Sweet Child of Mine by Andrew Malekoff

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2009)

The Wrestler is a heart wrenching tale of a professional wrester - Randy "The Ram" Robinson - who thrives on the adulation of the masses and at the great expense of having any intimate relationships in his life. "The Ram's" body gradually betrays him, one organ at a time, after years of battering, abuse and reliance on chemical enhancements and pain killers. Bypass surgery is one consequence. But this physical repair that reminds him of his mortality cannot mend his broken and lonely heart. Mickey Rourke plays a tragic figure who does not exhibit even one drop of self pity, despite his deep and openly expressed sadness. He makes one futile attempt after another to establish an intimate connection in his life. Ultimately though, he goes back to the nonsustaining well of wrestling fans who love only the persona and not the person. Although in a few fleeting scenes with children we see that there is an intuitive connection that reaches beyond empty action figure idealization. Kids really love him and he loves them back. Rourke and Marissa Tomei as an aging stripper are captivating. And, they are touching in all of their scenes together, as are Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood who plays his abandoned daughter. The supporting cast of fellow wrestlers and children that adore "The Ram" all help to bring forth the humanity and sweetness inside of the gladiator. A few of the scenes with Randy working in a deli, wearing a hairnet and interacting with customers from behind the counter, are classic. Guns and Roses' Sweet Child of Mine is the perfect song for "The Ram's" entrance into the squared circle for his grand finale against his nemesis, the Ayatollah. I highly recommend this film. It stays with you and gets under your skin long after the credits role to Bruce Springstein crooning.