TOTALLY off the subject, but I have to write about this…

I have seen the Wrestler twice now. The first time was about 2 weeks before the Golden Globe Awards, so those of you that think I subscribe to every award winner, BITE ME!!

This is one of the rare movies to come out in recent years that transcends its time. Though it is set today with nods to the 1980s, the time period is not as crucial to the story.  This is a character piece. A study of the rise and fall of a hero. A glimpse into the psyche of an aging star trying to hang onto a life that no longer has room in the spotlight.

The film centers on Randy “The Ram” Robinson, played by Mickey Rourke. Robinson is an aging wrestling legend hanging onto a very thin thread. His stardom has waned from the days of playing “The Garden”, His daughter is estranged to the point of hatred, he tries to make ends meet with a stock boy job at a local supermarket, he has a drug addiction, and to top it off, the stripper (Marissa Tomei) that he frequents charges him full price for lap dances.

Robinson’s life is totally out of control. The depressing thing is that he knows it is. He knows that he has welcomed the life he now leads by chasing the dream of cheers and applause. His “all costs” attitude has cost him his life and relationships and he sets out to right some of those wrongs.

The problem is that he chases redemption less fervently than he chases the accolades. His attempts come across noble, but the years of abuse of himself and his relationships have rendered him unable to reconcile with others, or to himself. His journey to redemption is eloquently depicted by Rourke who, himself, has mirrored some of Robinson’s pitfalls along his chosen career path.

The acting is phenomenal by both lead actors and the directing by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) is nothing short of gripping. The film is shot in , somewhat, documentary style, giving the film a slap of realism that seems to not exist in today’s Hollywood.

There are some adult situations in this film and should be viewed by only adults. Some graphic violent images as well as situations normally associated with drug use and strippers are present.

The Wrestler is one of those films that comes along and really hits you. The characters are endearing and all expose shortcomings in each of us that holds our attention while, seemingly,  chiding us for our own selfishness.

In the end Robinson is searching for justification of his existence through the eyes of others…

Art imitates reality?

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