Visitors Review

KVolchok (2012-05-23 11:09)

Fascinating

Yesterday I saw The Wrestler for the second time and I came to theconclusion that I really do love every single minute of this movie andit is easily one of my favorites.The direction is outstanding and so isMikey Rourke's performance.The wrestler tells the story of Randy "TheRam" Robinson, a faded wrestler who was a star in the 80's. Now he onlydoes small wrestling shows,lives alone in a trailer and he's the shadowof the man he used to be.One day he collapses after a show and at thehospital he is told he won't be able to wrestle anymore.Feelingdefeated, he starts to invest more in the relationship with Cassidy,astripper in a local bar,and tries to reconnect with his estrangeddaughter...First thing you'll notice in The Wrestler is the camerawork,the camera is most of the time behind the lead character followinghim,this is not only innovative but as strange as it seems it gives theviewer a better perception/understanding of the character. Its almostlike the viewer is the character.Mickey Rourke's performance is simplyamazing, and as many have said is hard to know where the character endsand Rourke begins which makes the overall experience even better. Notevery actor could pull off this kind of performance,so Rourke wasdefinitely the right choice and I'm glad Aronofsky got that and foughtagainst the studio who wanted a "bigger" star. The score composed byClint Mansel(what a genius) is beautiful and compliments the film.EvanRachel Wood deserves to be mentioned as well, she has a small part butshe takes the most of it.At the end of the day The Wrestler is moreabout people then the sport itself and that is what makes this movie sogreat.Pay special attention to the amazing and tremendously emotionalspeech by Ram(that also reflects Rourke's life) in the last scenes ofthe movie; its a brilliant speech and pretty much sums up everythingthat happen until that point, who the character is and the place he'sat in that moment.Fascinating.10/10

(2012-05-23 02:29)

a role made for micky rourke

good film, its a little sad how "old wreslers" lifes turn out.but marisa tomei she is super fine in this movie i love me some marisa tomei! i rewind the movie just for her. a must have if your a fan of wrestling as I!!

(2012-05-21 23:05)

A good movie even for not wrestling fans

This review is from: The Wrestler (DVD) The Wrestler is the kind of movie you wanna watch over and over, not only because of the emotional rollercoaster that it is, but because is an example that you can still make a good movie without a massive budget.The Wrestler is about Randy Robinson (is not even his real name but he prefers to be called by this) better known as The Ram for his aerial move (very original by the way), called The Ram Jam, not in vain the main character played great by Mickey Rourke drives a Dodge Ram.The movie reflects the drama that several wrestlers live day by day, as Randy tries to not be a star of the past, but still manages to use his previous fame on the top companies to work on the indies, if you are a wrestling fan you will know best about this issue.Mickey Rourke does an excellent job portraying a wrestler, not only because he trained with real wrestlers but because Randy The Ram is almost a copy carbon of the life of Rourke as well. Marisa Tomei does a great job as Cassidy a stripper who wants to get out of the business because of her son, she and Randy form a bond, that in other circumstances can be better suited for a romantic relationship.The movie is not for everyone, since its a wrestling movie, contains violence and of course fault language and a sex scene in a bathroom. However the movie is true and honest, even if some people may consider it derogatory for the wrestling business it portrays a reality many wrestlers (and other athletes from other disciplines) face on their lives.I think the best thing about THE WRESTLER is its honesty and the fact that it was made like an indy movie. The extras on the DVD are scarce, a Bruce Springsteen video with the theme song, and the excellent documentary Within the Ring which explores how the movie came together in a journal type thing. I expected more extras, but still the DVD its okay for the movie since this production was not featured on many theaters.Anyway, not the best movie out there, but still a good interesting production.

dr_brendan (2012-05-21 11:24)

Great Story Strange Amounts of Realism

I thought the down and out fighter character was done with. So imaginemy surprise when this film becomes one of the most critically acclaimedfilms of 2008. Why is this film such a success? Well, I don't agreewith all of the reasons why.Let's address the film will probably be known for in a couple years, Imean the "Return of Mickey Rourke." Now, I've never been that much of aMickey Rourke fan but apparently his early work is good and he givesthe rawest performance you've ever seen. But I did like him in Sin Cityas Marv because Marv was a character. I thought he had a character inSin City and in the Wrestler he's really just playing himself.He does a lot of stunts, get's hurt bad and makes a heart attack lookvery real but the entire time I'm thinking, "Did Mickey Rourke gothrough all of this himself at one point in his life?" I Wiki'd up someinfo on Mickey Rourke cause I was curious about his acting career. Itturns out that he was popular in the 1980's, got a lot of props fromfans and critics, was seen as a sex symbol, then because he couldn'tmake it in the acting world he decided to become a boxer. When thatdidn't work he came back to acting and is career is now seen as acomeback. Now, if you go and see the movie, you'll realize that THIS ISTHE SAME STORY. Like, almost verbatim. Rourke's character plays Randy"The Ram" Robinson who was very popular in the 1980's, got a lot ofaffection from fans, Randy was seen as a sex symbol (that one isn'ttrue), but in the film he has a few rough patches that involve hismedical condition and in the end he has to quit the thing that heloves, only to return to it after everyone has said that he's washedup. Again, very similar. So, how great is his acting? Well, there's no character, because it'sjust Mickey Rourke. You can say that he's using his own personalexperiences to bring a performance that is very close to home, but thething is, it's way to close to home. It would be like me saying I wasacting if Charlie Kaufman made character for me, who was ashamed ofhimself, used humor as a defense, continued to be awkward with women,not that attractive, and was unsure of where -if anywhere- he wasgoing. If he made that character for me, I would "act" out that partuntil it bled but, thing is, that's who I am. Mickey Rourke is Randy"The Ram" Robinson and because he is that character along with the factthat there really wasn't any character at all in the film, JUST MickeyRourke I'm hesitant to say that he knocks the character out of thepark. He does in a way, but it's almost like he does it with easebecause he's lived it.Moving on from the complicated of nature of Mickey Rourke performance,I would like to talk about the story of The Wrestler. As I statedearlier this story has been done before and to death. What makes thisfilm different from Raging Bull, the Rocky movies, and other up andcoming sports movies is the fact that it's not that he's lost too manymatches, it's just that Randy is old. The whole movie is about how youonly have the spot light for a certain amount of time and what do youdo when you have to give it up. Randy is left with a choice, he canleave the spot light and be stuck in a world where everything he doesdoesn't work out, or he can stay in a world full of cheering hundredswhere everyone knows who he is and everything is planned ahead of timebut this world might kill him cause of his age. He's not really aspring chicken anymore. Because of Randy's heart problems he has togive up the life he loves in order to live in a world where nothinggoes as planned even though he tries his hardest. Once he realizes thatthat's a horrible idea he comes back to his old world, full of gloryand pain only to realize that everyone he loves is in the real worldand can't be there to watch him die in this fantasy world. THE STORY OFTHIS MOVIE IS GREAT. Much better than I thought it would be. I rememberreading the plot synopsis of it when it hit Cannes and thinking that itsounded a lot like Rocky IV but the fact that this giant thing of a manis actually so fragile it makes emotional teen boys look like Rambo isjust a fantastic idea. Which was the films strongest point.However, one of the weakest points of the film was it's large amount ofrealism. Now, I was very concerned and interested when I saw thetrailer for this film. It looked like Darren Aronofsky really shed hisstyle of small tiny boxes and decided to choose "ultra-hyper-realism."to the point where it's almost a documentary and because of that, thepoints where nothing is going on are boring as a walking scene in a GusVan Sant film. The camera work in The Wrestler is this, "follow MickeyRourke" and I know many different directors would have choked Darren onthe spot because that idea is straight out of the "how not to shoot afilm correctly" book for dummies. It's boring and while the story wasso good the "acting" of Mickey Rourke and the hyper-realism directionthe film took just made me think the movie was a lot longer than itactually was. I thought the film was 2 hrs. and 30 min. But it's onlyan hour and 45. min.

(2012-05-20 15:55)

The Wrestler

`The Wrestler' is the film that has catapulted Mickey Rourke back into the limelight and with good reason. It is pretty obvious from the get go that we are in for a great performance. Following a `has been' wrestler who tries to maintain his former glory in various weekend bouts, this film paints quite a sad picture at times. Rourke plays the part excellently where you can't help but like the main character despite obvious flaws. The sub plot where he falls in love with an aged stripper, and tries to date her, mirrors his own physical demise amongst younger, more athletic and often more extreme wrestlers. This film may mean more if you know of the big eighties and nineties wrestlers, but to be honest this is a film about one mans struggle to keep doing the thing he loves and find some meaning in his life and the wrestling theme is merely a vehicle for that. The final scene is actually quite touching and you are left impressed by the acting from all involved throughout the film. This film was reminiscent of the Rocky films (especially Rocky Balboa), due to the run down locations and style of direction and it easily deserves a place up there with other great sporting themed films from the past. A solid effort from all involved and well worth a watch.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

ronbeebe2 (2012-05-20 06:31)

True to Form *possible spoiler*

This movie was definitely written correctly, acted perfectly and filmedto match. It is an excellent portrayal of a superstar that could easilybe referenced as Mr USA Tony Atlas or "The Rock's" father RockyJohnson. Both were huge in the 80s and have no life now (I am surerocky is OK but from the reality show Mr USA is *not* It is truly sadhow people that make all that money, spend it, and end up living theremainder of their lives in deplorable conditions that they themselvesput them in. I recall very recently a porn star that was well past herprime (I am not a fan of that genre but heard her name before) and shewas found dead in her trailer. Then I saw this movie and he was in arun down trailer and could not keep up on his rent. Truly sad. A veryvery good movie nonetheless. You will never see this movie about aretired NFL star other than maybe Rocky Bleier because professionalsports does such a good job of keeping it on the down low.

(2012-05-20 00:19)

Mickey Rourke the Wrestler both make comebacks!

Who would have thought that washed up and notorious Mickey Rourke wouldbe the front-runner for an Academy Award for playing Randy RamRobinson, a veteran professional wrestler and celebrity in thewrestling entertainment world. First, I am not a wrestling fan in theleast and this film shows the bruises, damage, and the non gloriousside of the sport. Rourke is beautiful as the bruised, damagedself-proclaimed "piece of meat." The beginning of the film shows him asthe washed up Ram after an appearance and his life where he lives alonein a trailer park where he hasn't paid his rent. He works days at theAcme supermarket and nights where he goes to a strip club and befriendsCassidy played by Marisa Tomei. If people thought her first Oscar winwas a shock, she should get her second Academy Award for thisperformance as the stripper and single mom who wins Ram's heart. Ramhas a daughter, Stephanie, played well by Evan Rachel Wood but hercharacter never is fleshed out as more than just his lesbian daughterliving with her girlfriend but it's never said. He just suspects and wedon't know much about Stephanie's history in the first place. We don'thave that connection between them which would help explain theirwounded relationship. Maybe Stephanie is more her father's daughterthan she pretends not to be. I didn't like the ending but I won't spoilit for anybody else except that it's not clear. Regardless, the filmwas shot on a very low budget but it's still inspiring and MickeyRourke's performance is well alone worth the effort in watching himdespite the pain and blood that comes with wrestling. If you didn'thave any respect for wrestlers or strippers before the film, the filmwill make you look at wrestlers and strippers a little differently.Tomei's character, Cassidy, shows a different side of a stripper aboutaging in a profession where they don't want you too and where you'renothing but a piece of meat. In reality, Cassidy and Ram can both sharein professions where they use their bodies. For both, it is not only away of life but a living. For Cassidy and others in the profession,they make more money than working as secretaries in reality. Ram'swhole life is wrestling. If you take that away from him, you take awayhis life's meaning.

Jamie Ward (2012-05-19 22:20)

An unforgettable and powerful tale of personal triumph.

They say that only two things in the world sell anything worthcounting: sex, and violence. The former has been a well establishedindustry tailed to sharks for near on centuries, whether it's been onthe streets or on camera. The same principles can be said for thelatter, but not for quite as long. When it comes to violence, there area few examples of such that draw in the crowds, and certainly none doquite as much money and business today as the wrestling world. Back inthe eighties however, it was different. The money was less grandiose,the fame limited to the fans inside the arena and the health care lessthan hospitable. The Wrestler which in turn takes it upon itself todocument both sides of life's biggest cash cows, tells such a tale ofhardship not often documented- about people who gave so much andreceived little but the select admiration from people heckling in thecrowds- but it also tells a compelling character story to boot. Theresult is an often compelling, eye opening and heart wrenchingexperience that always feel real, human and dignified, despite itscentral character's sometime dubious outlook on such qualities withinhimself.While The Wrestler –believe it or not- tells a story largely centred ona professional wrestler, now working his way through the harsh climateof independent organisations, the movie isn't as polarising or esotericas you might imagine. Aronofsky, who, up until this movie has provedhimself to be a director capable of telling grand stories, has alwaysexcelled in telling smaller ones revolving around human beings ratherthan obtuse ideas. Taking a step back from his previous effort whichwas a little on the robust side of things, the director here stripsthings down to a minimalistic character study with an under-ridingstory that delivers upon the theme of finding where you belong in life-who you are, and what you mean to the world. This shift in focus willcertainly help ease in viewers who know nothing about professionalwrestling, but that's not to say that Aronofsky neglects to detail thereal hardship involved within the business.The Wrestler, while spending a lot of time inside the squared circle,makes such instances play second batter to the real core of the storywhich comes in the form of battered, bruised but still livid and"dangerous" Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Mickey Rourke). Through 'The Ram'the movie fleshes out the idea of wrestling as a spectacle, and theidea of a man as a burnt out but not entirely forgotten icon.Throughout the feature Robinson is put through tables, glass and barbedwire, but this is nothing it seems to the ordeals that happen outsidethe ropes. The script, which details Randy's domestic problems, iswhere the real substance of the character's personal story lies;there's his troublesome, unrequited affection for stripper Cassidy(Marisa Tomei) and his understatedly nonexistent relationship withestranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), all of which comescrashing into perspective following an after-match heart-attack. Bothstories share common themes; Randy wants them to find a place for himwithin their lives, but neither seem able to accommodate such anunstable commodity. For Cassidy, "The Ram" is just a friendly customerwho brings a smile with his money, and for Stephanie, her father issimply a screw-up who never showed any interest in her until hisaccident. At times, the script can get a little overbearing, and theideas of such drama play out better than they do on screen, but both doplenty of justice to the eventual climax of the film which plays outwith a coherent sense of realist poignancy fitting to the proceedingelements building up to that point. It's a stark, gutsy move byAronofsky, but I could think of no better way to pull the curtain.If there is one element that such moments of drama really bring outwithin The Wrestler however, it is within the performances from thecentral cast. Rourke, who spends much of the feature as a man at oddswith himself and unsure of where he truly belongs, consistentlyencapsulates the psyche and body language of such a figure. It's anunderstated performance, and the movie is all the better because of it.Yet when Aronosky calls for larger moments, Rourke accommodates suchinstances with just as much ease, never coming across as stunted or outof place. His co-stars Tomei and Wood always play second place to theleading man, but do fine jobs in their own rights. Tomei in particulargives an equally understated performance that capitalises on thescript's multi-layered approach to her character; Cassidy is found barefrom the waist up for a lot of the movie's runtime, but that's not tosay that her character is anything as such. There's plenty of dynamismhere, and Rourke and Tomei do a good job of bringing it to life withoutslipping into mawkish melodrama.And that, in turn, is what makes The Wrestler such a gripping,enthralling experience in the first place. With a mixture ofthree-dimensional drama and characterisation fluent with a well pacedstory that documents an under-documented side of the entertainmentindustry, The Wrestler can be a bloody mess at times, but only becausethat's how the lead character feels inside. It's a movie that tells astory fit for fables and legends, and yet it does so with an elegantrefrain- and contrasted with the more viscerally compelling scenes ofviolence and personal struggle within a ring that feels more like homethan his run-down trailer in the middle of nowhere, Randy 'The Ram'Robinson's story- much like himself- is an unforgettable and powerfultale of personal triumph; an eighties heavy metal classic fit to bangyour head to and salute with a thousand lighters at the same time.- A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)

tubby1 (2012-05-18 19:49)

Wrestling with life

The Wrestler is a vivid, down to earth and deeply personal tale that isexpertly crafted and directed without the need for elaborate orsuperficial trickery to provide its entertainment. The film provides an inner glance into the world of wrestling withoutever being overwrought with its subject matter. It conveys the love anddeep affection of the wrestling fraternity and their sheer dedicationand willingness to be physically punished for the art. We are provided with the insight into the world of wrestling throughRandy 'The Ram' Robinson. Randy a once revered wrestler is seeing outhis last remaining days on the wrestling circuit in high school gymsand community centres, signing autographs to die-hard fans who stillhold a high respect for the man. He carries physical scars of hiswrestling experiences, and reminisces passionately about theirinflictions. It is clear that Randy is submerged by his life as awrestler, his walls are layered with posters and memorabilia of histime in the spotlight. The respect that the wrestling fraternity havefor Randy as he turns up for these shows is perceptible, and thisprovides his motivation to continue his art and to push his aging bodyto extremes. Into this equation is Cassidy an aging stripper played heartfelt andexcellently by Marisa Tomei who Randy has visited, we must surmise on anumber of occasions. Cassidy shares the same estrangement from herwork, she is no longer the beauty that she once was and like Randy ithas come to a chapter in her life where she fears the unknown, thepossibility of being alone and away from everything she knows.You will not find a more pitch-perfect performance than that of MickeyRourke who effortlessly brings Randy to life with his staggeringability to convey his frustrations and motivations through physical andemotional trajectory. You believe in Randy's journey, his abidingattachment to the only thing he knows wrestling, and his efforts toseek a life away from its addictive allure. Darren Aronofsky has produced a film of heartache and real engagement.The film touches the fear we all have of loneliness and resonatespassionately without ever seeking a superficial spin much to itscredibility, providing a potent and passionate film.

(2012-05-18 04:43)

Best Movie of the Year!!!

The Wrestler is without a doubt the Best Movie of 2008! Witness the Resurrection of one of the Greatest Actors ever Mickey Rourke who fits his role perfectly as Randy The Ram a Wrestler from the 80's.The Story is so Human and touches the human spirit on so many levels.Ive always been a fan of Mickey and this one is his Perfect Role.I feel so many of his films were overlooked especially "BULLET" which is a fantastic film.Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood give truly amazing performances.I absoloutely loved this film in every way possible.Highly Highly Recommended to anyone who is ready to truly witness Mickey in his prime.Welcome back my friend...

kostas voukelatos (2012-05-17 07:28)

Rourke's comeback

Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is literally a great movie.It is aboutan almost down and out,kind of stroke professional wrestler named Ramwho has passed on his prime and just wrestlers in Indys(independentpromotions).He has no money to pay for the rent of his tiny apartmentwhich is located in a slum and sleeps inside his van,his body has beendevastated,his daughter hates him and his only relationship is afriendly one with a 44-year-old stripper named Pam who has also ason.After having a hard attack which almost costs him his life andafter being told from the doctors that he must never wrestle again,hedecides to try to make up for the things he has done in the past.Firstof all through some very emotional scenes,he makes things betterbetween him and his daughter Stephanie.Secondly,he creates arelationship between him and Pam(not the customer-employee one).Butwhile he seems to rise from his personal bottom,a complication on therelationship between him and Pam,he strikes rock bottom once again anddestroys everything he had done.Then in a situation ofdesperation,anger and self-hatred he decides to make the big,finalcomeback and returns in the thing that- according to him- loves themost and is being loved the most,professional wrestling... Mickey Rourke is extraordinary and deserves to be applauded for makingone of the biggest comebacks in cinema's history.The role of the brokenphysically and emotionally man who has passed on his prime suitsperfectly on Mickey Rourke and when his character says "It's not overuntil you (pointing at the audience) tell me its over" and "I don'thear as good as I used to, and I ain't as pretty as I used to be. ButI'm still here" the things are getting mixed a little bit between reallife and the movie.Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood are very good tooin the roles of the soon-to-retire poor stripper and the emotionallyhurt and fulled with hatred Stephanie respectively while DarrenAronofsky's direction is once again breathtaking.To sum up,this movie is not just pointing to wrestling fans but to thewhole world about what is behind the big lights,the shinny attires,thepretty faces,the nice bodies and the glamor that people watch in theTV,and should be watched by everyone because of this and of coursebecause of one of the most thrilling returns in the history ofcinema,Mickey Rourke's...

i_love_chaos (2012-05-17 02:51)

A powerhouse performance from Rourke and wonderfully directed by Aronofsky

this movie is so powerful and moving that it hit me in ways a lot ofother films cease to do. Mickey Rourke (Sin City, Spun, Rumble Fish)really shows a powerhouse performance as Randy The Ram. a wrestler thatwas considered by a lot of people to be a wrestling legend. a force notto be reckoned with. but Randy The Ram suffers from a heart attackafter a match and has to force retirement upon himself. so with him notfighting anymore he finds life very empty and tries to rekindle hisrelationship with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and makes friendswith a stripper (Marisa Tomei) and shows a lot of affection for her.you really feel the loneliness and sorrow for Randy as he tries to livelife normally. the ending to this film is extremely powerful andupsetting.Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain, Pi) is one of myfavourite directors. he captures this movie brilliantly. the way heshot this film really brings out the gritty atmosphere. it looks almostlike a documentary style film, don't let that fool you because it worksbrilliantly. the film received two Oscar nominations which i'm angryabout. first of all the nominations were for Mickey Rourkes flawlessacting which he should of won and best supporting actress for MarisaTomei which i can understand if she didn't win but Mickey should ofdefinitely won. now the really annoying thing is where was thenomination for best picture ??? or best director ??? they should of atleast got nominated because this film is amazing (better than SlumdogMillionaire) i do like Slumdog but this film is better. well no pointin going on but the academy really overlooked this masterpiece.its awesome that this film is rated very high on IMDb with an 8.3 thatplaces it at 119 in the top 250. the film deserves it. Mickey Rourke iswith out a doubt the one and only guy who could of pulled off playingRandy The Ram. its one of the best performances i've seen in a while. irecommend this film to every one because its just a brilliant film thati think everyone will enjoy............. 10/10...........j.d Seaton

(2012-05-16 14:53)

Finally A Great Wrestling Movie!

There have been other Wrestling Movies like Dirk Benidict in Body Slam and the terrible Ready To Rumble,however they were more campy Comedy-type Movies that really didn't take themselves seriously and was more of A fictional Protrayal of Professional Wrestling.The Wrestler was the only Movie dealing with Professional Wrestling as A serious subject.Dealing with Wrestlers themselves and their personal lives and how much they sacrificed to entertain people who spend their hard earned money to see them and cheer and boo for them.They show the physical torment they endure inside and outside the Ring and the vices that are common in really any Sport (I.E Drugs Steroid use etc.).But instead of making light of them or embarrasing Pro Wrestling they do it in A way that respects Wrestling yet does point them out in A very respectful manner.This movie really reminds me of what I felt when I first saw the Movie Rocky Balboa.Throughout the whole Movie you really deeply feel for Mick Rourke's Character and all the hardships He experiences.Especially since I'm A Huge Pro Wrestling Fan since I was five years old and I know the KayFabe (inside look in Professional Wrestling) system quite well.I was glad to see other Pro Wrestlers in the Movie.Marisa Tomei (Hope I spelled her name right) was spectacular and justified her Oscar Win for My Cousin Vinny-She was truly great and deserved another.I'm not going to go into detail about the Movie,because I don't want to give the story away-I will say that as A Professional Wrestling Fan I believe they honored the Sport of Professional Wrestling and all the Wrestlers who ever stepped into the squared circle.They did it tastefully without compromising A single thing and to all the Haters of Pro Wrestling will I'd like to believe will look at Pro Wrestling with A better light.For anybody that likes A heartfelt,emotional and just like watching Fantastic Movies you will be hard pressed to find A better one than The Wrestler.I loved the Movie and you will too I'm sure.

David H. Schleicher (2012-05-15 23:07)

Down and Out in New Jersey

A fading wrestling star (Mickey Rourke, perfectly cast) suffers a heartattack and must battle with being down and out in Sh*thole, New Jerseyin Darren Aronofsky's gritty character piece, "The Wrestler." Messageto Hollywood: there actually are nice places in Jersey...really...I'mnot joking...trust me...but that's another story.Aronofsky utilizes a self-consciously shaky camera and grainycinematography to emphasize his depiction of a life literally on theropes. For much of the film we are walking with the camera behindRourke seeing everything from his point of view--another stylisticchoice that may wear on some viewer's nerves while seem like a strokeof genius to others.Admittedly I've never understood the appeal of pro wrestling, but Iimagined it could be a decent vehicle for a character drama. Aronofskydelivers a mixed bag in this respect. Despite the expertly edited piecedetailing the humorously brutal and tragic bout that leads to theaforementioned heart attack and the match that closes the film, theremainder of the wrestling bits are unnecessary and really add nothingto the story. The scenes in a shady gentleman's club (featuring afabulously adept Marisa Tomei playing the over-the-hill but still hotstripper friend with a heart of gold) and the clips detailing Rourke'scharacter's everyday struggles (including some great bits where heworks a deli counter) are slightly more appealing and deliver somegenuine moments. However, the scenes where he attempts to reconcilewith his estranged daughter (an over-acting Evan Rachel Wood) seemstaged and under-developed, which undermines the documentary style feelof the rest of the film. I won't deny I felt something for thesecharacters, but haven't we seen this all before?As finely tailored as Mickey Rourke is to his part, his is essentiallya one-note character where we see him in varying stages of failure thatlead him to believe the only place he can find acceptance is in thephony but dangerous world inside the ring. As good as Rourke and Tomeiare, the script plays their story safe and succumbs to clichés. Thatbeing said, "The Wrestler" is still more engaging than your averageHollywood character study, and it's worth viewing for the occasionallyauthentic moment and the fine performances from Rourke and Tomei. Butas Bruce Springsteen's theme song played over a black screen before thecredits rolled, I couldn't help feeling sorry for Rourke and hischaracter--and maybe that was the point. They try their hardest, butthe film in which they appear isn't worth the hype.

lucas9109 (2012-05-14 16:52)

Mickey Rourke's Oscar ticket

As a wrestling fan, I was extremely anxious and excited to see thisfilm after reading nothing but great reviews about Mickey Rourke'sperformance and the film itself. After viewing it, I thought the moviewas just a tad overrated, but I thought Mickey Rourke's performance wasjust absolutely phenomenal. His portrayal as an old, broken down,has-been, barely able to get by pro wrestling veteran was Oscar worthy.The best way that I can describe this movie is "Rocky Balboa" (the newone) meets "Leaving Las Vegas" (minus the alcohol). When you watch thismovie, you just feel like climbing through the screen and giving Rourkea big hug. Yes ladies and gentleman, he was that good.

(2012-05-14 08:12)

a sad reality check and a look of what becomes of our heroes

Mickey Rourke is absolutely, heart brakingly brilliant but be warned this is not a feel good movie, it is a realistic look behind the curtain of the professional wrestling world.The story of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson(Rourke)though fictional mirrors the lives of many of the 80's wrestling superstars dealing with painkiller and other drug addictions and a seperation from the outside world.Once a superstar and all time great of pro wrestling, Randy the now aged and an old man is now wrestling in school gyms for little pay earning just enough to scrape by in life, just a shaddow of his former self and sold out arenas of his path, but wrestling is all he knows.The Wrestler is a reminder that the larger than life wrestling heroes from our child hood are human who have often sacrificed all they have to be left with nothing but hurt and pain and shattered relationships from a life constantly on the road.Marisa Tomei's part is not to be understated, she plays Randy's regular stripper who he has developed some what of a weird bond through many years of being a customer, Like Randy Marisa's charactor is also aging and has her best years behind her. Sadly Randy's bond with his stripper is essentially the only functioning relationship in his life seeing as his daughter hates himDon't watch this if your wanting a Rocky style feel good story, this is a sad movie but is worth the journy

(2012-05-08 01:46)

An instant classic, courageous, moving and downright perfect in it's execution of life after life.

This review is from: The Wrestler [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) If you're on the fence about getting this Blu-Ray (or DVD), hopefully this short recommendation will help you. It's a must own disc. The Blu-Ray transfer is spot on, with just the right amount of grain, and the soundtrack and score will give your 5.1, or in my particular case, 5.2 system, a workout. Highly recommended, whether you are a wrestling fan or not, the moral of the story will not go unnoticed. Mickey Rourke makes you wonder where he's been all these years...leave it to a brilliant Director like Arnofsky to uncover an actor's talent. Bravo.

Red_Flag (2012-05-07 14:47)

It hits like a punch to the gut.

Whatever you opinion on Darren Aronofsky previous film, The Fountain,that shouldn't affect you judgement on whether or not to see TheWrestler. Not only is Darren Aronofsky most mature, authentic anduntimely heart crushing movie a film that will go down as one ofAronofsky best but it's the performance Mickey Rourke's been buildinghis carer up for. There isn't a second that Rourke is caught off guard,his presence is undeniable his performance, Oscar worthy. There's thishaunting quality for a film so authentic, which really adds to theoverall feel you get from watching it.This is strong meat, and the exact opposite of a feel good chick flick.You end up with a visceral sense of a brutalised, brutalising celebrityculture, its attractions for adoring and adored alike. Most films takea benevolent view of the masses - hardly surprising, really, since theyare trying to make money out of them.This movie isn't afraid to show the cruelty of the public, and that'svirtually unique in a Hollywood film. I watch very few movies whichcouldn't have been improved upon, but this is one of them. I lovedevery mythic moment of it.His sense of identity fading into nothingness after the spotlights dimand he experiences a close brush with mortality, a retired wrestlerbegins to evaluate his life while considering the comeback that couldvery well kill him in director Darren Aronofsky's poignant portrait ofan introspective former superstar in the twilight of his career. Backin his heyday, wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was anicon in the ring. His image immortalized in action figures and videogames, he would headline arenas across the globe.Twenty years later, those glory days have passed, and Randy is forcedto earn his keep by brawling before handfuls of fans in high-schoolgyms and community centres around New Jersey. In the wake of a heartattack, the former icon attempts to earn a little extra cash whileworking in a deli and making an effort to reconnect with his estrangedteenage daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Yet, despite Randy'scontinued attempts at convincing local stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei)to settle down with him in his humble trailer, the ring still calls tohim. Later, when the prospect of a high-profile rematch with hislong-time nemesis presents itself, Randy is forced to weigh hismortality against his desire to hear the crowd roar one last time.Aronofsky has pulled off that rare feat - he's made a great film abouta niche subject that will delight wrestling fans and cineastes alike.And Rourke's performance is a knockout. The characters may bestereotypes to us, but they're played here with a love and tendernessand resignation that could break your heart. Emotionally engaging,superbly directed drama, with a terrific script and a powerful,award-winning performance by Mickey Rourke.Verdict: This is a movie that improves on repeat viewing, having seenit twice already I can easily say it's one of my favourites of theOscar season, the film resonates for hours after the final credits rolland even if you not enjoying the movie for the most part the end isguaranteed to floor you unlike ever before. For the most part "TheWrestler" defines movie perfection. Brutal, brave and brilliant. Thisis an emotional roller-coaster that pulls out all the stops and stickswith you days after the films over. It's as simple as that. For myoverall rating I give "The Wrestler" 5/5.

(2012-05-05 20:29)

I'm the one who was supposed to take care of everything

I went into this film with no expectations and was completely blown away. Rourke deserved every accolade he got for the delivery of his role in this film. Truly Tomei and Wood were stellar, as well. Not only was keen insight into the life and choices of this man, but into a profession and passion that is often culturally misunderstood. Though his character is beautifully flawed, his take on self-harm, life choices, and triumph and defeat evoked empathy in the viewer. This film was marvelous.

(2012-05-05 11:26)

I can't believe there are negative reviews for this movie!

Astounding. Watch it. Don't listen to the negative reviews. If you have a soul and an eye for beautiful cinematography and a moving story, this movie is amazing.