Wrestler Review

One of my father’s favorite movies is “Rocky” starring Sylvester Stallone.
While I couldn’t understand what he was talking about at a young age, he would always tell me the film wasn’t about boxing — it was about Stallone overcoming obstacles and following his dream.
In the same vein, “The Wrestler” isn’t about wrestling — it’s about a an old, beat up man who realizes he is in his twilight years and he has nothing and no one to share it with.
Mickey Rourke plays the lead of Randy “The Ram” in the film. The film wasn’t written for Rourke, but the part fits him like a glove.
In his early career, Rourke was likened to Marlon Brando and James Dean. However, Rourke was a veritable train-wreck with emotional problems and a rock star attitude. He decided many years ago he wanted to be an amateur boxer instead of staying in the acting business.
His career in boxing didn’t go far and it ruined a face which earned him more than a few film roles as a heart throb.
A few years ago, Rourke decided to give the acting thing a try once again. His parts were small, but no one could deny he had talent.
“The Wrestler” is his first lead in a movie in several years and he delivers one of the top two performances of the year.
His character seems like Rourke in some alternate dimension where he decided to wrestle instead of act.
Randy “The Ram” lives in a broken down trailer, or his van when he doesn’t have money to pay the rent.
His walls and van are decorated with pictures and action figures of himself from his glory days nearly 20 years ago.
The old wrestler is forced to perform gigs at community centers and schools for next to no money, and the money he does get goes to booze, body enhancing drugs and strippers.
One particular stripper, Cassidy (Marissa Tomei) has also learned she is no longer in her prime after she no longer receives good tips and men don’t look at her twice.
Cassidy and Rourke are both broken down and tired in two entirely different walks of life, but find friendship and love with each other.
Rourke will get most of the credit for his performance in the film because it is both brilliant and heartbreakingkly real. The audience doesn’t feel like they are watching Rourke play a part in a film, they feel the actor is letting the world into his broken soul for two hours and showing how the pain of loneliness feels.
One of the most powerful things about Rourke’s performance is his subtle desperation.
It is obvious how much “The Ram” wants someone to love and someone to love him, which is shown in a number of heartbreaking scenes throughout the film.
Tomei delivers a powerful performance as Rourke’s female counterpart. The film focuses on Rourke’s loneliness and life, but Tomei does a fantastic job of reflecting a quieter sadness and fear. The film never delves deeply into her problems, but reminded the audience the film isn’t about wrestling, it’s about people and their inner battles.
Even Rachel Wood makes an appearance as Rourke’s daughter. I’m not a big fan of Wood or her previous work and she evoked no emotion from me one way or the other in this film.
Bruce Springsteen’s Golden Globe winning song, “The Wrestler,” which The Boss wrote specifically for the film, doesn’t appear until the credits role, but it’s a powerful ballad. Every emotion evoked from the film is wrapped into the song and tugs at the heartstrings of the audience.
The film is titled “The Wrestler” and the plot does touch on the sport from time to time. Watching wrestlers choreograph their matches with an opponent beforehand can be entertaining, but there are some surprisingly violent scenes.
In one instance, “The Ram” performs in an underground wresting gig and is thrown into real barbed wire and stapled with a staple gun. Almost too brutal to watch, but hard to look away from, the scene plays out like a car wreck on the side of the road.
Easily one of the best films of the year, but not the best.
Rourke won the Golden Globe for best actor and an Academy Award could follow, but he will be in the company of giants like Sean Penn and Frank Langella who gave powerhouse performances this year.
It is a great movie with wonderful performances and a touching story. However, saying this movie is about wrestling is like saying Rocky is about boxing — which steals both films of their true beauty and that is just wrong.

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood
Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use.
Rating: 3 and a half stars