An excellent drama spoiled by a predictable story

Rating: 7/10 (5 February 2009)

Let me make it clear right at the beginning that if you are looking for something like "Raging Bull" here then forget it. The story line is quiet predictable & the movie throws out parallel stories just to show how miserable the protagonist's (Randy's)life is. Coming from somebody like Darren Aronofsky, its a bit of a letdown.
Mickey Rourke plays a professional wrestler who is presently in his forties & not any more the star performer he used to be in his youth. He even struggles to pay the rent for his house. He is all alone in his life & is looking for means to get over his loneliness. In a bid to do this, he visits strip clubs & tries to patch-up with his daughter whom he had abandoned in her childhood.He has a thing for a stripper & wants her to be a part of his life but she can't as she has her personal set of problems.
Now, reading all this, you can understand how pitiable Randy's life is. In fact, the story looks contrived when the director tries to throw up incidents just to arouse sympathy for Randy. But, despite its flaws, the story works primarily because the characters are so flesh & blood. You would particularly enjoy those scenes in which wrestlers discuss the moves they are going to make on each other. For all the WrestleMania lovers, its a treat.
Now something has to be said about Mickey Rourke who plays Randy with such aplomb. The kind of physical training he must have gone through to prepare for this role is truly appreciable. He is especially vulnerable in those scenes with his daughter & the stripper. The movie doesn't drag itself but the ending looks abrupt. All the other actors have performed competently. Technically, the film is quiet sound especially when they portray the bloody battles.
All in all, an average fair but watch it for Mickey's performance & if you want an inside look into wrestling federations.