2008
M
Contains violence, drug use, offensive language and sex scenes.
Mickey Rourke (in a Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated role) stars as retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who returns to the ring and tries to work his way up the circuit for a final shot at defeating his longtime rival. Along the way, he tries to reconnect with his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), while exploring a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, also nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar).
See our expert review
Reviewer: Aaron Yap
Date Added: 16 Aug 2009
Aaron's Rating:4.0
Ditching his career-defining tough guy image for something with more heart and soul, Mickey “Comeback Kid” Rourke’s Oscar-winning performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is quite – simply put – great. Sporting long, bleached blonder hair, he plays professional wrestler Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson who suffers a heart attack and is told to quit or die. It’s a classic tale of faded glory and second chances – he finds time to reconcile with estranged daughter Evan Rachel Wood; pursues romance with strippler/single mum Marissa Tomei – but one so sensitively written, acted and directed, it’s never less than affecting. Aronofsky reins his usual spazzy visuals for a sparer, unfussy approach that’s ideal for the material, making this his most focused, subtly textured film yet. There’s a certain miserable, melancholy, derelict beauty at work here, especially in the overcast, wintry weather and working class New Jersey locations, that recalls ‘70s boxing flicks like Rocky and Fat City. A model of low-key, character-driven storytelling.
