Written by: Robert D. Siegel
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei & Evan Rachel Wood
Reviewer: Brett H.
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Reviewer's Rating: * * * * (4 Stars)
Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke) used to rule the squared circle, but poor life choices, drug abuse and in-ring wear and tear has taken a toll on him, now forced to work small independent shows to keep a roof over his head. He finds solace in a stripper (Tomei) who enjoys his company, yet refuses his sincere advances. Ram's life quickly spirals further out of control when a sudden illness strikes, leaving him without friends or family, including the teenage daughter (Wood) he barely knows.
The Wrestler is one of the best films of the 2000s, highlighting a precise, authentic documentary style crafted by Aronofsky and a career defining comeback performance by Rourke that is as good as he's ever been, topping his portrayal of poet Charles Bukowski in Barfly. Having followed professional wrestling for years, the plot's tribulations represents exactly what became of so many of my childhood heroes to the point that the movie doesn't seem like a movie at all, but a cold, yet proud reality of an era of athletes that took the secrets of their business seriously until Vince McMahon changed their worlds drastically. Some coped, some, like Ram, just did the best they could.
One could say Rourke and Ram are one in the same and much like Ram was under appreciated by wrestling promoters, Rourke was undercut by the Academy for his performance of a lifetime, being edged out by Sean Penn (Milk) for best actor. Tomei and Wood are right on the money in their supporting roles, building impeccable character relationships that seal the deal on what was the best film of 2008. A frame-by-frame masterpiece boasting a heartfelt Bruce Springsteen song written for the film, The Wrestler is a nearly unparalleled drama that looks and feels like real life. For many wrestlers and fans of the sport, it is.
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