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THE WRESTLER
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By Dianne Brooks
The Venice Film Festival, Golden Lion winning The Wrestler is a film
that cuts deep on so very many levels but probably, most significantly,
in it's portrayal of the aging dreamer, in all of us. Does
there come a time, it asks, to close the door on our dreams and move
on? And if so, where to then? In our aging boomer culture
there is currency in declaring "no", yet the consequences in this
instance are laid nakedly bare, thanks to a physically and emotionally
raw performance by the incomparable Mickey Rourke. He most
emphatically deserves the accolades he has received including a Golden
Globe nomination as well as the Oscar nod that is sure will follow.
Rourke plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a professional wrestling champ
whose heyday in the glorious 80s has long since passed. But
he clings to that identity despite the obvious toll it has taken on
him. It is every part of who he is from his carefully
bleached "hair band" hair, to his tanned skin, to his incredibly
maintained, lean and mean physique, helped along by various
pharmaceuticals. In the course of the story, we get a glimpse of the
choices Randy has made to keep this dream alive from his broken
relationship with his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) to his
poverty level circumstances, unable to pay the rent on his modest
trailer, for example. It's a spare and sad life but for the
small, adoring crowds in VFW halls and high school
gyms. Along the way, he meets a kindred spirit in
the form of aging stripper Cassidy played, with grace and some nice
pole work, by Marisa Tomei, also recently seen baring slightly less in
the superb Before the Devil Knows Your Dead.
From the very first shot, those of us who are approaching or beyond 40,
will recognize the pain and resignation in the aging face of
Rourke. The face, in fact, doesn't seem to match the taut
body, until we watch him wrapping his knees and downing pain
killers. I have been a fan of Rourke's since first seeing him
in Body Heat, then Diner, Angel Heart, Barfly and the notorious 91/2
weeks. I don't really know what happened, strange
behavior, boxing...and somewhere along the way he seems to have
physically transformed. By the time he reappeared in Sin
City, I didn't recognize him. But I keep searching for that
old Rourke which is exactly what this film highlights, reminding us of
our own moments of denial and recognition as we look in the mirror
every day.
Even though the big themes are heavy, director, Darren Aronofsky
injects a light touch that highlights the humor and absurdity of the
everyday. Randy's high maintenance routine includes a funny
encounter with his body building dealer who peddles everything from
steroids to heroin. When Randy attempts a "straight job" at a
deli counter, there is some brilliant ad-libbing with some real
supermarket patrons, including one who wants a couple of big (chicken)
breasts. There is the inevitable celebration of the glory
days of the 80s, both sad and funny as nostalgia often
is. There is also some levity the carefully
detailed and respectful portrayal of the world of local professional
wrestling.
The Wrestler is also one of those courageous thumb in the face of
Hollywood performances that calls attention to what is so damaging
about the kind of empty vanity that our popular culture thrives
on. The examples of the destructive force of fame is
ubiquitous, yet the pull is almost irresistible. Defying all
logic, too many aspire to sell themselves, at all costs, to the fickle
crowd. This is the very dilemma that Randy is caught in.
Mickey Rourke admits that was wary of taking the role, because it hit a
bit too close to home. But he did and we should be thankful
because it is a riveting portrayal of what happens when everyone and
everything ultimately betray us. As Sarah Palin,
Joe the Plumber, and countless other aspirants to the limelight
demonstrate, 15 minutes is never enough.
The Wrestler opens December 17, 2008
Directed by Darren Aronofsky; written by Robert Siegel; produced by
Scott Franlin; director of photography Maryse Alberti; edited by Andrew
Weisblum; music by Clint Mansell. Released by Fox
Searchlight. Running time:
With: Mickey Rourke (Randy "The Ram" Robinson); Marisa Tomei
(Cassidy/Pam); Evan Rachel Wood (Stephanie); Judah Friedlander (Scott
Brumberg) and Todd Barry (Wayne); Ernest "The Cat" Miller (The
Ayatollah); Ron "The Truth" Killings (himself); Smooth Tommy Suede
(himself); and Dylan Summers (Necro Butcher).
© Writemovies
2008
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