The Wrestler

Director:Darren Aronofsky
Writer (WGA):Robert D. Siegel (written by)
Release Date:16 January 2009 (UK) more
Genre:Drama Sport more
Tagline:Love. Pain. Glory.

Plot:A drama centered on retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson as he makes his way through the independent circuit...

Viewed 18/01/09

Score: 4/6

As with any movie hyped to the rafters, I approached the screen with a mixture of excitement and cynicism. Mickey Rourke has always been a powerful, if under-utilised actor. Here he gets the chance to shine and boy does he put his all into the role, making the character of ‘The Ram’ completely believable in all his flawed humanity.
Plot-wise, nothing is very original. One time star in entertainment ‘X’ has fallen on hard times and is generally a mess. Then he gets one more chance at a come-back.
However, this time, ‘X’ is pro-wrestling, which I actually know something about.
I feel that the ‘sport’ is captured perfectly, a staged display of athletic prowess where the audience can suspend disbelief and get caught up in the spectacle.
‘The Wrestler’ concentrates on the small time promotions, far from the glitz and glamour of WWE or TNA. Grubby halls, small audiences, low pay.

‘The Ram’ does what he does because he loves it and it is the one thing he was ever good at. Even if that means nowadays he takes part in ‘Extreme’ matches involving staple-guns, barb wire and broken glass. In case you’re wondering, the injuries Randy is shown as receiving are a genuine representation of ones received in that sort of ‘contest’. So is the portrayal of the slightly disturbing blood lust-filled crowd. After one particularly vicious encounter, the steroid-pumped Randy suffers a heart attack and is told he has to quit. Quit the wrestling, quit the steroids, basically quit everything that makes him who he is.
He turns to an aging stripper called Cassidy (played by an excellent Marisa Tomei) for understanding, and attempts to build a relationship with her. Randy has no real friends, family or human contact in his life. Very Country and Western. Most importantly, he also attempts reconciliation with his estranged daughter.
Of course, after things look on the up, it all goes wrong because his flaws run very deep indeed. For example, instead of meeting his daughter for dinner, he’s sleeping off a cocaine fuelled sex romp. Burning all his bridges and risking a fatal second heart attack, ‘The Ram’ returns to the ring for a re-match of his most famous bout.

My main complaint about this film is that events can be seen coming well before they happen and there is nothing to surprise or catch the viewer off guard. All the cast turn in powerful and creditable performances which lifts the movie out of the maudlin sludge it could have become. Pathos is practically shoved down your throat and the force feeding continues right until the end of Bruce Springsteen’s song that plays over the end credits. I felt that I was being unnecessarily forced to feel sympathy when the cast were perfectly capable of making their characters earn it.

To conclude, the film is a lot like its main protagonist. Flawed, talented and in spite of everything, very likeable.