We open with shots of a bunch of press clippings. Articles and pictures of a professional wrestler at the top of his game and fame. We then cut 20 years later to an older version of the same wrestler sitting in a makeshift dressing room after a match. He has just finished a match in a school gymnasium. A long way from the glory days. He heads home to his trailer finding it locked when he gets there. The landlord has locked him out for not paying the rent. Things don’t get better for him. He suffers a heart attack, potentially ending his pay days as a wrestler. This is Randy “The Ram’s” life. We follow him as he tries to leave the only thing he’s known and start to make a new life and repair some of the damage from his past. Can he do it? Watch and see.
Darren Aronofsky tells a good story here. Taking us into the low rent side of pro wrestling and of man trying to hang onto his past. He tells it straight almost like a documentary (which I like). He strips away all flash and dash and gives it to us the way it is. A truthful story well shot and acted. He takes us into this world and the environment around it. Not only the wrestling part but the lives of others struggling to deal with their situations. It’s done real and truthful.
The cast is sprinkled with great support. The wrestlers are all authentic putting a human face on the occupation. Evan Rachel Wood as Randy’s daughter has some good moments. Marisa Tomei as a single mother trying to pay the bills by stripping is all too real. She works this job out of necessity but commits to it. Like she flips a switch to get in the frame of mind. Great work.
Mickey Rourke’s work in this film is better than good. He’s raw, truthful and in every moment he plays. Not one false note. He’s broken and we feel it. I would guess that he bares his soul in this performance. His scenes with Tomei and Wood are living and breathing moments. He obviously did his homework with the physical part of the role. You believe the guy is a pro wrestler. He’s natural and real just the way I like it. Good job Mick. I knew you had it in you.
I really like this film, a slice of life that we are foreign to. I liked “The Ram”. I bought the whole package. A good piece of stripped down film making. The way I like it. Oh yeah, a very good soundtrack that fits the film. Great tune by Springsteen.
“I just don’t want you to hate me”.
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Rourke is the perfect train wreck. This was a pretty decent film as you say. May just have to rewatch it at some point now.
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‘Train wreck’ but very watchable. A good story about the paths we choose and where it takes us. Mick was very good.
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Mickey was great in this, heck they all were. Pretty good movie, no doubt.
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Agree.
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Nailed it, CB! It’s been a long time since he was in 9.5 Weeks. But, I’ve always secretly liked him in his films. This film was really good. Probably due for a rewatch. Cya!
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It was a rewatch over here nd a good one. Mick has done some good work but this is near the top for me.
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Yeah! Real good movie. By the way, if you have Netflix, you might want to take a look at the series called Nobel. Very good it’s about political intrigue in Norway and Afghanistan. My wife and I watched it this month and loved it.
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Agree on this film and thanks I’ll be all over your suggestion. I’ll get back to you on it.
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Great movie CB…it has that grit and realism. I could see what happened to him happen to many other wrestlers. He IS the character…I didn’t see Rourke…I saw Randy The Ram.
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Maybe you seen the real Rourke?
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That is possible! He was a self destructive person…that is what I’ve read anyway…he seemed to be on the edge a lot according to some around him.
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I was hoping he’d get back to doing some more solid work but I guess he has to make a buck. These films dont pay big dollars but they sure let good actors do their best work. I think you might have read right bout Mick but hey he gave us a hell of a performance and you’re right I seen ‘Ram’ also
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I like when actors take films like this…like when Bruce Willis took Pulp Fiction…because of the script not the money…but I can’t fault anyone for taking something for the money…everyone has to eat.
I think Rourke was offered a part in Pulp Fiction also. He is his own man though.
He was great in this movie.
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You know this is where I live in the film world. I see so many good performances You really see who has the chops. I had never seen Willis in a film but he was good in ‘Fiction’ I’m with you on the money thing. Take the work if you need it.
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I loved Willis and Rourke in “Sin City,” a movie I’ve watched more times that I can remember.
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Oh I forgot they were in that!
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Me too.
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Time for a rewatch. Thanks for the reminder you two.
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🙂
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Boy I saw this a while back but can’t remember it. Rourke strikes me as a whack job in real life.
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Check out again Doc and yeah, I dont think Mick really gives a shit. He did in this film. I think he got caught up in some parallels.
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Easily his best film since Angel Heart. A tough watch but an amazing central performance.
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Put ‘Barfly in there and you have 3 solid performances.
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I don’t know that one at all. I used to watch Angel Heart a lot.
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I think it would be right up your ally. Loosely based on Charles Bukowski. Micky is badly in need of a bath in the film.
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One of the sexiest men ever born. He was such a pretty boy in his “Diner” and “Angel Heart” days and until he decided to take up professional boxing and get some plastic surgery done. I could have sworn “The Wrestler” came before “Sin City” but imdb says otherwise. I know few actors that could come back from such earth shattering changes in his facial features. The guy is one of the best actors out there, pretty or ugly. I really liked this movie and think I saw it opening weekend at the theater. I think you are right that this is Mickey’s story in more ways than one.
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His choices lost me a long time ago but when he’s on , I agree, he’s good. The material helps and this film was made for him. Thanks for the the Insight.
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I recall reading positive reviews at the time, CB. But have not seen the film.
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Yes it’s a good one in my book Bruce. I’m a sucker for a good simple story. How through choices, circumstances, maturity, luck (good and bad) our life plays out. Sometimes not so great. Bad habits die hard.
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One may find “The Wrestler” touching, but in the end it’s just this old story from a guy who failed, but still is a hero because he “stays true to himself”.
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I found him more addicted to his destructive lifestyle. He could see the damage it did but still not enough to make him change it.
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Well, Rourke can also empathize with the wrestler Randy. But it’s not that great: He plays himself.
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Definitely playing real close.
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Love this movie! I didn’t even remember Rourke. Sarah had to explain to me that he was once a stud in the ’80s… This guy?
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Not to many guys can throw stud on a resume.
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This is true.
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great write up as per usual. this was a great (if very gritty) movie from a superb, and a favourite director. Mickey R is extraordinary in this role.
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Thanks Press. It’s easy when you lie something.
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The first time I saw this I didn’t expect much from it but boy does it draw you in. To me it also added that extra of “is this what it is like for all those wrestlers that fame has drifter away from?”. Needless to say the first time I watched it was and will not be the ladt
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I think everyone involved did their homework and had some good advisors on board.
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