The Wrestler

Randy "The Ram" Robinson
I was at the Movie Box theater Saturday night watching The Wrestler, an award winning drama directed by Darren Aronofsky, the Brooklyn-born director behind The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream. Mickey Rourke gives an excellent performance as the film's protagonist, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a burnt-out wrestler who has plummeted from headliner status in the 80's, to performing at community venues around New Jersey.

We are never told why Robinson fell from grace, but the wounds from that fall are apparent. He is one of the working poor and lives in a run-down trailer that he still struggles to afford. He has been estranged from his grown daughter Stephanie(Evan Rachel Wood) since her early childhood. She detests him and sees the legendary wrestler as a "living fuck-up". Robinson suffers a near-fatal heart attack after a match that forces him to put a halt to his career, causing him to confront his failures as well as the immense loneliness and lack of purpose he feels outside the ring.

"The Ram" attempts to reconcile with his daughter and takes romantic interest in a matter of fact, but compassionate stripper, Cassidy, who was impressively portrayed by Marisa Tomei. Still, life outside wrestling fails to fulfill Robinson. Convinced that his only purpose in life is wrestling, he goes back to the ring for one last match, despite the possibility of his own death.

The Wrestler is definitely a must-see flick. Rourke, who recently won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, gives a knock-out performance, fitting his role like a glove. Perhaps the sincerity and authenticity of his performance comes from his similarities with "The Ram". Rourke, too, was in his prime during the 80's, but since then, his career has been dim by comparison. This film has many people in the movie industry thinking that Rourke is making a comeback and is on top of his game once more.

Tomei(Cassidy), who received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, is a welcome compliment to the movie and often serves as a matter-of-fact voice of reason. Cassidy is somewhat of an emotional crutch for Robinson, but deals out the straight talk when necessary, reminding "The Ram" as well as us viewers that The Wrestler is not a fairy tale, it's not a comeback story. It's the story of a broken man, with a broken dream, trying to pick up the scattered, lost pieces of his life. It's the story of a fallen man who has lived his dreams despite all risks and opposition, but is still miserable, unaccomplished and worn down. The film is heart wrenchingly realistic.

Final Score: 88/100