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The Wrestler

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80
Metascore
 36 reviews
8.2
User Score
 385 ratings

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Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Robert D. Siegel
Production: Saturn Films
Movie Details: Back in the late ‘80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty
Back in the late ‘80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. (Fox Searchlight)
Genre(s): Drama Sport
MPAA Rating: R
Production: Saturn Films
Runtime: 109 min
Countries: USA France
Language: English
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Robert D. Siegel
Starring:
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Critic Reviews
(36)
80
Metascore Generally favorable reviews
33 Positive Ratings 91%
3 Mixed Ratings 8%
0 Negative Ratings 0%
Based on 36 Critic Reviews View All
100
Entertainment Weekly
Owen Gleiberman
"The Wrestler is like "Rocky" made by the Scorsese of "Mean Streets." It's the rare movie fairy tale that's also a bravura work of art." ... Read full review
100
Boston Globe
Ty Burr
"The Wrestler is a character study, no more and no less, yet it's open-ended enough to function as many things." ... Read full review
90
The New Yorker
Anthony Lane
"What Rourke offers us, in short, is not just a comeback performance but something much rarer: a rounded, raddled portrait of a good man. Suddenly, there it is again--the charm, the anxious modesty, the never-distant hint of wrath, the teen-age smiles, and all the other virtues of a winner." ... Read full review
83
The A.V. Club
Noel Murray
"Mostly though, the movie feeds off Rourke, who plays a genuinely decent guy who never lets his dawning self-awareness interfere with his responsibility to give the fans a show." ... Read full review
80
Chicago Reader
J.R. Jones
"He looks like a truck ran over him, but at 52 he's still ripped enough to get away with the role; in the end the movie is about Rourke's indomitability more than the character's." ... Read full review
70
Salon
Stephanie Zacharek
"Whatever Aronofsky did -- or didn't -- do, Rourke's performance comes off beautifully. The Wrestler may not be the "best" Aronofsky movie in any technical sense. But the director clearly feels a great deal of tenderness toward his lead character." ... Read full review
50
Los Angeles Times
Kenneth Turan
"The Wrestler doesn't add up. It's constructed with great care around a lead performance that is everything it could possibly be, but the picture itself is off-putting and disappointing." ... Read full review
Critic Reviews
User Reviews
(98)
8.2
User Score Universal acclaim
339 Positive Ratings 88%
27 Mixed Ratings 7%
19 Negative Ratings 4%
Based on 385 Ratings and 98 Reviews View All
10
ChampL.
Dec 26, 2008
Great movie, even if you dont like wrestling. Kinda sad but the strippers make up for that.
10
StevenF
Jan 29, 2013
In what may as well have been a dramatised version of his life, Mickey Rourke puts in a career-defining (and comeback) performance as a warmIn what may as well have been a dramatised version of his life, Mickey Rourke puts in a career-defining (and comeback) performance as a warm hearted yet broken down and aged wrestler going by the alias of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, now working part-time in a supermarket deli counter. A particular moment, when Randy is walking from the warehouse to the store, is truly brilliant, Aronofsky attempts to recreate a wrestlers walk towards the entrance ramp, and thus Randy slowly makes his way there, with the chants and screams of fans in his hand, epic.
We see a wonderfully constructed opening montage of various magazine and paper covers and cutouts from the 80s showing the hey day of The Ram, all leading up to the present day.
Rourke has embraced the character will a full steam ahead attitude, flowing bleached blond hair, fake tan and a physique resembling that of an older and battle-heardened wrestler, the fitness is there, but the age shows.
Its a simple film redefining the message of forgiveness and redemption mixed into a excellent tale of drugs, sex and wrestling. Rourke brilliantly portrays his emotion through his famous skill of method acting (check out his clip from The Expendables) and through the masterful direction of Darren Aronofsky.
In this film, its the little thing that make the most difference to the story being told. Rourke wears a jacket in the film held together by duct tape, this already shows perhaps his financial difficulty, or his hesitation to move on from the past. While not quite as hostile as Jake 'the snake' Roberts, Rourkes character could have very well been based on him.
The dialogue is simple yet heartfelt, with an Oscar-worthy performance from Marisa Tomei, who is Randy's long time friend who has a full-time job as a stripper.
When Randy has a health scare after a match (and a brutal one at that), he begins, perhaps too little too late, about chaging his career for good
It simply falls into place, there may be some scenes hard to watch for many, there is humour in many aspects, but it is Rourke who has defined this movie as a standout masterpiece, beautiful filmmaking, wonderful acting but most importantly, a heart-wrenching story of despair, bravery, stupidity and love, see this as soon as possible.… Expand
10
The3AcademySins
Jun 7, 2016
The Wrestler is one of those rare, perfect films. It excels on every level of film making, and tells the haunting story of a man faced withThe Wrestler is one of those rare, perfect films. It excels on every level of film making, and tells the haunting story of a man faced with his own mortality, and the conflict between the world inside and outside of the ring. Mickey Rourke gives a career defining performance, and his costars are all equal to the task. The writing is breath taking, and the beautifully executed tracking shots completely put the audience in the emotional states of the characters. The Wrestler is a must-see movie.… Expand
9
AdamC
Jan 20, 2009
I thought that there was more backstory to be told, but they left it all out. Rourke was amazing, Tomei was nude, and Wood was under-utilized.
8
StaticSpine
Feb 14, 2014
Aronofsky-style movie about loneliness, despair, regrets and it is great, it's not that pressing as Requiem For A Dream but still it's prettyAronofsky-style movie about loneliness, despair, regrets and it is great, it's not that pressing as Requiem For A Dream but still it's pretty depressive as all other Aronofsky movies. It leaves you heavy hearted. Mickey Rourke made an outstanding performance.… Expand
8
jacksfilmblog.blogspot
Feb 3, 2009
You will have heard a lot in the media about his comeback role as Randy
0
luis
Dec 17, 2008
The wrestler is the most overrated film of the year.I think the film is bored and I don't like the Rourke's performance.I thinkThe wrestler is the most overrated film of the year.I think the film is bored and I don't like the Rourke's performance.I think Rouke's performance in The Wrestler is worst than Eastwood's performace in Gran torino,Josh Brolin's performance in Milk,Frank Langella's performance in Frost/Nixon , Richard Jenkins' performance in the visitor or Benicio del Toro's performance in Che.… Expand
User Reviews