Before you set foot into the theatre to watch this gut-wrenching, tear jerking, face grimacing tale of former pro wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) still chasing the dream way after his physical prime. You may want to prepare yourself. I'm not talking about buying a large popcorn and sour patch kids. I'm talking about discarding any sharp objects or other devices that you may be able to harm your body with. Don't get me wrong, you're not going to want to kill yourself because it's a horrible movie, far from it. But there is only so much sadness one person can see another person go through before opening a vein. The story follows Randy Robinson, lovingly called "Ram" by his friends and adoring fans who is a washed up wrestler from the 80s. Living in the past and still subjecting his body to pain and abuse for very little compensation. You see all of the aspects of his existence including the trailer he lives in, his tanning and work out rituals, and the strip club he frequents to talk to Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) whom he throws money at just to have a friendly chat. He also has a daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) whom has major abandonment issues brought on by the non-fathering of The Ram. Midway into the movie, you see him starting to get everything back to where it's supposed to be with his career, his relationship with his daughter, and sparking the interest of his topless muse Cassidy. To see these things fall apart is in the same spirit of shouting for a slasher film damsel in distress not to go up stairs or have pre-marital sex. Darren Aronofsky's ninja documentary style of shooting the move was the right tone to set. With many shots seeming like we're walking right behind The Ram through all of the difficult chapters of his life. Story-wise, The Wrestler is quite good, but nothing extraordinary. There are plenty of movies that have come and gone about the same down and out loser trying to make something better for himself. The difference between all of those movies and The Wrestler, is the stand-out performance of Mickey Rourke. When you really think about it, who else is more experienced to take on this character? Mickey Rourke's acting career has been declared dead for almost 2 decades. Yet here he is, fighting for the spot he so rightly deserves. I mean was there anything redeeming about "Sin City" once you took away Rourke's performance as Marv the menacing brute with a heart of gold? I don't think there was. I'll admit it's not fair because Rourke has a leg up on the rest of his Oscar competition. Richard Jenkins never found illegal immigrants living in his house. Sean Penn was not California's first openly gay elected official. Brad Pitt does not age backwards (or at all for that matter). And I hope to God Frank Langella is not really Richard Nixon. But Mickey Rourke was and is Randy "The Ram". Not by name, but by spirit. Even with that said, it is my belief that this Oscar is property of Rourke and no one else. I'll be rooting for Rourke to win, and if he does, it will mark one of the greatest career comebacks ever. Although in my opinion, as far as his acting goes, he never left.
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