The Wrestler
Synopsis:
Washed-up ‘80s pro wrestling star Randy “The Ram” Robinson must make a choice between what is more important to him, his life or his passion for wrestling.
Review:
Unlike most cinematic depictions of professional wrestling, which portray it as a real slapstick cartoon, The Wrestler treats pro wrestling as a form of entertainment that has a reputation for chewing up and spitting out its lead actors. Mickey Rourke portrays Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a former ‘80s star who now lives in a trailer and works a regular job during the week while continuing to wrestle in front of small crowds for little money. His only friend is a stripper named Cassidy, played by Marisa Tomei, whom Randy regularly frequents and believes he has developed a kinship with. After a brutal match on an indy show, Randy suffers a heart attack, which puts into jeopardy his wrestling career and specifically an upcoming rematch with The Ayatollah, an opponent whom Randy had a memorable feud with in the past. While at first Randy is portrayed as easily likeable but washed up, he really becomes lost after his heart attack. He has no one in his life outside of Cassidy, who will not cross the line with a customer, making him lonely and unsure of how to deal with life. Cassidy also serves as a parallel to what Randy is going through, and the kinship between the job descriptions of wrestler and stripper make it more interesting than the average romantic subplot. The rest of the movie becomes a struggle for Randy, as he wants to fix his life and his relationship, or complete lack-thereof, with his estranged daughter while also dealing with his passion, even addiction to wrestling. The Wrestler is a very emotional movie, as Randy experience incredible highs and unbearably depressing lows, while dealing with his intense desire to hear the crowd and to perform. The movie is notable for portraying the wrestling world very accurately and for pulling no punches when it comes to portraying the negative side of that business. Some of the independent companies and wrestlers in the movie are not just portrayed realistically, but are actually legitimate, which help The Wrestler come off as authentic. The ending is beautifully shot and some will see it as bittersweet while others may not see it in quite the same light. Even so, The Wrestler is deeply emotional, authentic, and a movie that can be enjoyed by anyone even if they are not a wrestling fan.
Grade: A
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