Brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (10 May 2010)

This is an amazing allegory for midlife. Its themes are loss, disappointment, and pain. Director Aronofsky conveys this experience on a visceral level. Rather than grandstanding through lengthy monologues, he employs such subtleties as the effortful breathing of the main character, and in the opening sequence, keeping his back to the audience.
Mickey Rourke brings the main character, Randy "The Ram," to life on every level. His performance was worthy of an academy award. Watching him, one feels his frustration, his physical pain, and his deep desire to recapture his youth. Marisa Tomei's character "Cassidy/Pam" is a female parallel to Randy, and Tomei brings Pam to life as well, appearing all but nude in much of the film and somehow conveying the very unsexy desperation of her profession. Evan Rachel Wood gives a strong performance in a relatively small role as Randy's estranged daughter.
The Wrestler is brutal and exulting, tragic and triumphant. I can't recommend it highly enough.