‘The Wrestler’ Review
As we learn from an opening sequence that displays random clips of magazine articles and ’80s newspaper headlines, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was, at one time, the pride and joy of the wrestling industry. Flash forward about two decades, and he is now a rough 50 making small income on low key matches in New Jersey. Rourke’s aging persona quickly settles into viewers as he mingles with the other performers in the locker room before a match. All of them are much younger, and they respect him immensely for his legacy, but it’s no secret by his expression that Randy misses the golden age of his career when he was in better shape. After receiving an offer from his manager to have a reunion match with one of his biggest rivals from the heyday, Randy agrees; hoping that this could benefit his old ego.
It sounds like Randy’s path is all set in motion by this first segment, but it’s when he returns to his home life that we really start to see the internal heartbreak that lies beneath this once great star. His rent is overdue, and without a trailer to sleep in, Randy must resort to living in the back of his van. He takes medication, including steroids at one point in training, and after a long day of loading boxes at a supermarket job, Randy loves to hang out at a strip bar, where he befriends Cassidy (Marisa Tomei).
While Cassidy clearly has the right look of someone in their mid-40s, her job as a stripper in this film serves as a crucial element to the connection between herself and Randy. Much like he is to the younger talent backstage, Cassidy is also a middle aged professional surrounded by the next generation, which proves to be a catalyst for how the two of them can understand each other’s pain.
Watching Rourke and Tomei create vivid chemistry in their scenes together, it was easy to appreciate how the two of them really brought out the best in each other as actors, and as characters who have been emotionally scarred by similar demons. Wrestlers and strippers are two of society’s most loved/hated public figures, and to see one from each spectrum bond over what they want, as opposed to what they can’t help having, we become quite aware of how living in the spotlight can really be a test of endurance.
Pro wrestlers actually do get hurt while we enjoy watching them fall, and (most) pro strippers hate having to display themselves in front of a bunch of strangers who come loaded with a wad of ones in their pocket. I guess it’s the ability to pay the rent that keeps such workers doing the grunt job that is their lives. Maybe this is why celebrities only marry other celebrities. The dilemma here, however, is whether or not we should pity any of them for doing what they chose to do for a living. Did all of them have the same choice?
After suffering a near fatal heart attack during a brutal match, Randy is ordered by his doctors to retire from in-ring physicality, and fearing how close he came to death, Randy agrees to their advice. He throws out all of his medication, cancels all of his future matches (including the big reunion), and even takes on longer shifts at the supermarket to make better income.
None of these changes can hide the true misery of what Randy’s feeling inside, and upon receiving some helpful advice from Cassidy (whose name we later learn is actually Pam), he decides to try and visit his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), who rejects his existence entirely. The relationship between Randy and Stephanie in the film is very risqué, and quite heartbreaking as we unravel the details of what shattered it in the first place. And even though Randy accepts his failures as a father, Stephanie never seems fully confident of his words. I guess if it were any of us, we could understand; especially when someone who claims to love you would rather get drunk and party instead of meeting you for dinner as they promised.
Whether they be tight or severed, none of the outside connections in Randy’s life can substitute for the one thing he loves most in the world; that feeling of self pride that comes with being in the squared circle as thousands of people chant your name. It is through that personal reliance that Darren Aronofsky’s film really bodyslams us into the heart and soul of this hero. By the time Randy is prepared to lock up in his reunion bout, you just want to stand up and cheer as the final act concludes.
For those of you who’ve ever been curious to know, I actually had a true love before film, and it was professional wrestling. I knew, even before several of my friends, that it was all an act for show business, but I still respected the fact that these men were in great physical shape. And as much as critics want to twist it into sounding ludicrous, no one can deny pro wrestlers of being the big tough guys who literally get hurt for the sake of entertaining millions and millions of fans; all of whom pay good money to watch it. I paid, I saw, I went home happy every single night. And regardless of how you approach ‘The Wrestler’; a fan of film, the sport, or just Mickey Rourke; you’ll pay, you’ll see… you’ll go home astounded!
A collection of classic rock hits and an excellent closing single from Bruce Springsteen put the final touch of icing on this cake of perfection!
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 13 2009. Filed under Reviews.
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