Figure Four Star Leg Lock
I know The Wrestler came out back over Christmas, but I only just got a chance to see it this past weekend. This is your basic Hollywood tale of redemption that has been done a million times over. You know exactly where the film is heading from the opening minutes but you just don’t care. Mainly because Mikey Rourke is so compelling that you just enjoy the ride to destinations known.
Rourke is pitch perfect as Randy “The Ram” Robinson. And while his looks are too battered at this point to be a leading man, hopefully this does relaunch the career of a great actor. And if a wrestling movie featuring a great performance by Rourke isn’t enough to wet your appetite to see this, then perhaps knowing Marissa Tomei is topless (more often than clothed) in the film will.
I know most anyone my age at some point was a huge fan of wrestling. Even if that infatuation never went beyond childhood. I’m sure you can still fondly recall memories of matches and wrestlers of a bygone era that still bring a smile and excitement to your face. The marketing machine that was the WWF did a good job of sucking everyone in, if just for a little while. More and more over the past decade we’re seeing the toll this “fake” sport has taken on it’s athletes who weren’t battering their bodies for a trophy, but simply to entertain us. Hopefully this movie at the very least not only provides 90 minutes of entertaining storytelling, but sparks some appreciation to some of the lengths these men went to in ensuring everyone got their money’s worth from these scripted bouts.
- My Pal the Crook
January 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I just watched it last night aswell. I’ve been a HUGE wrestling head since my first memories and I enjoyed that it showed the whole indy scene and things I know a lot of the workers really go through and struggle with. I’m kinda dissapointed the movie never really struck the “tear up” emotion, but still a good flick. Plus, it’s got Necro Butcher doing deathmatch spots with Rourke in major motion picture, which is AMAZING to me haha. Performances are great, I recommend it…
January 8th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
yeah that deathmatch scene was ridiculous. to me the movie was great, that character was so well played it was genuinely fun to watch a guy serve people potato salad and cold cuts.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The only part I didn’t like was the scene where he spouts corny dialogue at his daughter by the Jersey shore. Otherwise perfect movie.
Also, this is the most physically excruciating movie I’ve seen. The most important aspect of the movie for me was how much it makes you feel the pain that Randy puts himself through, especially the heart pain at the end.
I liked that he drove a Dodge Ram but it was never commented on by any of the characters.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
The old school NES, daughters gift scene, and the all around soundtrack were all a nice touch to show him being out of touch with todays world. Rourke gets major props for blading his forehead for real…
January 15th, 2009 at 6:09 am
I knew so many of the people in this movie.