An Intensely Romantic Film (not about romance between a man and a woman)

Rating: 10/10 (15 January 2009)

It's about an exclusive romance, an ultimately destructive one, inescapable.
Between a person and their obsession.
In this case between a man and his wrestling.
I don't care how much is autobiographical.
Rourke's characterization is no less magnificent, other worldly, transporting, and complete. He doesn't leave it for a millisecond that I could see.
Actually, both the character and the role seemed consumed by the very act of witnessing the depth of the actor's characterization.
The only aspect of the movie that was unbelievable was the idea that he could let go and make a 'better' life for himself. At least a healthier one. But that was intended to be unbelievable, to seem unachievable for him, even in the midst of the attempt.
Any person who deliberately (on inescapably) puts something they do ahead of Everything else because it simply seems to be the only thing they're fit to do here, is dragged along with the magnificent inevitable surrender, the being completely lost in what they are doing, that Rourke shows.
To watch his eyes and hear his voice inside that face and body, it's chilling. And exhilarating. Almost a testament to the survival of the soul.
To watch him here is to see echos of him in Angel Heart.
It is 100% fitting and proper that such characters (or people) should die while doing the only thing they really feel fit to do here.
Whether or not we live this way, we all dream of living (and dying) this way.
Whether or not we admit it, we still all dream it.
Whether or not we remember the dreams, we all have them.