Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Ernest Miller, Evan Rachel Wood

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

A scene from the Wrestler

“The Wrestler” traces retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson’s route from a cherished-fandom to just the devoted-fandom. A simple and realistic portrayal of the not so glamorous real life of the “fake” art of wrestling.

While battling the rigors of a wrestler’s life Randy surfers a serious heartache forcing him to retire. Haunted by loneliness and having shunned the call of a father Randy(Mickey Rourke) tries to find companionship with stripper/exotic dancer Pam-Cassidy (played by Oscar winning actress Marisa Tomei, yeah I know wtf!). On Pam’s advice he tries desperately reconnecting with his estranged daughter-(played ironically by Evan Rachel Wood, Marilyn Manson’s girl the hard-working daughter, double wtf!)- while simultaneously trying to stoke the embers of a romance gradually developing between him and Pam. Rejection from both leads him spiraling towards his only true companions, the fans. Utterly lost and torn between all relations,in a fit of frustration and realization he takes one last leap at doing what he does best.

Rigorously following each minute of the movie we come to realize the only shortcoming in this movie if at all any is the corny title. But then again that is director Darren Aronofsky’s forte(The Fountain, The Fighter, Pi… ). No, his genius in story-telling outshines the pithy in his titles. Why the movie blows our minds away is the surprisingly “real depiction of the fake wrestling” that goes on in the rings. What you see in some of the shots is REAL. The blade cutting on the forehead…the whole face and heel act….even the gruesome staple gun pinning. The movie is void of a constant background music score but has the Aronofsky trademark of conveying more with what meets the ear.

Watch the movie again if you don’t remember these arresting scenes: When “Robin” dons the apron of a part-time employee and enters the grocery store, the background score played is that of Randy’s entering the ring. The contrast between his cheerful attitude on the first day at the counter and the day he quits when almost everything looks bleak. When Randy treats Cassidy like a “real” stripper on her insistence of their relationship violating her “code of ethics”. Other noteworthy facts include the fact that he uses a “Dodge Ram”. The movie also serves as resurrection of real life boxer Mickey Rourke as he makes a comeback into the ring. Both Randy and Cassidy are “actors” way past their performing age, torn between the decision to “gracefully” retire and doing what needs to be done. Darren Aronofsky in an interview quotes the Charles Mingus song “The Clown”(note title please)-an instrumental piece with a poem read over the music about a clown who accidentally discovers the bloodlust of the crowds and eventually kills himself in performance- as a major source of inspiration for the movie.

All in all fully worthy of the Golden Lion at Venice.

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