Performance by an actor in a leading role - Mickey Rourke
Performance by an actress in a supporting role - Marisa Tomei
Where?
Wandsworth, 8.15pm (Nandos again).
Comments?
The Wrestler suffers from too much hype. My expectations of this movie were pretty high, especially in regard to Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei's "comeback" roles. Not to say that the movie isn't any good or that their acting performances aren't top notch; they just don't live up to the hype.
Director Darren Aronofsky follows Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), usually from behind, as the once top billed wrestler (his hey day was 20 years ago) continues a fading career at smaller just-above-amateur contests where he is still respected. These early scenes are good for giving the audience a little bit of insight into what happens backstage, bringing humour to the fact that the whole show is staged and highlighting the importance of the wrestler's performance to the sport's success.
The Ram takes every chance he can get and he moves to bigger wrestling exhibitions that use broken bottles, chairs and a staple gun to bring in the crowds. He hasn't exactly stooped to an all time low, but he is not exactly living the high life. He has an estranged daughter, he has no partner, he has been evicted from his caravan, and he puts his body through the wringer in these sickening contests.
After one too many staple gun punches to the head, a health scare puts Randy on a course to put his life back on track. He finds a real job, he discovers love with an ageing stripper (Marisa Tomei) and he attempts reconciliation with his daughter. Ultimately, he steps back into the ring, a place where he knows he is something, he is someone, he is The Ram.
It's a sad tale that is often used in sporting movies. The body gives out, too many knocks to the head takes its toll and, in some instances, the sporting heroes are left with nothing, not even their dignity. The Wrestler takes this often used premise and gives it a different slant through an engaging film that just misses out on meeting expectations.
Oscar worthy?
Both Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei are very good in The Wrestler. Rourke, in particular, puts his heart and soul into his character and it is no doubt his best acting role. The sadness and inevitability of his demise, especially in the climatic final scene, is expressed with skill in The Ram's eyes. You can not help but feel sympathy and pity for the ageing wrestler, testimony to Rourke. Tomei is good too, putting on a brave performance as Pam, Randy's love interest, personifying the life that could've been.
As with the film itself, their performances are great and skillfully delivered, but my high expectations of their comeback roles raised the bar, putting it just out of reach of Oscar glory. That said, Rourke does deserve all his other awards; I just think that there is another out there who will take the golden boy home.
Rating?
7.5 out of 10
Post Movie Quote:
"Maybe it will win an Oscar; The Boss has written a song for it!"
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