No 'Nacho Libre'

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2009)

Aronofsky made a documentary for feature film audiences. The grainy film stock and green fluorescent lights/winter grays define the film and its location in New Jersey.
Marisa Tomei somehow elicits 'Hollywood' in her stripper role. Beauty is self-defining, captures every ray of light, and manages to justify our existence. The camera comes to life every time she enters the frame.
I lived back East in the 70's and early 80's when pro wrestling was grub-staking its way out of the city soot and brick stadiums. Driving a taxicab between jobs, I got to know strippers . . . dated a few, even drove and body-guarded one who was on the hook after-hours.
This film got it right.
Mickey Rourke was Aronofsky's entrée into the wrestler world. When I read that the studios wanted Nicholas Cage . . . forget it.
Watch the first 'Rocky,' ('Angel Alley' was about the wrestling world) and you can only conclude that this is the film Sylvester Stallone should have, or could have made instead. But, he wouldn't be a multi-millionaire action star today, would he.
Film making is still alive, thanks to Aronofsky and 'The Wrestler' cast and crew.