What a performance

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2009)

I grew up as a wrestling fan, often times embarrassed because I was simply watching a bunch of men in tights. However after seeing The Wrestler earlier today, I have gained a new found respect for the wrestling industry. Mickey Rourke's performance is one of legend which captures the true essence of a professional wrestler. For every Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Ric Flair, and Triple H there's 100s who have sacrificed their bodies and psychological capacities for the love of the fans and the adrenaline rush from the exposure. If you look at the gigantic list of wrestlers under the age of 50 that have died, it truly makes you look at how harmful the sport really is. It will be hard for me to watch wrestling again after seeing this movie, because of the destruction that these men put towards their bodies with the in-ring punishment and the outside the ring steroid use. But I thought the director did a masterful job of showing the parallels in the sacrificing of one's personal life to either wrestler or strip. I would have like to seen a bit more interaction on the similarities of the two professions, however, I still thought the movie was very well done. I though the ending was perfect, because is there any other ending more fitting than a sad one. A few years removed from the Chris Benoit situation and nearly a decade after Owen Hart's in-ring death, this was the perfect time to release this emotional film which encompassed the psychological feelings of wrestlers, the connection with the fans, and the demons that come with being on the road. Not only does Mickey Rourke deserve an Oscar, but this movie deserves Best Picture. I think it should be between this and Slumdog Millionaire because they are the movies that truly allowed you to experience the character's feelings and you feel with them through their connections. But more importantly than the awards, I hope that this film sends the message to the the WWE that an after-retirement program is needed including Health Insurance, Pension, and Psychological Services; not to mention regulation on performance enhancers, amphetamines, and painkillers.