Darren Aronofsky's best film

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2011)

I enjoyed Aronofsky's other work too, but I will always consider this his best film. It is a well made movie, with excellent editing and cinematography. Aronofsky directs superbly, I consider him one of the more promising directors around and The Wrestler doesn't do anything to change my mind. The soundtrack is memorable, the script has some suitably dour moments but also some hopeful ones and jolts at humour- loved the the scene of Robinson's first shift behind a supermarket deli counter- and the story is really quite remarkable and compelling, I couldn't help drawing parallels to Mickey Rourke's own career and life. Rourke himself is just perfect here, he gives the role a lot of humanity which I appreciated. Marisa Tomei's role is a rather obvious one, but she like Rourke portrays it wonderfully regardless. All in all, one of the best of 2008. 10/10 Bethany Cox