Superb drama about the life of a washed-up pro wrestler.

Rating: Null/10 (1 May 2009)

It has not been a mystery for a long time, "pro wrestling" is just a big show. This movie dares to take us behind the scenes and show us the tricks they use to make it look like they really are on the verge of killing each other. But what does a pro wrestler do when he gets old, and has no career to turn to?
This movie, "The Wrestler", takes us there. Mickey Rourke is Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, who 20 years ago was at the top of his game, but now picks up a few bucks here and there in small venues. Most of the fans seem like "tribute fans", remembering the old days and having fun watching these 50-something wrestlers recreate their moves of old.
But "the Ram" is struggling. He drops $60 at a strip joint just to talk to his favorite girl who performs a lap dance while they speak, clearly old friends of sorts. Yet when he goes back to his trailer finds that he is locked out and has to sleep in his car. His landlord says he will get back in when he catches up on the rent. At one point he works as a clerk in the deli to try to make ends meet, but eventually his frustration gets the best of him.
Marisa Tomei is his stripper friend, Cassidy. Evan Rachel Wood is his estranged daughter, Stephanie . He tries to re-establish a connection with his daughter but that seems like an impossible task.
Mickey Rourke was nominated as "Best Actor" for his role, and in other years he probably would have won, he is that good. But he had heavy competition. He really is good as The Ram, and it is hard sometimes to remember what a pretty-faced young man he was in his earlier acting days.
A very good movie, character study of an old wrestler with no place to go.
MAJOR SPOILERS: After one match he collapses and wakes up in a hospital after coronary bypass. On discharge his doctor tells him to live a more sensible life, including giving up wrestling. He tries, but can't cope. He eventually goes back to recreate a match from 20 years earlier. In his final move, already getting about with difficulty, he jumps upon his opponent from the top of a ring post, and the picture goes dark. He dies doing the only thing he ever really knew how to do.