The Wrestler (2009) Director Darren Aronofsky Writer Robert D. Siegel (screenplay) Actors Mickey Rourke - Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson Marisa Tomei - Cassidy Evan Rachel Wood - Stephanie Todd Barry - Wayne

Toronto International Film Festival North American Premiere September 7th 2008

The Wrestler (2009)

Continue Reading for the full review.

By choice I postponed seeing JCVD and by request of the Mrs I opted out of seeing Zack and Miri Make a Porno this morning so I can see it with her when it releases theatrically in late October. However there is no way I would miss Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. I think Mickey Rourke is one of the most brilliant actors of our generation rivalling the best of Deniro, Brando, and Nicholson. It’s unfortunate that a great deal of his career was wasted on drugs and a lackluster boxing career. I also happen to think Clint Mansell is nothing less than the best film composer since Ennio Morricone and needles to say I think Aronofsky may have made one of the most underappreciated films of all time with The Fountain. Did I mention I forgot to bring enough cash to pay for my screening while standing in the Rush line?

Ironically after having Theresa trek all the way back to the rush line to hand me the cash in case my vouchers weren’t valid a very generous theatre-goer handed me a free ticket to the screening. I was so close to the press interview with Aronofsky I could have literally smacked him in the back of the head . Enough about my geeking out and on to the Review!

I think I have already set up that I am a huge Darren Aronofsky fan having immensely enjoyed all of his films in the past, and thankfully since The Wrestler is so completely fresh having only be screened previously at the Venice Film Festival, and with no poster or movie trailer I had no preconceived notion of what The Wrestler would ultimately end up being.

Mickey Rourke portrays Randy the Ram Robinson, an antiquated professional wrestler whose prime was way back in the 1980s. He now works the low circuit of wrestling while not even being able to keep up on the rent of his beat up mobile home. He doubles up working the shelves and deli counter of a supermarket. He is estranged from his daughter and there is really no one else in his life. He’s a broken lonely man.

With Rourke’s performance, I have not seen a more endearing character on the silver screen in a very long time. There’s a touch of Stallone’s Rocky and there are bouts of Brando’s Terry Malloy from On The Waterfront, but even Rocky was built with a love story with an optimistic slant. Randy the Ram is falling apart. He tries to find love with a stripper who goes by the name of Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) and is determined not to mix business with pleasure, but she too is getting past her prime.

However Cassidy’s real name is Pam and she is quick to define herself as a mother first and foremost. Randy however, who’s real name is Robin, defines himself as the Wrestler and ultimately this thematically speaking leads him to his ultimate fate. He tries to be Robin the father, the lover, and deli grocer but it is wrestling that makes him who he is.

Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Randy’s estranged daughter Stephanie, pulls off a solid performance. If anything she felt a bit under utilized. We learn little about her character other than she is a lesbian and that her father bailed out on her a long time ago. While her first scene doesn’t shake the screen her scene with Randy on the boardwalk in midwinter is both beautiful and touching.

I will say I was minutely disappointed with Clint Mansell’s score and I say minutely because I hardly even noticed it. Aronofsky took a very different approach with The Wrestler by using mostly music in the diegetic. Randy can be defined by the music he listens to. Like the music, he is from the eighties and it still in many ways living in the past. From what I could hear of Bruce Springsteen’s song in the closing credits of The Wrestler, it sounds like a surefire nominee come Oscar season. It was admittedly a bit difficult to hear all of the lyrics though considering the standing ovation.

This is not a film I would have expected out of Darren Aronofsky at least in terms of shoot. His camera work ,this time with Director of Photography Maryse Alberti, has a more kinetic steady-cam cinema verite look to it. This can be seen with a ton of shaky camera shots following behind Rourke as he enters the ring or deli. Like wrestling it feels intentional while at the same time having a nice gritty pseudo realism to it. If I had anything negative to say about this movie is that it felt perhaps a bit too lean; too finely cut.

Aronofsky has put together a truly great film and is perhaps my favourite film I have seen so far in 2008. Right now there is no American distributor so when The Wrestler is released theatrically it might not come out till late 2008 or well into 2009. I only hope The Wrestler makes it out before Oscar season for some well deserved awards. I’ve already expressed my feelings on Mickey Rourke’s performance.

Related Posts:

1. ScriptGirl Report for October 10th 2008
2. Robocop will make YOU eat baby food.
3. The Fountain: REVIEWED!
4. Paul Newman: 1925-2008
5. Twitter Updates for 2008-10-01

Tags: Darren Aronofsky, Festival, International, Mickey Rourke, movie, Review, The Wrester, Toronto, Venice