The glare of the spotlight has long since faded, the money has gone, and suddenly you’re past your prime; this is the gloomy life of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a self-confessed “broken down piece of meat”.
This gritty drama centres around the life of a retired professional wrestler who is no longer the big star he once was. Plagued with old and new injuries, a sense of failure, and plenty of regrets we watch as he tries to eke out a living at small-time wrestling shows held in front of a few crazy diehard fans in high school gyms and community centres for just a few bucks.
However, it’s not enough to pay the bills so he begrudgingly works part-time at a grocery store under the supervision of the most annoying and nastiest little man alive. While he is trying not to hit his boss, Randy (Rourke ) also tries to come to terms with his health problems and the desire to be reconciled with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood ).
He struggles with the possibility of life without wrestling and attempts to fill the void by kindling a relationship with a stripper (Marisa Tomei ) who is herself in search of a better life. However, home is where the heart is and Randy’s home is the ring.
Director Darren Aronofsky has done a great job at portraying this broken down wrestler, keeping it simple by filming in a sort of documentary style. Even the gloomy colours and surroundings of the trailer park, the community halls, and a strip joint lends itself to Randy’s sense of being left on the garbage heap. The audience really gets to know the person behind the bulging muscles, horrible bleached hair, and the spandex. We feel for him, and most importantly want him to do well. It’s quite evident that Rourke’s own background in boxing has certainly aided him in pulling off one of the best ‘come-back’ performances since John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
Well, God loves a trier and it has finally paid off for Rourke. He won an award for best performance by an actor in a drama at this year’s Golden Globes Awards. The Wrestler also received an award for best original song. At first, it is difficult to watch Rourke due to his very odd facial features (looking a little tucked and pulled in all the wrong places ) but you do get into it as his performance is nothing short of brilliant; it’s nothing flashy but it is believable.
Verdict: 5/5
