The Wrestler (2008)

Now that I finally got around to seeing The Wrestler, I'm even angrier at Sean Penn's win and the Best Picture and Best Screenplay snub. Sigh. The film chronicles the times of Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a once-popular professional wrestler who is way past his prime. He spends his week days exercising and working in a grocery store back room/loading dock area, and his weekends playing in small-time fighting venues and meeting with old fans. He lives in a trailer park and struggles to pay rent, as much of his money goes to steroids and his favourite strip club, wherein he attempts to romance aging dancer Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). After suffering a heart attack during a particularly nasty, pointy-prop-laden match, Randy begins to take stock of his current situation.

He seeks more human interaction, from playing video games with his young neighbor to going shopping with Cassidy, who encourages him to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Attempting this reconnection makes him realize how little he knows about her, except that she's in college, liked the boardwalk when she was a kid, is maybe a lesbian, and wants nothing to do with him. He pushes forward however, trying to make up for his lack of participation in her life, and hoping his lifestyle won't interfere again. He even retires from the wrestling circuit and gets a day job at the butcher counter of the grocery store. But he might not be able to cope with so many drastic changes in his life- especially the sudden responsibility of having people who care about him.

Just as I suspected, this movie was pretty spectacular. Even though its subject matter isn't something I could relate to, everything was just so well done that I couldn't help but be totally engrossed. As I'm sure you've heard, Mickey Rourke's performance is excellent. Randy is self-absorbed and pretty clueless, but Rourke infuses him with this incredible likability. He can be shy and unsure at times despite his outward confidence and intimidation, making him a more sensitive and nuanced character. Tomei was very good as well, her body questioning the line between age and sex appeal while her face consistently hung heavy with dissatisfaction.

Robert Siegel's script is very well put together, mixing humor and slice-of-life scenes with the drama of human relationships and the desire to renew fading glory. The plot itself was not very complex, as it was more an examination of a specific time in this character's life, but the story never dragged or seemed too thin. And it had a perfect ending. I was also impressed with Aronofsky's directing, mostly for the seemingly extreme turn he's taken away from his prior works (not in theme so much as in style). It was all very straightforward- sometimes documentary-esque, with lots of shots following Randy around from behind. All in all, The Wrestler is pretty great, and I'm sorry it didn't get more recognition from the Academy, but really, when you think about it, fuck the Academy. There, I said it.

4.5/5