The Wrestler english Movie
Cast And Crew
Director:Darren Aronofsky
Writer (WGA):Robert D. Siegel (written by)
Contact:View company contact information for The Wrestler on IMDbPro.
Genre:Drama | Sport more
Tagline:Love. Pain. Glory.
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Cast
Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei
Evan Rachel Wood ,Mark Margolis
Todd Barry ,Wass Stevens
Judah Friedlander,Ernest Miller
Reviews
Movie Review: THE WRESTLER
The Wrestler, the 2008 film by Darren Aronofsky which loudly trumpeted the return of Mickey Rourke to Hollywood, isn't so much a story about one man's redemption as it is about a desperate, last grasp at a former life. Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke) was a successful professional wrestling some 20 years ago. Now he lives in a run down trailer, estranged from his daughter and working at a local grocery store to make ends meet. A health scare literally scares him into evaluating his life and trying to fix various relationships. But is it too late?
First things first, though. Rourke, nominated for both a Golden Globe and Oscar for his role here, fully inhabits The Ram from start to finish. There is an emotional truth to the character which comes from understanding and ultimately living the traits. Rourke refuses to preen for the camera, to be a typical beautiful movie star. By allowing all his warts and bruises to be seen, his appearance lends credibility to the dialogue and situation. It's not just the physical attributes Rourke brings to the table which shape The Ram. The performance itself really is secondary, though no less important than the way he looks.
And because of what Rourke brings to the table, The Wrestler works on every level, save one: a subplot concerning his daughter, Stephanie, played by Evan Rachel Wood. While the script explains-somewhat-the issues surrounding their relationship, it doesn't delve deeply enough, contend instead to show Stephanie in handful of scenes. This storyline should have been amped up a bit to, at least, the level of a potential romance Randy tries to pursue with dancer Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). Why? Quite simply, it is much easier to identify with and understand the father/daughter dynamic without much exposition while a certain foundation needs to be laid for Cassidy and Randy.
This may be the prototypical American story in which a man who had it all and lost it tries desperately to regain a family, friends and social circle. See, Randy neglected his life in favor of wrestling; he felt, evidently, his body would hold up forever and he'd never be forced from the ring. It's a common fallacy, especially evident as people look for potential mates. They judge the prospective partner based on looks and then what is on the inside. In essence, that's exactly what Randy and everyone around him have been doing. Expecting their physicality to make them happy when, in reality, the people should be a priority. He even admits the true problem late in the film. He's lonely. He has no one.
And that's what makes him, ultimately, a selfish character. Randy doesn't continue to wrestle to support Stephanie or to prove to Cassidy he is responsible. He does it for the personal adoration of the fans and the money. Why does he work in a grocery store, a job he clearly hates? In order to live from day to day. When Randy actually realizes what he's been doing, Rourke makes it painful to watch. Here is a man, a mere half hour (in real world time) ago, who was joking and having fun with the customers at the deli counter. There's a fundamental shift in his thought process, in his being, which makes him lash out, unhappy being forced into a role he doesn't want. Of course, if Randy doesn't want it, Randy doesn't do it.
(Contrast Randy with Cassidy, a woman who dances to make money with the express purpose of moving her son to a better town and, by extension, a better life.)
Therein is the beauty of The Wrestler. It is promoted as a sports movie yet only uses that sport as a way to draw the viewer into Randy's world. Writer Robert Siegel understood this going in and, instead of layering in "insider language," he made sure to put the human story front and center. Yes, there are factoids and a look into the wrestling culture-a scene where Randy cuts his forehead with a razor blade in the ring shows just how scripted wrestling really is-though they are completely balanced with Randy's struggle. Aronofsky, Siegel and Rourke make us want Randy to succeed even though it is fairly evident he'll never be able to give up the one thing that has defined who he is for his entire adult life. That's the beauty and ultimate tragedy of The Wrestler: we're so accustomed to the feel good story where a person picks themselves up out of the gutter we expect the same here
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