S.L.I.F.F. Review: ‘The Wrestler’

Travis:

If Forrest Gump had been a professional wrestler, he might have said “Life is like a pile driver.” For Randy “The Ram” Robinson, life is like an endless series of pile drivers and body slams delivered one after another until there’s nothing left but an empty, broken-down shell of a man. ‘The Wrestler’ is quite frankly, an amazingly honest and riveting film about an aging professional wrestler trying to survive his years of bodily abuse for the entertainment of his fans.

Mickey Rourke makes his triumphant return to the big screen with his portrayal of Randy “The Ram” and simply blows us away with his performance. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For a Dream, The Fountain) who has solidified his place as one of my favorite young filmmakers. Aronofsky chose to shoot ‘The Wrestler’ in a cinema verite style [handheld, documentary style] which results in the film feeling very real, very honest and very in the moment. We feel like we’re experiencing Randy’s pain, both physical and emotional, as he experiences the pain.

Despite his setbacks, Randy starts the film with a relatively positive attitude, until he suffers a near fatal heart attack which will alter the remainder of his life immensely. With a new sense of awareness to his state of loneliness and health, Randy reaches out to his friend Cassidy, played by Marisa Tomei (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead). Cassidy is an aging stripper who Randy visits often at the club, but he hopes to make something more of their casual relationship. In an effort to distance herself emotionally from Randy, Cassidy suggests that Randy reconnect with his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), whom he hasn’t seen since she was a little girl. This proves to be an experience both of redemption and personal destruction. Stephanie lays out the truth for Randy in a way that hammers the circumstances of his past deeply into his realization that he has nothing left but his fans.

Marisa Tomei does a fine job and really “bares” herself in the role. While there weren’t any major cameos from the world of professional wrestling, we still get a wonderful, gritty view of what life is like in the business on the way down from fame. ‘The Wrestler’ paints an accurate picture of the life many in this business are living, as we speak. Mickey Rourke proves he still has the ability to deliver an outstanding performance with heart and soul exposed, forcing us to believe he is Randy “The Ram” Robinson. From his ups and down working in the local Acme grocery store to his health battles and personal demons, Rourke deserves an Oscar nomination for this role just on principle alone.

Some people may decide they don’t like the style the film was shot, some may say they hated the ending (which was perfect and couldn’t have ended any other way in my opinion), but one thing’s for sure… if you allow the story to take you in and just allow the film to work it’s magic, it’s difficult not to find love for ‘The Wrestler’.

Travis’ Rating: 5/5

Scott:

Let me first say that if Mickey Rourke and possibly even Marisa Tomei don’t at least get nominated for an Oscar I am going to boycott them for the next 2 years!

When I was a kid you couldn’t even use the word obsessed to describe how I felt about wrestling, and the story found inside ‘The Wrestler’ is a very familiar story if you still follow the lives of giants from the 80’s and 90’s (which I do). Mickey Rourke transformed himself into a washed up wrestler that is still trying to make it back to the fame he once knew. He did such a phenomenal job becoming Randy “The Ram” Robinson that I almost hesitate calling him washed up or talking about him negatively in any way, almost like I would legends Lex Lugar, and The Macho Man.

If you have seen the trailer you understand the movie is basically like a portrait of the real walk a wrestler goes through once the fame and money are gone. Randy “The Ram” is still doing small circuit matches, working at a grocery store and trying to make it on the measly $$ he makes from having to put his body/mind on the line in these low budget matches. In between matches and working he frequents a strip club where he has a mini obsession with a stripper played by Marisa Tomei. Let me say that time has been very, very good to Marisa Tomei and I was very surprised to see her doing nude scene’s in this movie, but playing a stripper in a rated R movie almost guarantee’s it. She plays the role so perfectly you momentarily fall in love with her yourself.

I don’t want to ruin too much of the movie with revealing the entire plot but this movie, in my opinion, should win for Best Actor, Best Picture and at least a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The movie combines some comedic items, and mixes it with a raw emotional drama that you don’t get from a lot of flicks these days. If you don’t see this movie in theaters you are punishing yourself and should be ashamed!

Scott’s Rating: 5/5

Jeremy:

It was William Shakespeare who wrote “All the world’s a stage…And all the men and women merely players…They have their exits and their entrances…And one man in his time plays many parts.” I’m sure if Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson were to have heard that quote, he probably would have called Shakespeare a name that I won’t say on the family-friendly site. But Shakespeare knew what he was talking about, and it correlates with The Ram’s life through and through.

Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Wrestler’ stars Mickey Rourke as Robinson, a has-been pro wrestler from the 1980s who is trying to do his best working on the independent circuit. He makes little doing what he does, and he spends most of the money on booze, medication, and a local stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). After a particularly brutal, hardcore match with Necro Butcher, Robinson has a heart attack. The doctors tell him he has to cut out the one thing he does best. The Ram takes this opportunity to reflect on what’s most important in his life.

Aronofsky made a deliberate choice in filming ‘The Wrestler’. The documentary-style with which Aronofsky shoots the film gives it a sense of reality splashed up on screen for all to see. Most of the shots are done with a handheld, and the camera moves around its characters and weaves in and out of large crowds.

He decided to use real professional wrestler as the secondary characters. When we are shown the backstage of a wrestling event early on, the wrestlers are talking to one another about their respective matches. They use terms about the business that are actual terms, and they are not explained. If you don’t know what they are talking about, you might be lost for a second or two, but the general idea of what is going on is never lost.

Aronofsky uses real metal tunes from the ’80s as Randy’s entrance music (Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health”, to be exact). The blood and carnage that is depicted in the ring is brutal and genuine. Most of the makeup looks as real as can be.

All of this combines into a film that is, schematically, grounded in a harsh reality.

And a very harsh reality it is that Randy Robinson lives in. This film has been compared mostly to ‘Rocky’, but that’s kind of misleading. ‘Rocky’ was a triumphant film about a little fish trying to make its way in a big pond. ‘The Wrestler’ is a story about a man who was given practically everything and wasted it all away. It’s not a film about this wash-up wrestler’s one, last opportunity to make it on the big stage. And that pipe-dream of a storyline is never even hinted at. This is a true depiction of a man whose best days are behind him, and he’s broken down and he’s alone in the world.

But, in all of its brutality and austerity, Aronofsky never lays his opinion on what we are seeing. Like the best documentarians, he never comes down on one side or the other about the millions of opinions that come with the world of professional wrestling. He merely shows you the business as it is and lets you decide for yourself what is wrong and what is right about it. Most die-hard, pro wrestling fans (yours truly, included) know most of what goes on behind the scenes anyway. For those who don’t know much about the business, ‘The Wrestler’ is going to open their eyes to a whole new world.

And, all along the way, Rourke gives this beautifully simplistic yet emotionally numb performance. Robinson is a sad character, and it takes a real talent to convey this behind all the muscle and seemingly badass nature of the character. Rourke pulls this off better than anyone else could in this same role. He was a handsome leading man twenty years ago, but Rourke has transformed himself into a kind of rock of subtlety. It’s a paradox, I know, but there are so many levels to the performance he gives this character, that that’s I could, potentially, talk about when talking about this film. It’s the best performance of the year. It’s the best performance Rourke has ever given. And it is the performance he will be remembered for in the decades to come.

Tomei is also very good. She plays this character who is at odds with Randy, yet, all the while, is secretly falling head over heels in love with his gentleness. Tomei shows all of that in her performance, and she, too, should be remembered when it comes time to hand out awards early next year.

There are so many levels to ‘The Wrestler’, it’s hard to believe that it is such a simplistic storyline. Aronofsky, and Robert D. Siegel, whose screenplay should definitely not be overlooked, creates such a mixture of sight and sound within this film, it’s hard not to refer to the film as a masterpiece. So, I won’t try. ‘The Wrestler’ is a masterpiece both in story and in execution. Everything about it seems so effortlessly perfect, it’s amazing that this kind of flawlessness has become the calling card of Aronofsky. Aronofsky and Rourke are the perfect one-two punch for a film such as this. ‘The Wrestler’ is a brilliant piece of filmmaking.

Jeremy’s Rating: 5/5

Melissa:

Do you remember those times when you were little… and you use to go to all the wrestling matches… or run around the backstage area playing with the wrestlers… or had one who was dating your mom??? Just me??? Oh, well in that case you should use The Wrestler to find out what that world is really like!!

Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) has hit rock bottom in his career. Sure he’s still hitting the mat, but at what cost? He’s locked out of his trailer, he doesn’t own a phone, he’s using every body building aid (illegal or not) to compete with the young kids… all for the roar of the crowd. He knows that he is getting older, but in order to still be booked in the ring he wrestles all throughout town, putting his body through hell.

His only two non-wrestling friends are a stripper named Cassidy (Marissa Tomei) and his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Cassidy treats him only as a customer, despite knowing that he has feelings for her. She’s the old woman at the strip club that no one ever wants to pay for… except Randy. As for his daughter Stephanie, she hates him. He abandoned her and her mother when she was a child and never really looked back…

Now, after health has cost him his career and he doesn’t have the rush of screaming fans cheering for him, he tries to find his way through life as a loner, a has-been. I won’t say much more because I hate spoilers!

The sad thing is, as I watched this film, I realized just how true this story is! With my mother being AWESOME when I was a child, I had the pleasure of meeting quite a few wrestling superstars, as well as some that weren’t quite at stardom. These guys will do anything to stay on top, or at least in the game. Guys who have had multiple back, spine, leg etc. surgeries that just won’t listen to their doctors… There was also a big boom after the 80’s, when people realized that it was, indeed staged, where they decided to make things more realistic. That’s when the cutting, hiding razors in their tights, bleeding frenzy really started. If you won’t bleed on the mat, someone else will. Anything to stay on top! I don’t care how fake people think wrestling is, these guys are amazing athletes who train their bodies to go above and beyond the normal limits. That demands respect. Heck, a friend of mine wrestles professionally now, and I have nothing but respect for what he does. He’s always on the road, at practice, working out, or performing. I could never put my body through the kind of rigorous schedule that these guys keep! Plus I don’t think I could live out of a suitcase!

This movie does a great job at portraying the side that no one else sees. I promise that you have never seen Rourke in a roll like this. His performance was outstanding. I know that he was always in reasonably good shape, and I don’t know if he took anything to get him there, but he is BUILT in this film! He really took on the character… both good and bad flaws. He almost reminds me of a child in this role. He’s simplistic, gets excited and happy over the little things, but is unorganized and forgetful. It’s almost as if he never really grew up.

Tomei was great in her part as Cassidy as well. I did not expect to see THAT much of her, but props to you for rockin that body! I knew from the start by how she treated him that she was going to break his heart. She would always flirt just a little too much and then push him back to the customer side. I don’t necessarily feel the Oscar buzz for her… but MICKEY ROURKE BETTER GET SOME RECOGNITION!

Man was the soundtrack of this movie just as well played! It was all 80’s hair metal. It really did compliment Ram’s flowing blonde locks and radical wrestling tights. I found myself unable to control my head bobbing when they came on! It was pure face-melting hair rock!

If you want some great media on wrestling and how far some of these guys will go, get Mankind’s book… that guy practically killed himself in the ring! Or heck, go to your towns local KC Hall Wrestling matches and watch what some of these guys will do!

Melissa’s Rating: 5/5

Overall: 5/5