Movie Review: The Wrestler

(Note to readers: My nephew, Ayden, was not harmed during this photoshoot and yes, my brother IS that dark)

This movie starring Mickey Rourke as Randy "The Ram" Robinson was released in 2008 and nominated for 2 Oscars, 1 for Mr. Rourke in the best actor category, and the other for Marisa Tomei in the best supporting actress category. I missed the theatrical run of this film so I had to wait until the DVD was released. Thank you Netflix.

The films opening credits start by showcasing "The Ram's" glory days. (Side note--The song that plays over the credits is Quiet Riot's "Metal Health" which is an awesome hair metal song. The soundtrack is hair metal band heavy so you may want to check it out if that's your thing.) After running down his career highs, we cut to 20 years later and we see "The Ram" looking like life has taken a folding chair to his face and body one too many times. He has a bad back and knees, and is sporting a hearing aid. He is getting ready for a match at what looks like a high school gym. Needless to say, the heyday of his career has come and gone. "The Ram" lives alone in a rundown mobile home park. He frequents a strip club where we are introduced to "Cassidy" (her stripper name), Marisa Tomei's character. She is ASA (advanced stripper age) and Randy is one her regular customers. They seem to have struck up a friendship, or as much of a friendship as you can have with a woman who is gyrating her mostly naked stuff in front of your face while you spill your guts. (I am going to break here for a ghetto rant about the movie-this man cannot afford to pay his rent but he can go get a lap dance, buy some roids, get his hair did, and go tanning. That ain't right.) After an almost fatal incident, Randy starts to re-evaluate his life. He has a grown daughter, played by Evan Rachel Wood, who he has neglected for most of her life. She wants nothing to do with him at first, but reluctantly gives him a second chance. Randy also decides that "Cassidy" is the one for him and puts the moves on big time. "The Ram" is due for a comeback, in his life as a whole.

The director of this film, Darren Aronofsky, is known for dark films. If you have seen "Requiem for a Dream"(only those of you with strong stomachs or parents wanting to keep their kids off drugs should watch that movie) you know what I mean; but this film is not dark, it is a redemption movie of sorts and is directed splendidly. I think he was robbed of a best director nomination. It has to be a difficult to task to add depth and heart to a movie about a washed up wrestler. Which brings me to the wrestling. I know that wrestling is "violent stunt acting" (I don't want to offend the wrestling fans out there by calling it fake) but it was so interesting to watch the performances given by the wrestlers in the movie. The film shows the pre-match planning these men do along with their match rivals, going back and forth as to where the chair or elbow will land and who will be thrown from the ring. It's all very intricate and I have a new found respect for what wrestlers do.

As for the acting--I have never been a fan of Mickey Rourke's films, but this was the perfect role for him. For those of you who did not know, he started off with a promising career in both boxing & acting only to be sidelined by the regular E! True Hollywood Story pitfalls of celebrity life. This character plays parallel to the path his own life took. I am now looking forward to his next performance in the "Iron Man" sequel. Marisa Tomei was nominated for an Oscar in this role; I have to say that I think it was a mistake on the Academy's part. I found her character lacked the substance to warrant a nomination. Don't get me wrong, her acting was fine, as it always is, but I was left feeling underwhelmed. I will give her props for being 44 years old and having a slamming body though.

I recommend this film, it's not a happy go lucky movie but worth seeing for Mickey Rourke's performance alone; and to convince men that tanning booths and hair dye should be left to the ladies.