One of the best films of the year

Rating: 8/10 (27 July 2009)

When 'Sin City' hit the cinemas back in 2005, Mickey Rourke's career was resurrected after an outstanding performance as Marv. Now, under the helm of acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky, Rourke returns in the poignant and brilliant "The Wrestler". In his glory days Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Twenty years on, we find Randy wrestling in local communities to smaller crowds. After suffering a major heart attack and forced retirement, Randy decides to seek out his estranged daughter to forge a meaningful relationship, while at the same time the glamour of wrestling has offered him one more match from his glory days pulling him back in to the game.
While there is no myth surrounding the pantomime of wrestling, Aronofsky has sculpted a story combining the broken life of a struggling soul and some of the harsh natures of the sport, to bring us a film about loneliness and second chances. It is clear that Rourke has bought elements of his own turbulent life to the role, where one can often get lost in his amazing performance. The directing and narrative of Aronofsky are flawless, as are the supporting roles, but 'The Wrestler', emotionally driven, unquestionably belongs to Mickey Rourke.