First Hit: Mickey Rourke is phenomenal as Randy “The Ram” Robinson an over the hill aging wrestler doing the only thing he knows how to do.
I was mesmerized by this film from the very opening scenes.
The film is shot with a roughness and edge that complements and accentuates the characters in the film.
This is a story about people we may have watched in person or seen on TV. We always knew the wrestling matches were choreographed but this never meant that these men didn’t suffer in pain from their efforts in the ring.
This film shows this suffering, the underside of their body abuse, and the deep comradely among the men who actually fight and promote the event. Randy was once the top wrestler and with age he has slipped little by little into the forgotten world of has-beens who fight in front of small, but adoring, crowds.
There is one scene where he and some other once famous wrestlers are at a autograph signing and mostly they just sit there in silence in an empty room while a hand full of fans come through and get a “polaroid” picture and autograph. It is such a telling scene of how time has passed them by.
The Ram visits an aging lap dancer named Cassidy (played by Marisa Tomei) for dances and conversation. Like him she is caught up on her own world and struggles and trying to find her own way out of her life. Both of them have children and Ram has a couple of very powerful and revealing scenes with his daughter Stephanie (played convincingly by Evan Rachel Wood).
Other scenes that round out the character are when the neighborhood kids wake him up, from sleeping overnight in his van, so that they can wrestle with him.
And a scene where he reluctantly works behind a deli counter but slowly gets into the people he is serving and this beautiful fun kind spirit jumps out of him and you, as you watch this scene.
Rourke is so good in this film that he easily gives the best performance by an actor in 2008 – no question. He will probably get a nomination for an Oscar but his reputation may keep him from receiving it. Tomei is incredibly strong and also deserves a Oscar nomination. Her performance shows a depth and strength that is very compelling and out shines her mostly partially nude scenes. Darren Aronofsky directed this film with a clear vision and gives us a slice of life we rarely see.
Overall: Easily one of the 3 best films of the year. This is a must see film whether you like wrestling or not because it is a deeply inspired, well acted and moving slice of life.