The Wrestler
Winner
of 'Golden Lion'
2008 Venice
Film Festival
Mickey Rourke Is Back
Ron Smith
Randy “The Ram” Robinson,
played by Mickey Rourke, is a professional wrestler who was at the top
of his game 20 years ago. He wears glasses and a hearing aid, and has
the same long bleached hair that Gorgeous George would have been proud
to sport. He’s still a crowd-pleaser and a generally likeable guy.
Opening scene:
Randy is in the ring beating the hell out of some guy and getting the
same back. He’s at the bottom of his game. He still loves it.
In his off
time he chases an older stripper played by Marisa Tomei. He considers
her a girlfriend, to her he’s a customer. He lives in a trailer when he
can get the rent money together, which isn’t often. He has a young
daughter who barely knows him and she doesn’t want him around. Just when
you think things couldn’t possibly get worse. They do. Randy is faced with the fact
that he must give up wrestling or maybe die. Wrestling is his life, his
identity, without it he’s nothing.
He takes a job
at a deli making sandwiches. Finally, he can’t stand it anymore.
He has a
chance at a rematch with his old nemesis “The Ayatollah.” He has to make some tough
decisions about his future. Did he make the right one?
If you like
your steak well done then you won’t like this movie. There's plenty of raw meat and
blood to go around.
This movie is
raw, gritty, down and dirty, real life, and very entertaining. The acting is good, the story
is good. Marissa looks great. Micky is back, big time.
Rourke, get the tux ready.
Rourke looks to be in great shape and according to his bio
he was made for this role.
Synopsis
Back in the
late ‘80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining
professional wrestler. Now, 20 years later, he ekes out a living
performing for handfuls of die hard wrestling fans in high school gyms
and community centers around New Jersey.
Estranged from
his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to
sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show
and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into
retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to
evaluate the state of his life -- trying to reconnect with his daughter,
and striking up a blossoming romance with an exotic dancer (Marisa
Tomei) who is ready to start a new life. Yet all this cannot compare to
the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull
Randy “The Ram” back into his world of wrestling.
Cast
and Credits
Cast: Mickey Rourke,
Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood Directed by: Darren
Aronofsky
Produced by: Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky