“As time goes by, they say ‘He’s washed up. He’s finished. He’s a loser. He’s all through.’ But you know what? The only ones who are gonna tell me when I’m through doing my thing is you people here.” - Randy “The Ram” Robinson a.k.a. Robin Ramzinski
The Wrestler is directed by Darren Aronofsky, and stars Mickey Rourke as Randy “The Ram” Robinson. This film is about an aging pro wrestler who is way past his prime. He is struggling to make money, and is trying to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter, (Evan Rachel Wood) who resents him for not being present in her life. He is also trying to pursue a romantic relationship with a beautiful and kind-hearted woman (Marisa Tomei) who just so happens to be a stripper.
This movie rocked me to my core. It holds nothing back. The scenes where Rourke is in the ring are brutal and hard to watch. Likewise, the scenes taking place in the strip club are portrayed with unflinching realism. Both the club scenes and the wrestling scenes show what degrading acts people will perform for money. These scenes are not glamorous, they are painful to see, and that’s how it is in real life too.
The acting in this film is incredible. This is definitely Mickey Rourke’s best performance. He delivers each line with such raw emotion and power, and the interesting thing about his role is the fact that it is very reflective of his own life. He was into boxing for a while, and he has become somewhat of a washed up actor himself.
The screenplay is very well written, the dialogue is sharp, witty, and entirely real. The cinematography lends itself to the gritty world this film has established so well, and doesn’t turn away from the unpleasant aspects of the movie. Darren Aronofsky directs the heck out of this movie, and turns every scene into an emotional experience. Even though it made me feel sad and wanting some closure, I did love the way they chose to end the film. It really caused me to think, and analyse the movie even more.
The character development in The Wrestler is absolutely terrific. Randy “The Ram” Robinson is tied with Rocky Balboa for my favorite character in a sports film ever. The way they create complex, sympathetic characters, the way they portray the characters as flawed people who are just human beings at their core, it’s all fantastic. Another thing about the movie that I liked was how the music was reflective of the environment. I have stated that this is a sad, emotionally draining film, and this is true. But there was also a myriad of scenes that genuinely put a smile on my face. In the end, while this is not an easy watch, I highly recommend The Wrestler. This is one of my favorite sports films of all time, and I would gladly watch it again. I loved this movie.
Rating: R
Grade: A+
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