Mickey Rourke is nothing short of phenomenal in The Wrestler, an intimate, personal drama that comes as a surprise from director Darren Aronofsky, the man behind Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain.
It’s note-perfect casting – Rourke’s own troubled past and physical transformation precisely mimics that of many professional wrestlers – but the actor also brings a tremendous emotional depth to the film. He should have won the Oscar for Best Actor.
Rourke stars as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an aging pro wrestler in the vein of WWF stars Jake “The Snake” Roberts and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. The Ram once performed in front of crowds of thousands, but his heyday is long over: now he performs to smaller crowds in community centers and high school gyms.
And soon he won’t be able to do that, either: after a heart attack, his doctor tells Randy he cannot wrestle any longer.
Randy is in the same predicament that many professional athletes find themselves in: they were able to do one thing and do it really well, but these are professions that can only last about 20 years. Unless they were extremely successful, they have to begin a new life at 40.
So what does Randy do? He gets a job at a supermarket. Flirts with a pretty stripper (Marisa Tomei) who initially rebuffs him, but soon comes to care for him. And he tries to re-establish contact with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), whom he hasn’t had contact with in years.
Randy tries to get his life back in order, but the wrestling is in his blood, and when it comes calling for him again, he’s helpless to resist.
Director Aronofsky’s previous films have been energetic, pulsating; nothing would seem to suggest he would be adept at handling The Wrestler, which is not only a low-key character study, but also one that focuses on a very specific subject not often explored in film.
But here this film is, crafted with affection and care, easily ranking with the director’s better work though it couldn’t be more different.
One thing The Wrestler gets absolutely right, like the excellent documentary Beyond the Mat, is its portrayal of professional wrestling. Many people consider pro wrestling to be ‘fake’, but that’s only true to the extent that it’s a show, and the results are predetermined.
But these guys are really up there, really taking a beating. They plan how they’re going to inflict pain on each other, then go out and do it; one of the more memorable scenes in the film involves the ill-advised use of a stapler.
