Day 173 - The Wrestler

Day 173          The Wrestler [2008]

                          

Screenplay                    Robert D. Siegel

Director                         Darren Aronofsky

Cinematography            Maryse Alberti

Music                            Clint Mansell

Leads                            Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood

Production                     Wild Bunch, Protozoa Pictures

IMDb                                 7.9/10

Rotten Tomatoes                98%

Other than Sin City I don’t think I’ve seen any of Mickey Rourke’s films and, looking down the list, there don’t seem to be any good ones. I am astounded, because The Wrestler is a masterpiece. Rourke plays Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a wrestler who once headlined a show at Madison Square Garden in the eighties, but twenty years later his body and his profession are not as kind to him as they used to be. This is surely the role that Rourke will always be remembered for as he gives the performance of a lifetime. I find it cheesy saying that but after you’ve watched it you’ll understand why. Rourke gets the balance right between Randy’s public and private life. In his public life he is the heroic ex-star who all the other wrestlers look up to, he is kind and complimentary of everyone, and seems like the kind of guy you’d love to share a beer with. However, in private he is a broken man, he lives alone in a trailer, barely making rent and his best friend is a stripper who still thinks of him as a client. Rourke draws us all in with the nice guy character and it’s all going happily-ever-after until Aronofsky/Siegel through Rourke begin to show us the cracks in Randy that explain why he has ended up where he is. He doesn’t do normal life, wrestling is his kryptonite, without it he hasn’t lived. Tomei and Wood are brilliant supporting actors, Tomei especially sparkles despite her relatively short screen time. As in Aronofsky’s other films the cinematography is quick and raw. It’s a no bullshit approach to shooting, documenting Randy’s life rather than filming it. I can’t think of any weakness. There is such beauty in Randy’s chaos, suitable perhaps as a forgotten champion in a sport not thought of for its skill and intricate moves, but for its violence and machismo.

Acting                            4 / 4

Writing                           4 / 4

Cinematography             4 / 4

Music                             3 / 4

HWF rating                4 / 4