'The Wrestler' review

Mickey Rourke (Credit: Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight)

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Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a pro wrestling superstar in the ‘80s—so big he was even a character in a Nintendo wrestling game—but now he can barely pay his rent. His life is a series of odd jobs, small scale wrestling gigs and visits to a local strip club where he prefers lap dances from struggling single mom Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, exposing herself body and soul). The upcoming 20th anniversary of one of his biggest matches gives Randy new hope to get his life back on track and he decides to reach out to the daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) he abandoned years earlier.

The buzz: This indie drama has been building strong word of mouth since it premiered at the Venice film festival in September and was quickly snapped up by Fox Searchlight for theatrical distribution. Director Darren Aronofsky (“Requiem for a Dream”) is following up the relatively high profile failure of his sci-fi romance “The Fountain” and Rourke is stepping into his first significant leading role in years. There’s been Oscar buzz aplenty and Rourke and Tomei have already scored Golden Globe nominations.

The verdict: Aronofsky does a complete 180 from the over-the-top approach of “The Fountain” and delivers an intimate character study that’s almost too small. Fortunately his focused storytelling and the actors’ flawless performances are nothing short of major achievements. Ram is the role Rourke was born to play, and the actor and character simply become one. Every inch of Rourke’s overly muscled body, smashed up face and soulful survivor’s spirit define who Ram is and how far he’s sunk from where he once was. Tomei and Wood are equally impressive, matching Rourke move for move in scenes that are alternately tender, funny and heartbreaking. The movie has its brutal moments, offset by sly humor (Cassidy asks if Ram has seen “The Passion of the Christ,” fitting for a man who makes a living suffering for audience entertainment) and boundless compassion.

Did you know? At one point Nicolas Cage was attached to play “Ram” so the film might have an easier time finding financing, but Aronofsky was so set on having Rourke in the lead role he asked Cage to bow out and the actor agreed.

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