Brilliant, Funny, Heart-Breaking

Rating: 9/10 (2 March 2009)

I had so many prejudices against this movie I almost missed it: a Micky Rourke movie, a wrestling movie. How could I enjoy such a combination? Well, word of mouth thankfully won me over and managed not to miss one of the most hearth-wrenching, beautifully written, directed and acted movies of 2008.
The movie is as brilliant as it's simple: Randy The Ram Robinson is a washed out wrestler whose time of glory was in the '80s until an epic fight that ended his career. Now he works on weekends for the independent wrestling circuit. He's adored wherever he goes by fans and young wrestlers who seek his approval. But during week days, when he's outside the ring, he has to deal with the fact he's a loser who works odd jobs at warehouses, goes to strip clubs for some action, is despised by his daughter and still obsesses over his career, as seen by the posters on his trailer, the action figures in his van and '80s Nintendo video game that stars him and which he asks neighborhood kids to play with him, although they'd prefer better video games like Call of Duty 4.
Darren Aronofsky has crafted a beautiful, depressing, cynically humorous movie about the pitfalls of self-obsession and vainglory. His seamless camera work complements the simple but effective screenplay by Robert D. Siegel, which reveals humanity at every word. Rourke shines as The Ram, a role that no doubt only an actor who once had glory could have played so effectively. When I saw the poster for this movie, with the presumed 'ressurection' of Micky Rourke, I felt like laughing. Now I wish he'll do film lovers a favor and continue giving such performances forever.
Shinging alongside Rourke is Marisa Tomei, an actress who can stay under the radar for years and then comes out of nowhere with a stunning performance. Here she plays Cassidy, a stripper whose real name is Pam when she's not in the club and is busy being a mom. She's Randy's double, an aging stripper who knows she's past her prime; but unlike The Ram, she has plans for the future. Tomei plays her with sensibility and subtlety. Credit should also go to Evan Rachel Wood for her small role as Randy's daughter, Stephanie: she's in some of the most heart-breaking scenes of the movie as she deals with Randy when he decides it's time to connect with the daughter he abandoned a long time ago.
I can't really find faults in this movie, nothing that diminished my enjoyment of it. This is a simple, brilliant little movie, a great drama without being over-dramatic, humorous without being stupid and human without being sentimental. One of my favorites from 2008.