The Wrestler (B or 3/4 stars)
Back in the late 80's, Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was phenomenal professional wrestler; filling arenas the likes of Madison Square Garden. Now, 20 yrs. later, he scrapes by performing for diehard fans in community centers, rec. halls, & high schools across New Jersey. Quite the difference. Darren Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler' examines the downtrodden life of this retired wrestler as he tries to rejuvenate his mind, body, & soul. Will he re-connect with his daughter? Can he build a relationship with a lonely stripper? Or will he ditch them for one last fight against an old, but friendly foe? The outcome of his decisions may be critical. This film has its share of wrestler-film cliches. But it's also a small film with a big heart. And Rourke is spellbinding as 'The Ram'.
Due to his declining health/advancing age, Randy has been relegated into 'performing' at small venues/autograph signings. World weary already, Randy suffers a huge setback when a staged fight sends him straight into cardiac arrest. His doctor tells him plainly: stop wrestling ... or you will die. Sent into retirement, Randy starts to re-evaluate his life, his identity, his mortality, & who fits into his small world. After getting a menial job at a deli counter, he attempts to be a dad to his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood); and he also strikes up a relationship with a stripper named Pam (Marisa Tomei). They had always been friends. But with his recent setback, he envisioned something more with her. Maybe Stephanie wants her dad back. Maybe Pam wants the comfort of a man around. But would these 2 women accept him into 'their' lives as his caretaker? Is he just looking to love & to be loved in return? Can he start over? Or will the allure of the now lethal (for him) wrestling ring pull him away from this second chance at life?
'The Wrestler' is simple, spare, but offers one of the best character studies of the year. We see every aspect of Randy's disheveled life; from his trailer park woes; to dying his hair; to tanning at the salon; to shooting up steroids; to the behind-the-scenes rigging of his wrestling matches; to the in-the-ring shenanigans; to praying before a match; to dealing with his A-hole boss at the supermarket; to receiving lap dances at the local bar; to trying to buy clothes for his estranged daughter, etc. The film is meticulous in catching these small but true moments of life. The meat of the story shows Randy's attempts to cope with the downward slope of his life; the self-degradations; the delusions; and all the self-sacrifices (being brutally beaten up in the ring for a spot of fame & a few measly bucks).
Rourke is simply great, here. Watching his behemoth-like body lumber around & then thrust into the wrestling ring is something to see. The role seems custom made for him. But his characterization is not defined merely by his physicality. His Randy is a 3-dimensional character; executed to near-perfection. Though he's not a saint by any means, he's also a sympathetic character; searching for adulation & a 'meaning of life' that has always proved elusive for him. Running parallel with Randy's story is that of Pam's (played very well by Marisa Tomei). Both are past-their-prime (so to speak); performing services for the exact same reasons. Not only does she bare her body (almost completely nude), but like Randy, she also bares her soul; humanizing a character that could have fallen prey to stereotype. In her 40's, Pam knows that she'll have to stop stripping eventually. And she tries to convince Randy to get-out of wrestling before 'his' body finally gives out.
'The Wrestler' is a hard film to critique. On paper, it's very standard & very simple. It's story suggests nothing more than a 2.5 rating at the most ... a wrestler wants a re-match against his foe from 20 yrs. ago; being a horrible father, he struggles to find a place is his daughter's life; will his woman (Tomei) throw caution to the wind and show-up at his last fight? We've seen ALL of this before, and even in other movies about wrestling! But it's the performances from Rourke, Tomei, & Wood (SO good in her 2 major scenes) who really elevate the level of this film. Furthermore, I can't believe the same man who directed 2006's sci-fi/fantasy The Fountain has now made this stripped down, 'fly on the wall' type of movie. Great achievement. In the end, 'The Wrestler' (as a concept) isn't the original film I thought it could be. But it's still a very good movie; one not to be missed.
Due to his declining health/advancing age, Randy has been relegated into 'performing' at small venues/autograph signings. World weary already, Randy suffers a huge setback when a staged fight sends him straight into cardiac arrest. His doctor tells him plainly: stop wrestling ... or you will die. Sent into retirement, Randy starts to re-evaluate his life, his identity, his mortality, & who fits into his small world. After getting a menial job at a deli counter, he attempts to be a dad to his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood); and he also strikes up a relationship with a stripper named Pam (Marisa Tomei). They had always been friends. But with his recent setback, he envisioned something more with her. Maybe Stephanie wants her dad back. Maybe Pam wants the comfort of a man around. But would these 2 women accept him into 'their' lives as his caretaker? Is he just looking to love & to be loved in return? Can he start over? Or will the allure of the now lethal (for him) wrestling ring pull him away from this second chance at life?
'The Wrestler' is simple, spare, but offers one of the best character studies of the year. We see every aspect of Randy's disheveled life; from his trailer park woes; to dying his hair; to tanning at the salon; to shooting up steroids; to the behind-the-scenes rigging of his wrestling matches; to the in-the-ring shenanigans; to praying before a match; to dealing with his A-hole boss at the supermarket; to receiving lap dances at the local bar; to trying to buy clothes for his estranged daughter, etc. The film is meticulous in catching these small but true moments of life. The meat of the story shows Randy's attempts to cope with the downward slope of his life; the self-degradations; the delusions; and all the self-sacrifices (being brutally beaten up in the ring for a spot of fame & a few measly bucks).
Rourke is simply great, here. Watching his behemoth-like body lumber around & then thrust into the wrestling ring is something to see. The role seems custom made for him. But his characterization is not defined merely by his physicality. His Randy is a 3-dimensional character; executed to near-perfection. Though he's not a saint by any means, he's also a sympathetic character; searching for adulation & a 'meaning of life' that has always proved elusive for him. Running parallel with Randy's story is that of Pam's (played very well by Marisa Tomei). Both are past-their-prime (so to speak); performing services for the exact same reasons. Not only does she bare her body (almost completely nude), but like Randy, she also bares her soul; humanizing a character that could have fallen prey to stereotype. In her 40's, Pam knows that she'll have to stop stripping eventually. And she tries to convince Randy to get-out of wrestling before 'his' body finally gives out.
'The Wrestler' is a hard film to critique. On paper, it's very standard & very simple. It's story suggests nothing more than a 2.5 rating at the most ... a wrestler wants a re-match against his foe from 20 yrs. ago; being a horrible father, he struggles to find a place is his daughter's life; will his woman (Tomei) throw caution to the wind and show-up at his last fight? We've seen ALL of this before, and even in other movies about wrestling! But it's the performances from Rourke, Tomei, & Wood (SO good in her 2 major scenes) who really elevate the level of this film. Furthermore, I can't believe the same man who directed 2006's sci-fi/fantasy The Fountain has now made this stripped down, 'fly on the wall' type of movie. Great achievement. In the end, 'The Wrestler' (as a concept) isn't the original film I thought it could be. But it's still a very good movie; one not to be missed.