The Wrestler Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 12.26.2008

The movie 411mania readers have been waiting for.

Mickey Rourke: Randy "The Ram Robinson
Marisa Tomei: Cassidy
Evan Rachel Wood: Stephanie Robinson
Mark Margolis: Lenny
Todd Barry: Wayne
Wass Stevens: Nick Volpe
Judah Friedlander: Scott Brumberg
Ernest Miller: The Ayatollah
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Written By: Robert D. Siegel
Release Date: December 17, 2008
Running Time: 109 minutes







Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use.

I have been a devout pro-wrestling fan since I was very little. As an adult, I can tell you that I have been forced to defend this business I love so much on countless occasions. The most common argument: “It’s fake.” In reality that is not so much an argument, but more of an unintelligent comment to stir a fight. As matches became readily available on VHS or DVD, my response was usually to insert specific matches and say “Ok, now tell me how fake this is.” I’m sure others have done the same thing, but that time is over. We no longer need an actual match to illustrate the brutality, both mental and physical, of professional wrestling (regardless of the fact that it is scripted) because The Wrestler is the film we have all been pining for.

It would not have been as easy for Director Darren Aronofsky, or anyone for that matter, to craft a film this eye-opening a decade or so ago. The wrestling industry was different then, and so were the bulk of the fans. Now more people are familiar with how this brand of sports entertainment works its gears. Up until now, the only fictional efforts fans could anticipate were those in the vein of No Holds Barred or Ready to Rumble, exaggerated and ridiculous. Aronofsky changes that trend with one swoop of his masterful hand. His handheld camera techniques capture aspects of wrestling some never knew existed, and it results in one of the best, most vivid and exhilarating films of 2008.

The story, from the screenplay of Robert D. Siegel, follows Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a professional wrestler that was extremely popular in the 1980’s. 20 years later, he is an aging, financially unstable, and bruised individual living in New Jersey that still thrives on the roar of the crowd, but whose glory days are behind him. During the weekdays, he works as a stocker in a grocery store. His weekly routine consists of traveling around from high school gyms to other venues in his Dodge Ram van, appropriately chosen for himself. He performs with various promotions for as much money as he can acquire. Sometimes the matches are straightforward, while others require his body to absorb intense punishment. When Randy finds himself with a heart condition that could end his career in the squared circle, he must try to locate permanent employment elsewhere. As he attempts to move on from wrestling, he also tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

Satisfying wrestling fans is not an easy task. They will not be fooled by an imposter playing a veteran wrestler, and although Nicolas Cage is a phenomenal actor, it was better that he was not chosen. Someone needed to convince fans and everyone else that they could pass for such a character, incorporating both personality and stature. Mickey Rourke (Sin City) fulfilled all of those obligations as “The Ram.” Every part of Rourke’s worn exterior personifies the wounds of battle a wrestler might possess. It’s in the way he speaks casually to newer wrestlers, giving them advice, calling them “brother”, and striding slowly through the locker room that reveals a truly memorable and unparalleled performance. Just portraying a fictional wrestler was daunting enough, but creating the illusion that he had been around for decades is an achievement few could attain, but Rourke does wonderfully.

The preparation and exercise, both mental and physical, that Rourke endured to defeat this role is astonishing. It is important to note that The Wrestler is not a movie symbolic of another theme. This is about wrestling, what it means to be in the business, and the toll it takes on your life. It could not have been about anything else. Most have too quickly compared it to Rocky, when in fact it is closer in resemblance to Cinderella Man, The Rookie, or Raging Bull. Understanding that, just watching Robinson carry out daily errands is fascinating, such as entering the tanning booth, shaving his entire body, or sitting at near empty town halls to greet fans. As far as in ring actions are concerned, I am not sure how many or how few athletic maneuvers Mickey Rourke actually executed, but if that is not him, he sure fooled this reviewer.

A wrestler’s world is saturated with long tiring days, nights in bars and strip clubs, and often times unreliable companionship. Those trips to the strip club for a drink are how Randy meets Cassidy, an exotic dancer who has passed her prime, but is still attractive. Marisa Tomei depicts this woman, and delivers an audacious, fervent, and honest turn as a person not eager to pursue romantic involvement with a customer. Her ability to persuade the audience that she is a woman a veteran wrestler would be interested in dating is magnificent. Glancing back over her resume, one observes that while it is certainly not perfect, it is quite commendable, and this ranks with Tomei's finest efforts alongside movies like My Cousin Vinny, Factotum, and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead among others.

Randy’s relationship with his daughter Stephanie probably echoes that of many veterans who devoted their life to this trade. Due to his constant traveling and responsibilities during the weekends, Randy spent more time as “The Ram” than he did getting to know his child. Now an independent young woman, Stephanie loathes the very sight of her father. Evan Rachel Wood (Across the Universe) finds the buried hatred of a neglected daughter and unleashes a ferocious whirlwind of a supporting performance. It was essential that she amp up her dialogue so the viewers could sympathize with all those of years when her father was not present.

For a filmmaker recognized for his visual superfluities and bold style, Darren Aronofsky has jettisoned that preconceived notion, and recoiled to a uncomplicated, candid, and stark drama. This was the ideal project after The Fountain, a picture that thrived on attention grabbing special effects. The Wrestler establishes the exact opposite approach, evoking shades of a documentary, similar to Beyond the Mat without narration. We do not follow or merely watch Randy at this stage of his career and existence, but accompany and study him. Aronofsky makes us feel like friends of his with disquieting propinquity. He infuses classic 80's tracks into Ram's day, and the Bruce Springsteen title song is brilliant during the closing credits.

The locker room atmosphere, and the up close and personal stance with which Aronofsky shoots the story unveils so many intriguing, astonishing, and unsettling pieces of information about professional wrestling, but it is important that they are not completely spoiled. Real wrestlers are scattered throughout the background, but many are given special character names, different than those they are known for. In other scenes, Randy refers to past matches with people like Mr. Magnificent, obviously reminiscent of an actual character name, but not copying it is vital so as not to cause fans to speculate as to the identity of the universe. Promotions like WWE and TNA are not mentioned or discussed, and Siegels' adept script was wise to leave those references out.

The verisimilitude that The Wrestler controls is simply amazing. The fact that it is absent of melodrama, thanks primarily to the subtlety of Mickey Rourke’s performance, expresses that Randy’s life is a mixture of optimism and hopelessness as he copes with what he has grown into, and the incomparable compensation he receives from the crowd. This occupation still fuels his energy and desire to keep going, and there is something ironic in that statement considering Mickey Rourke is the lead, a man who has experienced his share of ups and downs. Despite any bumps in the road, one must rise to their feet and march ahead. As a critic and a fan of wrestling, it would bring a smile to my face just to see The Wrestler be nominated for Oscars. If it does win any, every party involved would deserve the reward. The movie is just that good.

The 411: While initially learning of this project had me a bit worried as to how it would come out, all those worries faded away once I saw the trailer, and had absolutely no chance of returning once I saw the film in full. One could argue that The Wrestler has some very minor issues, but who cares? The film is so enjoyable, so poignant, and worth so many repeated viewings because A) it rocks, B) it’s awesome, and C) it makes for a mesmerizing character study. I see a lot of movies, and rarely go see anything twice in the theater, but if someone wanted to, I would gladly see this again on the big screen. It is worth every minute.

Final Score:  9.5   [  Amazing ]