Rourke is beyond incredible

Rating: 9/10 (2 November 2010)

Pro wrestling is fake. That's not even a myth anymore. Pro wrestling is all about the entertainment factor. It's essentially just stunt men who happen to have a shred of acting ability. And yet despite how fake the sport itself is, The Wrestler feels so incredibly real. It's that perfect blend of nitty, gritty, and pretty and you believe every moment of the incredible performances put forth in this film. In it, Mickey Rourke revitalizes his career by playing Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, an aging professional wrestler who is trying to put his life back together inside and outside the ring. Rourke's performance is one of the most notable I've seen in years. The way he consumes his role as the self destructive man who dwells on the past in every aspect of his life is so perfect. I won't go into the atrocity that was not giving him the Best Actor Oscar two years ago, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was appalled. But not only was Rourke snubbed, the fantastic Marisa Tomei playing opposite him didn't win either. Tomei plays a stripper and assumingly long time friend of Randy's. She plays her conflicting extremely well and just as an added bonus she's naked in more than half of her scenes. It doesn't get much better.
For having only four movies under his belt, Darren Aronofsky has made quite the reputation for himself. After Pi and Requiem for a Dream he established himself as a highly stylized director who excelled in the use of quick cuts and stylish editing. And yet he breaks his own mold in The Wrestler, going for a much more subdued and classical filming style combined with a gritty and realistic use of the hand held cam. The Wrestler still retains a very stylistic feel to it, but not in the same way Aronofsky stylized his first two films. The Wrestler excellently keeps consistent with its style and keeps its pacing subdued. Thats not to say there isn't a shortage of high intensity scenes. In fact quite the opposite. There are a couple unforgettable scenes that are extremely graphic, not so much because of the amount of blood (even though there's a lot) but because of the horrific realism of it all. It's hard not to believe some of the things seen in this movie, and I personally see this as an extremely successful way of drawing me in. Others might be disturbed and completely turned off by it, but it just means it had the same effect on them, only with different results. Either way this movie has a poisonous captivation to it.
I have to give major props to a movie that can break the molds of conventional settings for these kinds of stories. The Wrestler obviously tells the story of an aging, self destructive, self loathing man, something we've seen in many different fashions, but never at all like this. Set in the bizarre world of professional wrestling, this movie presents elements we don't see often, if ever. And it allows for the movie to be equally about Randy's career and its effect on his personal life and vice versa. Interestingly enough, it is, in a way, a reflection of Mickey Rourke's acting career. In Rourke's final speech of the movie he emphasizes that yes, he is still here. He might not be as young, fit, or good looking as before, but he's back whether you like it or not. Every single line of this final speech is a near perfect reflection of both Randy 'The Ram' as a wrestler and Mickey Rourke as an actor. I would have to think that this was intentional, but I don't know for sure.
The Wrestler is gritty, realistic, and will make you invest all your emotions into every moment of this beautiful film. Rourke's performance will go down in history as one of the best and most important roles every portrayed on screen. Every moment is an emotional thrill ride and any imperfections of this film are overshadowed by the pure beauty of it. It is a groundbreaking character study that should not be missed.