I was fortunate enough to score a double-pass for an advance screening of ‘The Wrestler’ (thank you Penny!)
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson had it all. An All American wrestling superstar from the 80’s – he now lives a solitary, lonely and empty existence. He’s been battered from pillar to post and carries the scars and pain of a bygone era. An era in which he was king when the sport of Wrestling was an international phenomenon. Sold out nights at stadiums with crowds of 20,000 plus have now been replaced by dingy little mess halls with 50 people in attendance.
It’s all past tense in Randy’s life. When fans greet him at makeshift and empty conventions, he signs 80’s posters for them with the fans telling him “You were the greatest!”
He was. But he is no more.
Barely able to pay the rent in a grungy trailer park. Barely able to be there for his estranged daughter, ‘The Ram’ is literally a shell of a man that carries physical and mental scars through the remainder of his damaged life.
Brilliantly portrayed by Mickey Rourke, ‘The Wrestler’ could quite easily be interpreting Rourke’s very own life. Rourke IS ‘The Ram’. Quite simply an amazing acting performance from the enigmatic Rourke and I couldn’t imagine another actor in this role – even though Nicolas Cage was originally cast in the lead role.
Director Darren Aronofsky has created an almost like documentary world. Grimey, gritty, grey, blue and cold. Whilst the plot doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen before a hundred times, the real joy and majesty of this film is seeing actors deliver some brilliant, poignant and astounding performances.
I adored this movie. I loved the 80’s references and the soundtrack featuring all the cock rocking hair Metal bands that I still listen to.
Brilliant!
