days in the 80's, trying to make ends meet with small scale wrestling shows and part time job at a store warehouse. Randy is a man, who lives in the past, retelling his glory days to anyone, who is willing to listen. Randy is a man, who has ruined his relationship with his only daughter and who's closest human relationship is with a stripper Cassidy.
The Wrestler could be another Rocky style sports movie. The premise, while revolving around a bit more absurd world of pro wrestling, is a bit similar. But Darren Aronofsky doesn't go there; The Ram doesn't end up as a similar underdog hero as Rocky did, because Randy is just that kind of a guy.
Aronofsky directs his well cast movie with a firm hand, nicely avoiding the most common clichés of every sports movie. Rourke does a great role as Randy. He feels at home in the role and you can't help but to compare The Ram to Rourke himself, as he has had his own falling out from the limelights. Also Marisa Tomei does nice and down to earth role as Cassidy, the love interest of Randy. She is both tough and fragile as a woman, who sees the both sides of Randy.
The Wrestler is same time both, a typical and untypical sport movie. It goes the well threaded paths but at the same time it manges to avoid the common clichés by just being more sincere and honest than most movies manage to be. There's no beating up pig carcasses here, there's just the contrast between reality and a dream.