1217. The Wrestler

The Wrestler
2008
Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Well, here we go with the movies I put off until the very end. I really have no interest in anything to do with sports. Then again, is wrestling really a sport? Since it's all fake, seems like some sort of performance art. Although in my experience, men get really defensive if you question whether their passion is a sport or not. So I'll just call wrestling a sport and leave it at that.

Randy "The Ram" Robinson was a wrestling champion in the 80s, but is now past his prime. Now he just wrestles on weekends and works part time at a supermarket. He meets Cassidy, a stripper who works at the strip club he frequents. He becomes enamored with her (who wouldn't? It's Marisa Tomei), and she convinces him to try to make amends with his estranged daughter. But Randy's heart can no longer take his lifestyle or steroid abuse,  and Randy must make a choice about his future.

Like I said, I don't like sports movies, but the sports scenes in this movie weren't that frequent, and the climax didn't involve The Big Game, where everybody had to come together as a team. It was more a drama about a man out of place in the world, which is a feeling we can all relate to. I mostly am familiar with Mickey Rourke through him being the butt of jokes, but he did a really nice job of portraying Randy and his feelings of being lost. 

Now let's see if I click with the next sports movie half as much.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Nicolas Cage was the studio's choice to play Randy, but Aronfsky fought for Mickey Rourke.

All of the wrestling scenes were filmed at real wrestling events in front of live audiences.

Shooting schedule of only 35 days.