a review by Scott B.
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson who is part of the small time wrestling scene, twenty years after the pivotal match at Madison Square Garden. Randy lives in a trailer and is loved by his fans, however he abuses drugs and has no relationship with his grown daughter, Stephanie. Randy has difficulty holding a part-time job and requires the extra income to pay for his expenses and partying. Randy is forced to retire from wrestling due to a heart attack; however he quits his part time job at the deli, to participate in one final match against The Ayatollah.
I thought Rourke’s acting was full of facial expressions, great physical movement and terrific emotions as shown in his scenes with co-stars, Marissa Tomei, who plays Pam (his close friend) and Evan Rachael Wood who plays his daughter, Stephanie. There were great scenes in the movie such as when Randy plays Nintendo with a boy in the trailer park and his rematch with Ayatollah. Other memorable scenes show the affection he shows his only true friend, Pam, the dancer at a local strip club. He wants to be much more than a friend, and this scene climaxes as she quits her job to watch Randy’s final match.
There were two quotes in the movie that really set the tone. Randy says, “I’m a broken down piece of meat,” referring to his ravaged body and “I just don’t want you to hate me,” after reconnecting with Stephanie.
There was irony in that Randy is a friendly person, who works in the day at Acme Grocery, is great with neighborhood kids, and yet “fights” for a living and cannot maintain relationships with others nor pay the rent. The scenes with his daughter, Stephanie, are powerful, showing the warmth of their reuniting, and the horror of Randy’s inability to meet her on time.
I believe the theme of The Wrestler is returning to greatness. Randy, despite his injuries and heart surgery, goes against medical advice to do what he loves best. The lighting started out dark at the beginning of the film, reflecting the mood of an injured drug addict wrestler known for his work twenty years ago. The lighting is also dark in the tavern where Pam works; however, it brightens throughout the movie.
Great special effects noted in this film were the cuts in the wrestling ring, the vomit after taking drugs and Randy’s collapse prior to being hospitalized. Mickey Rourke’s facial expressions were very well done. I believe that they made this movie memorable. These expressions are seen when he takes some part-time work at the deli counter and cuts his finger on the meat slicer in order to leave his job and fight one more time. Randy’s humbleness in working at the counter, serving disrespectful customers, and moving boxes in the warehouse is moving to the viewer.
My overall opinion was that this movie has great acting, including supporting roles from Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachael Wood. The other wrestlers portrayed the real life of the wrestling scene and how so much of it is staged. I believe that the ending, his third fight of the movie, is remarkable as it allows Pam to travel to Wilmington to show her true affection for Randy. The film also has a pathetic scene showing how low Randy’s life hit bottom. He meets a young girl, does cocaine with her, and misses the meeting with his daughter. It is easy to really feel for Randy’s character, as he has realizes after twenty years that he can only ever be a wrestler. He has failed at fatherhood, work and relationships, so despite all the injuries and heart attack, he must return to what he knows and loves.
Here is the theatrical trailer for the film:
