The Wrestler

Mr. DS · April 22, 2009, 10:14:10 PM

Warning, Mild Spoilers

I just watched this film and although I don't generally like drama films, I did like this one. I used to be a pretty big fan of wrestling and can appreciate this film's intentions of portraying the gritty (and often unfortunate) state of wrestlers who have fallen from fame.

Although his performance didn't blow me away, Rourke truly captured something excellent on film with his portrayal of the main character. The connection between Marissa Tomei's (seeing her mostly nude body a lot made me happy) was fascinating as well. She pretty much is him if you think about it. A person who had all the attention in the world but has lost a lot due to age. Yet they both still hang on to whatever threads are left of their former lives.

Overall, good film.

Torgo · April 22, 2009, 10:36:24 PM

***1/2 out of ****.

I like this movie though I didn't like how abrupt the ending was to a certain degree. Otherwise, The Wrestler features a tour-de-force performance by Rourke that really impressed me. But I've always been a big fan of him as an actor though and am really glad that his career rejuvenation is pretty much now complete. Hopefully he can maintain it now. Marissa Tomei was gorgeous and delivered an equally heartbroken performance. If the ending could have been done slightly different (and better) I would give this an easy 4 stars but as it is it falls just a bit short.

Mr. DS · April 23, 2009, 08:03:50 AM

Spoilers

Torgo, I'm with you on the ending. Granted I'm assuming he died in the ring which the movie kind of set up. His character honestly only had wrestling and the fans at that point. However yeah, the ending could have been much more. But I guess it would run the gambit of going silly Hollywood ending otherwise.

HappyGilmore · April 23, 2009, 08:35:02 AM

I wanna see this, for two reasons: I'm a wrestling fan, and Arronofsky seems to be a pretty decent director. But, it had a limited run here in town, at a distance too far away to see it. But with the dvd being out, I'm hoping to catch it.

MilkManPictures · April 23, 2009, 12:33:36 PM

I liked this film a lot and I really liked the ending. I thought it was very effective.

Bmeansgood · April 24, 2009, 11:03:57 PM

I don't think it was the best movie of the year or anything, but it was pretty darn good. Rourke was excellent. I didn't really like the ending, but I can't think how I would have done it better.

peter johnson · April 29, 2009, 10:23:16 AM

I think the ending is purposefully vague -- You are left with a glimmer of hope that he doesn't die, as that's all many of the characters have: A glimmer of hope. I think it pulls you in deeper to the film than if there was an actual resolution/full-stop.

Rourke is very good in this, but it makes me try to encourage people to seek out his biggest stretch-film as an actor: As St. Francis of Assisi in "Francesco". People avoid this film, I guess, because they think it might be all preachy and Catholic. Well, it's Catholic in the same sense "Brother Cadfaiel" is Catholic -- what really matters is the story & plot and the transformation of Rourke from ne'er do well semi-mercenary knight to religious ascetic. An amazing performance that gets so overlooked --

peter johnson/denny crane

Ash · May 03, 2009, 02:34:51 PM

Saw this last night and thought it was great.
My buddy & I watched it on my home theater system. I had the subwoofer and speakers cranked up and when they wrestle and get smacked down on the mat, it sounded like it hurt!

I take my hat off to Mickey Rourke for making The Ram so believable. Not once did I think it was Rourke, I always believed he was Randy.

The deli scene brought back memories of the time when I worked at a grocery store deli years ago. I'd always get those old women who would order some weird amount of ham or roast beef. Not a pound or a half-pound like everyone else gets. No, they want 1/8 pound or 2/5 of a pound. And they'd do the same thing to me that they did to The Ram. They'd say, "Please take some off." or "Please add a little more". It would never be good enough and drove me nuts.

As for the ending, I liked it.
The shot of him on the top ropes was iconic and was a good choice to end the movie with.
I'd rate this film 3.5 out of 4 stars and a big

.

vanlutz · May 16, 2009, 04:37:14 PM

I thought this was a good film, but nearly as good as the raves it's been getting. I wouldn't watch it again.

The Burgomaster · July 30, 2009, 11:09:24 AM

I bought this DVD yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Rourke and Tomei are both excellent and the story is very engaging. I'll take a movie like this over most of the big-budget, noisy, "blcokbuster" movies any day. Too bad Rourke screwed up his career for so many years.

Neville · July 30, 2009, 03:42:17 PM

I can't add much to what you guys have said, I was very impressed with both Rourke and Tomei's acting and the way Aronofsky set things up. Loved the bits were Rourke and another wrestler discuss what and how they're gonna do to each other on the ring, or how later in the film he tries to replicate the expensive treatments he needs to play The Ram on zero budget.

But there tons of stuff to enjoy here. It's one of those times were the hype is 100% earned.

HappyGilmore · July 30, 2009, 09:33:02 PM

Finally saw it. Endearing movie, in a way. Rourke gives a great performance. I wouldn't say it's 'Movie of the Year', but definitely in the top 5. Sadly, the story of The Ram mirrors several wrestlers lives. Looking at a guy like Jake the Snake Roberts who has a bad drug addiction and a strained relationship with his daughter, and various other wrestlers, the movie shows the seedier sort of their careers. Good flick.