A Stark Glimpse at an Individual Stuck in his Past

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2013)

The Wrestler is a stark glimpse into the life of an individual who refuses to let go of a happier time in his life. Mickey Rourke (in the performance of his career) portrays Randy "The Ram" Robinson—the aging professional wrestler who clings onto his dying career like a heroin addict clings to his needle. He knows continuing to wrestle with his bad heart and failing body will lead to his demise, but he has nothing else. In the ring, he is accepted and loved. He is able forget about his failed relationship with his daughter, his menial minimum wage job, and his inability to pay his trailer rent on time. Wrestling fans who still remember him consider him to be a legend. What Randy fails to realize, however, is that it is his inability to let go of his dying career that is perpetuating many of the failures in the rest of his life.
His mental state is in a sort of deep freeze. He is stuck in the 1980s. He still plays his old NES and he doesn't have a cell phone or a computer. If a product was created after 1990, Randy wants no part of it. In this respect I see some interesting parallels between Randy and another legendary cinematic character—Norma Desmond (from the film, Sunset Blvd).
What I really enjoyed about the film is the relationship between Randy and Cassidy (played perfectly by Marissa Tomei)—a stripper at the club Randy frequents. Both individuals work in the entertainment industry and have jobs that demand youth and physical fitness. Both are in the twilight of their respective careers. The key differences arise in their approaches to their individual situations.
Cassidy's outlook on her life and career play a brilliant contrast to Randy. Unlike Randy, Cassidy is eager to leave her job behind. She clearly separates her personal family life from her career, and feels uncomfortable letting the two mix in any way. Her work as an exotic dancer is a means by which she cares for her child, it does not define her. She knows she will not be able to strip much longer and has made plans to move on with her life. She is not clinging to her past like Randy. If anything, she is trying to forget it.
Darren Aronofsky is one of my favorite modern directors, and his film "The Wrestler" should be lauded as one of the finest of his career.