Movie : The Wrestler

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”.