Gritty Effort From The Square Ring

Rating: 7/10 (30 December 2008)

I went into the this film not sure if i had to be a fan of wrestling or follower of Rourke to enjoy this one, but having now watched it i think maybe you'l enjoy this more if your neither, and approach this movie with an open mind.The story revolves the decaying life of professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson played by Rourke who personifies everything you imagine a former wrestler to resemble from the steroid fueled muscles, the battered face weathered from years of abuse from both inside and outside the ring accompanied by long bleached hair and most importantly the personality.
We find "The Ram" still chasing a return to the big time that he seems to believe can be his salvation from the mediocrity that he inhabits on a daily basis but despite his enduring self believe that a return to greatness is just around the corner, his body cannot take the physical strain he places upon it and he suffers a heart attack following the conclusion of a bout. This is the real start of the real core of he movie as Rourke excels portraying a man who is drowning in sea of his own loneliness, desperate to keep his head above water grabbing on to whatever he can to selfishly preserve himself, in this case his daughter Stephanie played by Evan Rachael Wood and a lap dancer played by Marisa Tomei, both of whom add real acting dept to this movie.
Tomei's strong performance here reminds you of what a watchable actress she is playing Cassidy a lap dancer favored by Robinson in a local strip club. Looking great, Tomei still manages to portray a character strong in spirits, who still has ambitions to better herself despite working in what feels like arena of broken dreams and gin soaked heart ache.When on screen with Robinson you get the feeling that she could be the one person with the ability to save him and give him some sort of spiritual fulfillment outside the ring he increasingly longs for.
The scenes between Robinson and his daughter highlight just how selfish his pursuit of glory has been to the people nearest to him as he attempts to mend their fractured relationship and construct what you believe is his interpretation of a normal life, working in a deli counter where you see flash's of showmanship as Robinson tries to woo his customers with his charm in a bid to find his own acceptance with his new found station in life.
The story line of a washed up sports star is not a new concept but what sets this movie apart from others in the genre is that Rouke's character is very much a true representation of a real person with very real flaws.This is not the story of a fallen hero returning but of a man desperately seeking validation of his existence and the establishment of some sort of legacy before he dies. So engrossed in his belief that the life of a wrestling star is his sole chance for redemption he knowingly allows himself to sabotage the chance to reconcile with his daughter in exchange for physical gratification deriving from a chance encounter in a bar and follows it up destroying his improving relationship with Cassidy as his ego consumes him. Robinson comes to the conclusion that he doesn't belong in a normal life, and maybe he doesn't belong in life at all if he cant wrestle so he walks away from his attempts at normality and straight towards the wrestling ring and potentially his death.
The film poignantly concludes in the ring as it began where "The Ram" at peace in the adoration of strangers decides to perform, a decision you feel will be fatal, and as he climbs the ropes you cant help but muse if he is sentencing himself to death for the guilt he feels about short comings in his own life and the hurt he causes those around him or because he is human, scared, lonely and see's no way out but to fight no matter what the cost.