Good, but Not Great...

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2009)

First off, I'd like to say that this is a good film. Not great, but well above average. Mickey Rourke gives, not the best performance of his career, but a damn fine rendition of an aged pro wrestler struggling to deal with both the perils of the inevitable aging process and the consequences of a lifetime spent on the road with what basically amounts to a traveling circus.
All of the performances are what make this film stand out from the pack. Especially those of Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood although I must admit not liking Wood's character too much. She's a perfect example of our politically correct world where people expect perfection out of everyone around them, especially their parents.
Now, while I liked this film overall, it made me pine for the days of Pi, director Aronofsky's first and still most impressive film. Unfortunately, Aronofsky seems to be one of those directors who spend their entire career taking the slow path down the big hill. Each one of his films has been slightly less impressive than it's predecessor. I only hope that 15 years from now Darren Aronofsky (who started out in my eyes as one of the new directors to keep an eye on) isn't making teen comedies or sappy melodramas on television.
If this film had been cast with less talented actors it probably would have slipped completely under the radar, but with such powerful performances (again, primarily from Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei) it is a prime example of the possibility of making a good movie with a fraction of a typical Hollywood budget.