Movie review: The Wrestler

For a while Mickey Rourke had become one of those names in Hollywood that you didn't see too often. Then he made a big return playing Marv in Sin City. Now Rourke has proved that he can put in an outstanding performance in The Wrestler.

Rourke plays a wrestler named Randy "The Ram" Robinson. He was one of those guys who was on the top of the wrestling world in the 80s like guys like The Ultimate Warrior. But now he's in the later part of his life and he's just doing smaller shows to crowds of maybe a couple hundred people. He works a bit of a dead-end job and doesn't have any real relationships to speak of. The only one he really has is with a stripper played by Marisa Tomie.

His relationship with her is interesting because he has an obvious interest in her but she doesn't feel like he does. He also tries to rekindle the relationship with his daughter played by Evan Rachel Wood. But being one of those guys that was always on the road she resents him for never being there.

The movie does a great job showing a man who is a bit broken but at the same time yearning to be back on top again. I haven't seen too many of his movies but I doubt it's much of a stretch to say this is the best performance of his career and one of the best performances of 2008. Now the question remains will he win the Oscar? My personal pick is Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon but if anyone can steal it away it's Rourke. He has one of those quiet emotional performances that really draw you into his character.

Now Marisa Tomie should not be discounted. I don't think she will get the Oscar but she does an outstanding job. She plays a woman who is just a little too old to be a stripper but that's all she knows how to do. She tries to push off Randy's advances but at the same time you can tell she feels something for him but denies it to herself and the rest of the world.

The pacing of the movie is a little slow but it makes sense given the subject matter. It just follows a man living his day to day life hoping for something in his life to change. Whether it be that one big wrestling break or for the relationships in his life to change for the better. Overall I highly recommend this movie.

My score 8.5/10