The Wrestler

Love. Pain. Glory.

Let me just say something before I begin -- I had never in my life imagined that I would feel so much compassion for a wrestler!

The plot: a washed up professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is trying to cope with life outside the ring, and reconnect with his long lost daughter Stephanie, while exploring a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marissa Tomei).

Darren Aronofsky’s (Requiem for a Dream) The Wrestler is hands down one of the better films of 2008. Phenomenally acted on behalf of both Mickey Rourke, and my all time favorite female actress, Marisa Tomei. Both righteously earned their Oscar nominations. The film itself delivers a powerful and gloomy message about life, and the consequences of living hard, playing hard and burning the candle at both ends. A compassionate and vivid story of a man slowly fading away from his dreams. I cannot remember that last time I saw so much pain and sorrow in a character as I saw it in Mickey Rourke’s Randy “The Ram” Robinson.

And this beautifully crafted story of faded glory and sorrow is backed by an amazing 1980’s heavy metal soundtrack along with Bruce Springsteen’s latest Golden Globe winning single The Wrestler.

* * * * * (five out of five) -- Powerful!! If not the best, then definitely one of the better films of 2008. Outstanding performances by Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei.


V.


Enjoyed The Wrestler? Viira recommends: Requiem for a Dream, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Bullet.


Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
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