"Have you ever seen a one trick pony in the field so happy and free?
If you've ever seen a one trick pony then you've seen me"
- Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen
If you've gotten a chance to see the trailer, or hear Springsteen's song for Darren "I only make awesome movies" Aronofsky's latest, then you have heard an almost perfect description and feel for the film. Mickey Rourke, makes his comeback in this drama centered on retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson as he makes his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the big game again for one final showdown with his former rival.
Where to start with this incredible and moving picture? I don't know what it is about an Aronofsky picture that makes them stay with you, but he sure finds a way to climb inside and affect you with his art. Maybe it's his open endings, maybe it's his relatable characters, or maybe he's just a really great director. There's not a part of this movie that doesn't work, but you do walk away from it wishing there was more. The cinematography is intimate and real, the acting is some of the best of the year, and the writing is heart wrenching. Make no mistake, this is a simple intimate portrait of a man and is a significantly different film that Aronofsky has ever made, but it's still just as good, if not better, than his others.
Marisa Tomei proves her Oscar was no fluke with this picture, as she portrays a stripper/mom who receives regular patronage from Rourke. Evan Rachel Wood also delivers the goods as Rourke's estranged daughter, but the real star of the show is Mickey Rourke. Everything you have heard about how good he is in this is completely true. You see a knight slowly getting chinks in his armor until he has nothing left to protect himself with. You see reluctant vulnerability, and you see a fully-realized character, brought to life in a way only Mickey Rourke could do.
It's difficult to say The Wrestler is the type of film that would be nominated for best picture, because it isn't really. Aronofsky has toned down his visual flair and tells a simple straightforward story of an old broken down piece of meat. It's just a solid piece of filmmaking that will leave you better off for having seen it, and what else can you ask for?
Review by: Greg MacLennan
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