The Wrestler

In The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a wrestler who was once at the top of his game, and who now, just barely manages to operate on the fringes. For people who follow these sort of things it obvious that the film also serves as a metaphor for the star himself. Mr. Rourke was one of hottest rising actors in the 1980's, as he appeared in Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village and Year of the Dragon, amongst others. He gave it all up to become a boxer, got beaten up a lot, and then came back to acting, but never to anywhere near the same level of acclaim that he enjoyed in the 1980's...until now. This renewed acclaim is certainly justified as Mr. Rourke manages to give a brilliant performance, as he portrays all of the sadness, regret and hope of his character, and all of the Oscar "buzz" surrounding his portrayal is certainly justified. Marisa Tomei also gives a fine performance as a stripper at a local club, who is the closest thing to a friend that Randy has. As someone who hasn't followed professional wrestling since Buddy Rogers and Bruno Sammartino were fighting it out in the early 60's , I must say I was a little surprised at the brutality of some of the wrestling matches, which included the use of stapler guns in a particularly brutal episode. Although these scenes are necessary in order to set the character, I must also say that the movie really picks up when the the action leaves the ring and shows how this broken-down guy negotiates the routines of his life, including his sad relationship with his daughter. This is a good film with some great acting that anyone looking for a serious story should appreciate.

Rating - 3 Stars