The Wrestler
Back in the late '80s, Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, 20 years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.
Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to evaluate the state of his life—trying to reconnect with his daughter, and strikes up a blossoming romance with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei). Yet all this cannot compare to the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull Randy "The Ram" back into his world of wrestling.
Member Reviews
Predictable - valdezzz
This movie does have an irksome predictability about it, leading to a disappointing finale of pursuit similar to a thousand other movies. This film hasn’t developed the desired ability to massage the ideal amount of complication out of the screenplay, and while passably engaging and even semi-poignant, it just doesn’t contain the urgency to sufficiently rouse the senses.Living on the fringes - dgeldart
The Wrestler is not an upbeat viewing experience, rather a gut-wrenching story about people living on the edge. Mickey Rourke should have won an Oscar for his believable portrayal of an ex-wrestling star 20+ years past his prime now barely eeking out an existence. Marisa Tomei also provides an excellent performance as the stripper of Rourke's unrequited affections who sees herself not as a stripper, but as a Mom doing what she has to do to survive.
Not recommended viewing for younger family members due to violence, gore, and explicit sex.The View From the Inside - Mood_Swing
When The Wrestler finally came to me via Zip, so much about it had already been said. Now, normally I only listen with a partial ear to the accolades of the masses. I like to think I'm more discriminating. But in the case of The Wrestler, the masses are right.
The weekend I received the movie, I didn't watch it once, but rather three times as I had to watch it a second and third time to even notice the supporting cast. Not that they were unmemorable, but they did their job well: they supported. The man in the leading role (if you haven't heard by now: Randy "The Ram" Robinson, played by Mickey Rourke) was perfectly spell-binding. Every facial expression or movement of body spoke volumes of the multi-dimensional person this man was, and this actor is. Not one dimension, not two, but three or four. The view of his insides came pouring out and Mickey Rourke could teach so much to those actors who actually believe that a long non-blinking stare off into space is "deep".
This was story telling at it's best and I haven't even started telling you about the movie yet. I think the bottom line is that if you want a beautiful crisp look at a single person who sacrificed his heart and life for B List Fame, rent this movie. If you can find a copy.
Member Reviews
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Predictable - valdezzz
This movie does have an irksome predictability about it, leading to a disappointing finale of pursuit similar to a thousand other movies. This film hasn’t developed the desired ability to massage the ideal amount of complication out of the screenplay, and ...Living on the fringes - dgeldart
The Wrestler is not an upbeat viewing experience, rather a gut-wrenching story about people living on the edge. Mickey Rourke should have won an Oscar for his believable portrayal of an ex-wrestling star 20+ years past his prime now barely eeking out an ...The View From the Inside - Mood_Swing
When The Wrestler finally came to me via Zip, so much about it had already been said. Now, normally I only listen with a partial ear to the accolades of the masses. I like to think I'm more discriminating. But in the case of The Wrestler, the masses are ...