The Wrestler (2008)
The Wrestler (2008) 8/10
For those who have fallen, The Wrestler is a film for you. You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to love it, and i am certainly no fan of wrestling. But as someone who loves film, I dare say that i love The Wrestler to bits. Its not the best film of the year (that honor goes to The Dark Knight), but the Wrestler is firmly perched at second place. In many ways, it is a comeback, a sort of redemption for both Mickey Rourke and director Darren Aronofsky.
I am a big fan of Darren Aronofsky’s work, and i am probably very biased in favour of him. Nevertheless, his last film, the wildly ambitious effort The Fountain not only took ages to put to screen but it also flopped. Personally i enjoyed the Fountain, but as a die-hard fan, i admit that The Fountain was abit of a disappointment. So when his latest film the Wrestler won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, it bought alot of buzz to this indie flick. Naturally i was psyched and when i finally managed to watch The Wrestler, it brings a certain electric thrill to watch the work of a master. I have said it before and i’ll say it again: I believe that Darren Aronofsky is one of the brightest young directors alive, and in years to come, he will be in the pantheon of great directors of our age. What strikes you, if you have been following Aronofsky’s career, is how little directorial flourish he brings to the film which seems mostly shot in verite style. This is truly the first film that he lets the script and the actor tell the story. Aronofsky is restrained and steps backs to let the strength of the material stand on its own. Not that it is entirely bereft of style. One thing i noticed was how in the early shots, the camera always followed Rourke from the back, but by the end of the film, the camera almost always shoots Rourke from the front: a subtle reflection of the journey Rourke has taken so far. In many ways it is a maturation of his craft and it hints of greater things to come from this director. Aronofsky has yet to make a “bad” film and even when he doesn’t quite succeed (The Fountain), the end result is still a cut above the rest. With the Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky has made his comeback and showed that his is no one trick pony with Requiem For A Dream (his magnum opus). I eagerly look forward to his next cinematic effort, and i sure hope he gets some Oscar love.
But it is for Mickey Rourke that i reserve my greatest praise. In many ways, the life of his character Randy “The Ram” Robinson mirrors his own life. Once, a long time ago, Rourke was a rising Hollywood star in the 80s. But he screwed it up and has since been languishing in obscurity ever since. Rourke has landed the perfect role, one that feels as if it was written for him. The term “once in a lifetime performance” probably sums up Rourke’s performance, who brings with it a powerful physicality and emotional vulnerability. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but it is his isolation that truly wounds the Ram. Mickey truly deserves his Best Actor win at the Golden Globes and i hope that he wins Best Actor come Oscar season.
The film is supported by excellent supporting roles by Marisa Tomei, who looks fantastic and Evan Rachel Wood, another young rising star who has picked some truly excellent starring roles in recent years (she was really good in King of California). The script may follow a fairly predictable trajectory, but this is no Rocky. The excellent cast and tight script elevates this above your standard melodrama and the film proves to be a moving and engaging film experience. It has been a long time coming, but i’m glad to say that Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky are back, and they are at the top of their game. One final note: the theme song by Bruce Springsteen, which has already won best song at the Golden Globes, is one of my favorite songs and its lyrics are beautifully poignant. So, if you can, give the Wrestler a chance. The Wrestler is a film about a wounded soul, and for those of us who have a chip on our shoulders, it resonates and moves in a way film is meant to.
“Rourke works his way into the soul of “The Ram” as if he has known this character his entire life. He probably has.”- Philadelphia Inquirer
“I cared as deeply about Randy the Ram as any movie character I’ve seen this year. I cared about Mickey Rourke, too. The way this role and this film unfold, that almost amounts to the same thing. ” Roger Ebert
