Review: The Wrestler (2008)
Jerry Saravia
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Four stars
One of the reasons I like director Darren Aronofsky's films is that
they are alive and completely conscious, similar to his contemporaries
such as Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone. "The Wrestler" is more than
a film - it is a firecracker of a movie that explodes and implodes
with so much emotion, it leaves you burned out, exasperated and
exhausted. This film quickens the pulse, radiates your nerves and
leaves you with one of the greatest performances of the 21st and 20th
century by the remarkable Mickey Rourke. High praise, indeed.
Rourke is the long-suffering, physically scarred and emotionally spent
Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a pro-wrestler who has sucuumbed so heavily
to the world of wrestling, he no longer feels joy from anything other
than pleasing the audience. He can't please himself, though he tries
with a local stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, in a truly
spellbinding performance) who smiles and clearly loves the guy, but
she can't get involved (we know she will). There is the Ram's
estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) who wants nothing to
do with him and deeply hates him, especially since he has forgotten
every single birthday of hers. Meanwhile, The Ram takes punishment in
the ring with a variety of defensive weapons that will make most
audiences flinch. There are staple guns, barbed wire, razors hidden in
wrist paddings and much more. If any of you have seen such matches in
hotel lobbies or in union halls, not to mention seeing the horrifying
"Beyond the Mat" documentary, you'll have a good idea of what lies
ahead.
The Ram has a heart attack at one point, and decides to retire and
work at a deli department at the local supermarket. He has to make
enough money to pay the rent for his trailer, give a few 20's to his
confidante, Cassidy, and perhaps buy a nice jacket for his daughter.
The question is how long can the Ram stay away from the ring.
"The Wrestler" is greatly focused on the Ram, from one battle on the
ring to the next to fighting his restrained emotions in the suburbs
and nightclubs of New Jersey, specifically Rahway. He can't connect to
his daughter, claiming he is nothing "but a piece of meat." She feels
sorry for him but she can't forgive him. Then there is Cassidy who
helps him find an appropriate gift for his daughter. They have a scene
in a bar where they sing to Ratt's "Round n' Round" that proves a song
can speak volumes for the characters' sakes more so than just having a
good song on a soundtrack.
Rourke has always been a fascinating presence in films ranging from
"Rumble Fish" and "Pope of Greenwich Village" to his very underrated
work in "White Sands" and his superb cameo in "The Pledge." He has had
his own personal demons to fight, reducing his beatific visage to a
squished rubber mat due to his boxing days and alleged plastic
surgery. It is as if he hated his matinee idol look, turning away from
it and crushing it because he was an actor first and foremost.
Such a parallel to Rourke's own life and career leads director Darren
Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke to never shy away from the Ram's personal
hell, a man who is bent on self-destruction without knowing it. He has
the wrestling ring - it is his playground of emotion where he can feel
loved by his peers and his fans. He just can't feel love from anyone
else. Rourke shows such a depth and range of emotions that it will
burn a hole through your heart. "The Wrestler" is not just powerful
cinema - it is transcendental and contains quite possibly the most
unforgettable and deeply personal performance of any actor since, dare
I say, Harvey Keitel in "Bad Lieutenant." A unique and hellish
masterpiece.
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