29
Apr
2009
Movie Review: The Wrestler
Rating: 
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Plot Synopsis:
Back in the late ’80s, Randy “The Ram Robinson” (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.
Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to evaluate the state of his life — trying to reconnect with his daughter, and strikes up a blossoming romance with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei). Yet all this cannot compare to the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull Randy “The Ram” back into his world of wrestling.
Director Darren Aronofsky presents a powerful portrait of a battered dreamer, who despite himself and the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero once again in the only place he considers home inside the ring. [TrailerAddict]
Review:
5 or 10 years from now, when we think back to the movies of 2008, not many will be remembered. Sure, Sean Penn won an Oscar for his performance in Milk. Kate Winslet got naked and sexed up a minor in the Holocaust film, The Reader. Let’s face it, the “Oscar Bait” films got their best actor/actress awards. But when you think back, what will be the iconic images you’ll remember? Probably Heath Ledger’s Joker. Maybe Robert Downey Jr.’s rise back to the top. One thing is certain: Mickey Rourke’s captivating performance, combined with the heart wrenching story of The Wrestler, is destined to be one of the most iconic performances of 2008, and maybe even the past decade.
