The Wrestler

February 11th, 2009

By Jeff

Mickey Rourke is Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a once world-famous wrestling star, now a middle-aged leftover trying to relive his glory days by performing in the half-filled gymnasiums and halls of small-time wrestling circuits. He’s a weekend warrior in the truest sense.

Shot in a first person ‘cinema verite’ style by gifted director Darren Arofnofsky (Requiem for a DreamThe Fountain), the camera is constantly following Randy around at eye-level, which encapsulates you in a constant flow of his every-moment reality.

The effect works terrifically, and as a result, the audience gets an incredibly intimate look into what actually goes on behind the curtain, not only of the wrestling matches, where enemies on stage are always good friends in the locker room, sharing tips and planning out their matches, but behind the scenes of Randy’s personal life as well.

He gets locked out of his trailer in the middle of a cold night for not paying his rent. He horses around and plays an old ‘Wrestlemania’ Nintendo game with the kids in the trailer park (of course he chooses to play as his own character, ‘The Ram,’ in the game). He buys all kinds of ‘physical supplements’ from a Herculean-sized drug dealer to preserve his badly worn-down body as best he can (though make no mistake, Rourke worked himself into an incredible physical state for this role).

Going tanning and dying his long, flowing hair bleach blonde also helps to keep this persona of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson alive and kicking in a society he no longer understands and doesn’t want to accept.

When he tells a friendly, jaded stripper at the nightclub he frequents (Marisa Tomei) about the sullen state of being he’s sunken into, she sympathizes and convinces him to confront his long-estranged teenage daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

Both actresses are only given a handful of scenes, but are equally fantastic in what could have been trite roles composed of recycled dialogue. Tomei is now a Best Supporting Actress Oscar contender, and Wood is really just as deserving.

Finally, what’s there to say about Mickey Rourke that isn’t already being said about him everywhere else right now. The man has made a huge return to prominence, from the constant ‘best actor of his generation’ praise he received in the 1980s, through his struggles as a professionally boxer, eventually retiring in 1995 after several severe facial injuries, and now back to silver screen glory again.

It’s apparent there are many parallels between his real life and what is destined to be the classic screen character of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson. However, this in no way discredits his performance that will surely win an Oscar later this month. It actually elevates his work and proves his dedication even more to the craft of acting for being able to bear his own personal burdens in front of the camera (and millions of people). Ultimately, this openness helps him reach an even greater truth in his stunning portrayal of a deeply flawed, beaten man.

By the end, you’ll probably understand ‘The Ram’ better than you understand yourself.

At just under 2 hours, there is no absolutely no fat on this film, only meat. It works at a level of 100% efficiency through and through – and still manages to carry a big heart. It’s been a long time since I heard so much genuine laughter juxtaposed with sudden vibes of serious contemplation in a dark theater of absolute strangers. When a movie or actor can make you feel that elated, you know you’ve been privy to something special.

Sometimes, I can’t stress enough experiencing a movie in theaters rather than waiting for the home release.

This is one of those movies.

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