Chris Kavan's Movie Review of The Wrestler (2008)

Characters Give The Wrestler All the Right Moves
Chris Kavan - wrote on 02/02/09

Having been a Darren Aronofsky fan ever since Pi, I am now complete in my in my assessment that he can shape depressing into an art form. Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain and now The Wrestler. None of these films are what I would term uplifting, some are downright distressing, but I wouldn’t change a thing about them.

The Wrestler succeeds thanks to the outstanding performances and personal story line. Mickey Rourke as The Ram is simply amazing here – a sad, broken wrestler living a sad, broken life. Marisa Tomei is also a standout as his stripper/potential girlfriend who is herself reaching the breaking point in her chosen career.

The snapshots of Rourke’s life are spectacular, but I found myself wanting to see more. The handful of scenes with Evan Rachel Wood were powerful, but fleeting. Likewise, I felt there could have been more of his relationship with Tomei as well.

Still, this is about Rourke first and foremost. Whether he’s hamming it up with customers at a deli counter, getting bloodied in junk match or encouraging young wrestlers – every moment feels genuine. This is more Raging Bull than Rocky, the happy moments are few and far between, and you know in your heart that it’s not going to last.

Rourke surround himself with memories of better times – it opens on a slew of articles and magazines proclaiming The Ram one of the greatest wrestlers of the day. He hands on to an old Nintendo game featuring himself along with a toy. You can tell it’s a losing battle to hang on to the glory days. You see him at an autograph signing with other broke-down wrestlers, many sleeping, one in a wheelchair, one with a catheter, and you can see Rourke visibly accept his defeat.

The end is left open for a reason, though I think most of the audience will gravitate to one conclusion, but, since it is left open you can create your own ending potentially making this the first Aronofsky to have a happy ending, however unrealistic it may be.