the wrestler

con Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei
Altri interpreti: Evan Rachel Wood, Judah Friedlander

30/lode

A pleasant surprise after a festival of ever so slightly mediocre films. Of films that attempt to put across an interesting point about something important but miss one crucial element of cinema; entertainment.

Darren Aronofsky’s superb film The Wrestler at once deals with various issues of age and success in an industry that relies on youth and supreme physical well being. It is the emotional and brutally honest portrayal of a washed up former wrestling star who has to come to terms with his own mortality and the beginning of the process of old age and bad health and his slow realization of the clock ticking. It is an uncomfortable tale that unfolds and ends with a self sacrifice. The refusal to let life and old age define your last moments of existence, to stay proud and exit with a bang, so to speak.
The film also shows a deeply interesting insight into the character and personality of men who choose to wrestle for a living, the respect they have for each other as professionals. Their standards of professionalism and showmanship, the deep bond and affection they have for each other and also most interestingly, their vulnerability and desire for acceptance. They have no respect in the real world where after retirement Randy “the Ram” Robinson is forced to take a job in a supermarket and is mocked by his colleagues but in the ring they are heroes and loved by all.
Contrary to the affection showed by his fellow wrestlers “the Ram” is still very much alone in the world, and Mickey Rourke portrays a wonderful picture of the retired wrestler, with Rourke’s life quite similar in parts. His is still incredibly physically imposing at 57, with a face that speaks of much battering and alteration. The camera is rarely off him throughout and with such an emotion wrenching performance I didn’t want it to be.
He manages to express so perfectly the life of this man who has lived his life to the full, a life that has been dominated by pain and adoration from his fans, big contrasting things yet so closely associated to one another, and also his devotion to his passion yet the sacrifices he has made and the unfortunate position he has ended up in.

04:09:2008