The Wrestler – a review
December 23rd 2008 22:15
Rourke is a bleached-blond heavyweight still wrestling twenty years past his prime who inhabits a dour, beige world. Apart from the momentary and intermittent camaraderie of his ring mates, Ram (Rourke) is essentially alone. Well-meaning but clearly life-damaged, living in a trailer in New Jersey, Ram struggles to survive doing wrestling gigs on the weekend and working in a supermarket through the week.
Despite his daily struggles, Ram always ensures his exterior appearance is flawless particularly when preparing for a match: his hair is a sharp shade of blonde; he is dark brown from a tanning salon visit and his body is buff from steroids. However, his internal happenings are turbulent; he is lonely and estranged from his daughter and he seems to have no other family. His friends are all from the wrestling world and the strip club he occasionally visits after matches. Ram occupies these three worlds with a barely faltering feeling of disenfranchisement.
After a particularly violent fight which resulted in a heart attack, Ram is told he must stop wrestling or he next time he will die. This forces Ram to make some difficult life decisions. He attempts to mend the bond between him and his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Despite his earnest intentions, this soon goes awry. He tries to move closer towards stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) whom he has been infatuated with for a while but that also does not go as he would hope. Cassidy rebukes his intentions by saying: ‘the two worlds don’t meet’.
The choice to create a feeling of a handheld camera creating a close-up, personal feel was sometimes problematic. It often felt too jolty, inconsistent and almost too close to the characters. Additionally, some parts were over-emphasised, such as Ram’s heart attack scar. When part of a scene, the camera would zoom in, telling us where to look and what to pay attention to.
True to his Requiem for Dream choices, Aronofsky doesn’t flinch from illuminating the intricate, gritty details of the violent world of a wrestling match. We are privy to seemingly common tricks where Randy uses a hidden small piece of a razor blade to open a cut on his face in the middle of a bout in an attempt to magnify his injuries to his oponent and audience. In another particularly violent and barbaric match, including barbed wire and a staple gun as weapons, the scene oscillates between showing enough to create a vivid picture and possibly pushing audiences past the point of discomfort. The scene felt arduous and unrelentingly drawn out. Indeed, I considered leaving the cinema; it was bordering on becoming too disturbingly brutal to watch.
Aronofsky flashes back from Ram’s triumphs, intercutting highlights of the staple-gun beige used on his opponents’ body. The numerous shots of Randy's numerous wounds being sewn up and bandaged were laboriously difficult to watch. There is a discomforting link between Ram’s injuries and The Passion of Christ. Cassidy actually makes a jarring suggestion to Ram that he should see the film, the reason for that suggestion being quite unclear. These scenes did not appear to about realism; they felt as though the audience was supposed to squirm for squirming sake. A device not appreciated.
Rourke embraces his role completely; his zest is believable. Although all the individual parts were important and at times effective, it still retained a feeling of not quite working together. Sometimes the message felt too forced, too strained, creating a wooden atmosphere. The plot only held a few surprises. Yet, dispute these flaws; both the hero and the movie have a blunt, exuberant honesty leading it to be a haunting film.
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I used to hate wrestling until I got with Kman. He taught me to appreciate the very fakeness of it - that they should kill each other, but dont. I also really admire the choreography, the audience is always so entranced.
Comment by Carmen
Parent Slate
I agree, great review, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for this (as soon as I get some time to watch DVDs again!)
I have loads of respect for wrestlers - the moves may be "fake" but they still require a lot of skill to perform correctly, and they still get hurt a lot. Sounds like that's what the movie is trying to show (amongst other things of course) so I'd be interested to see how they do it. Although it does sound a bit full on and a stomach-turning from your review!
Anyway have a great Xmas and New Year,
Carmen
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
My wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a great 2009!
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
My wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a great 2009!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Marissa Tomei is excellent in this film, sexy and believable.
I thought the same:
I used to hate wrestling until I got with Kman. He taught me to appreciate the very fakeness of it - that they should kill each other, but dont.
I was amazed that they could have such vicious battles and then shake hands and chat afterwards. I don't know if the wrestling world is really as violent as this one, but it was quite entrancing to see.
Thanks for popping in, hope you had a great Christmas.
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
How are you? Hope you've had a good Christmas with your family.
It was an intriguing look into the world, yet disturbing in many ways. I would really like to know if the level of violence shown in this world does exist. Perhaps it's an underground world...
Thanks for popping in and all the best for the new year,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for popping in, glad you enjoyed the review.
Best wishes to you too!!
Tracy
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I have to echo the others in that this review was excellent ~ as always
I am not into wrestling but do enjoy realistic films that portray the variance of the inner and outer worlds, and this looks good (well if I can stand looking at all that botox for an hour or so?)... *lol*
All I am now left to decide is whether I want to squirm for squirmings sake? I appreciate you including that bit in your review btw.. I have to agree wholeheartedly with you on this one, I dont mind violence or gorey bits, but the story has to be able to carry it for its completion, and not just for the heck of it. So well said.
Again, a great review and agian, I hope the New year unfolds for you with much opprtunity, abundance and bliss in its days.
Looking forward to another year of Movies and Life!
Lilla ...
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
Your review is excellent and makes me want to see The Wrestler.
Marisa Tomei is one of the most under-rated actresses and this sounds like a comeback film for Mickey Rourke.
I like watching wrestling and think there should be a film about female wrestlers. That would be very interesting.
I look forward to seeing The Wrestler.
Cheers!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for popping in, I’m glad you liked my review.
I felt compelled to add that bit about the violent parts of the film as I was surprised it’s barely mentioned in reviews I’ve read. Even David and Margaret (At The Movies) didn’t make much of a reference. I don’t think I’m overly sensitive, my friend was squirming and so were the other people around us. It just seemed to push the point too deeply, violence doesn’t always have to be overt to be understood. I think they could’ve cut a third out of that scene without it losing its impact, but that’s just my opinion.
Thank-you for your words, it's always good to see you. I have to pop over to yours after this as I’ve been having some energetic dreams lately.
Best New Year wishes to you and your family!
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
A film about female wrestlers, that's an intruguing idea. I wonder if there some out there? I can't think of any, that would be really interesting...
Marisa Tomei was excellent, effective, sexy and believable. I wasn't sure about Rourke in some scenes, but I'm not sure if it was the blonde, heavy-metal hair tied in a bun that was putting me off!
Thanks for popping in, feel free to come back if you end up seeing it,
Tracy
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Always Learning
Cinema Voyage
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
This one doesn't appeal to me but I do like Marisa Tomei. I don't mind Mickey Rourke, though he doesn't look like a human - would be good to see him in a human role.
What made you want to see this?
Mich
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for dropping in, glad you enjoyed the review.
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
How are you? Hope you're well.
I wouldn't have chosen to see this film, but I won free tix so off I toddled.
I know what you mean about it not being for you, I can understand it's not for everyone, I still can't make up my mind about it.
Mickey Rourke did look peculiar, I agree. The heavy-metal bleached hair in a bun didn't help either. Eek.
Good to see you!!
Tracy
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Mr M and I try to see as many Oscar nominated films before the Oscars to criticise or congratulate accordingly on awards night.
I haven't seen this one yet and I don't know if I want to. I know I probably should.
But great review. It's probably the most informative review I've read on it so thank you.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm sure you are aware of my unhealthy obsession with Mickey Rourke's thespian skills....all the more tragic that i haven't caught the Wrestler yet. (Immigration to a foreign land comes at a hefty price)
Yours now goes onto a list of favourable reviews for the film that friends have share
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Sorry for my tardy reply, I'm a bit behind things lately. Hope all is going well in your new land.
Thank-you for that high compliment, I am bowing with gratitude.
Have fun over there,
Tracy
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