The Wrestler

The Wrestler



Mickey Rourke is kind of limited to the roles he can play. His plastic face isn't really leading man material; he's more likely to be offered the role of the cowardly Lion in a Wizard of Oz remake. But, can Darren Aronofsky's latest movie 'The Wrestler' prove critics wrong?

The story centres on an aged wresting star Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Rourke). Past his prime and out of cash he still wrestles in small town arenas for crowds of less than fifty die-hard fans. Barely scraping together enough to pay the rent on his trailer park home, he works extra shifts at a supermarket.

His life may not be as flash and exciting as it once was, but he's content. Things take a turn for the worse, though, when Randy has a near fatal heart attack after a brutal match. He's rushed to hospital where he's given urgent bypass surgery. The Doctor warns him that if he wrestles again, it could kill him.

Randy, suitably scared from the incident, decides to hang up his spandex trousers and retire. Given a new outlook on life, he seeks out his estranged daughter, Stephanie(Evan Rachel Wood) and tries to make amends for having never been there.

He also tries to forge a romantic relationship with stripper, Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) that he's taken a shine to.

For the briefest of moments, it looks like his life is on track, but unfortunately for Randy, he just isn't that lucky.

The only time Randy truly has a handle on things is when he's suited up and wrestling. It's when he tries to wrestle with real life, he stumbles around bewildered by all he sees. The most brutal attacks leave him bloody and battered, but the worst beatings are the emotional ones he receives.

It's a testament to Rourke's acting ability that despite his disfigured face he can bring such pathos to a character who is scarcely more than a dim-witted piece of meat. I've heard people say that Rourke channelled a lot of his own experiences into the character, but I don't know enough about him to comment. What is worth saying is that Rourke puts his heart and soul into the character and makes it his own.

The only thing that can be said against this film is that the first two acts drag on a bit, but that's entirely necessary to expose the audience to every facet of his personality. Once you've stopped shuffling in your seat, you'll realise you've just watched a heart-breaking film.

Verdict 9/10
Rourke may be physically limited, but his talent knows no bounds.