Excellent Film - Rourke's Best Performance Arguably

Rating: Null/10 (18 September 2011)

I am writing this review to address the question of Rourke's nomination for Best Actor and his loss. If I am right, and please correct me if I am wrong, the Best Actor award that year went to Sean Penn in Harvey Milk. However much Penn's performance is admirable, I find that Rourke's performance and the story line of the film are more powerful and emotionally evocative than that found in Harvey Milk. Indeed, "The Wrestler" is similar to "Crazy Heart" for which Jeff Bridges won the Academy award. Crazy Heart is a wonderful film and Jeff Bridges gave a brilliant performance, but arguably not that different from that of Rourke in "The Wrestler". Comparing the two films, I would give the edge to The Wrestler.