The Wrestler

I had initially seen only one commercial for this movie and went into it with an open mind and certain level of trust in Darren Aronofsky's work. The Wrestler is a gritty look into the lifestyle of a has-been wrestler from the 80's called Randy "The Ram" Robinson. The movie plays somewhat like a documentary. The audience follows The Ram (Mickey Rourke) through a lot of behind-the-scenes scenarios which open your eyes to what these guys put themselves through, both emotionally and physically, to make an entertaining performance for wrestling fans. It's shown like it is and it can be cringingly brutal at times.

The raw, handheld camerawork does a good job of almost fooling you into thinking you're watching a real biographical documentary even though it's fiction. You learn that The Ram previously had a successful career and is struggling years later with what little he has left in terms of money, health, and relationships. There are some things about Randy that are quite likable and respectable, and then other aspects of him that are very tragic and disgusting. Mickey Rourke does an excellent job in playing such a multidimensional character. I'm not entirely knowledgeable on Rourke's past experiences but I've heard that this story loosely parallels elements of his personal life and career.

Overall it left me feeling enlightened, moved, and a bit depressed. It's not nearly as morose as Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, but will probably be just as memorable and talked about. I don't feel you have to be a wrestling fan to appreciate it either. I haven't even seen a single wrestling match in my life...unless you count watching friends battling in the ring on Super Nintendo.