Darren Aronofsky is taking on The Wrestler

[Cinemaman]

Where was I or anyone stopping him having his opinion ? he's presenting it in a way I find obnoxious and I am letting him know, which is my right.

Alright, I see that. But don't we also have the right to ignore people and their posts that distract us?

 

[Hunter Rider]

Alright, I see that. But don't we also have the right to ignore people and their posts that distract us?

Yes and I mostly do ignore The Guard, on this occasion I just felt compelled to speak up, he is very welcome to ignore me if he so wishes.

 

[Cinemaman]

Got that.

Anyway, lets move on to the movie.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Well, I haven't seen the film yet, but I think The Guard has his right to express his opinion about the film and everything what's related to it, so I think we should leave him with that.

Whether it's positive or negative, it's still his opinion.

I'm not saying he doesn't. He just said that people don't meltdown like that, and that is what I was responding to.

 

[The Guard]

For the second time, I do not believe that I said that. Can you show me where I said that? Allow me to repeat myself.

Here's the main point, though. It isn't about my experiences, or what's "real". What's real is different for everyone.

 

[Spider-Fan]

For the second time, I do not believe that I said that. Can you show me where I said that? Allow me to repeat myself.

Here's the main point, though. It isn't about my experiences, or what's "real". What's real is different for everyone.

I went back and reread the comments, and that is how it read the first time to me. After rereading them, I see you feel they have no build up. I don't think seeing what happened with them via flashback adds anything. The story and scenes are fine without flashbacks, and showing flashbacks in that manner just to explain something is using the flashback as a crutch, not a device. Flashbacks are a cheap way out, and only used by people who have no idea how to work the past in with either dialogue or subtle reactions that express something is there. The Wrestler had Wood react in a manner that suggested there was bad blood and briefly commented on this. Anything more is just cheap and unneccessary.

 

[Cinemaman]

I went back and reread the comments, and that is how it read the first time to me. After rereading them, I see you feel they have no build up. I don't think seeing what happened with them via flashback adds anything. The story and scenes are fine without flashbacks, and showing flashbacks in that manner just to explain something is using the flashback as a crutch, not a device. Flashbacks are a cheap way out, and only used by people who have no idea how to work the past in with either dialogue or subtle reactions that express something is there. The Wrestler had Wood react in a manner that suggested there was bad blood and briefly commented on this. Anything more is just cheap and unneccessary.

Totdally agreed, but sometimes they are a very important part to the story, especially if it deals with chronology (Memento, Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind)

 

[Spider-Fan]

Totdally agreed, but sometimes they are a very important part to the story, especially if it deals with chronology (Memento, Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind)

Those films use flashbacks as a device though. When used as a device, flashbacks can be great. However, The Wrestler is an example where flashbacks would only serve to be a crutch. Not a device or part of a style.

 

[Cinemaman]

Those films use flashbacks as a device though. When used as a device, flashbacks can be great. However, The Wrestler is an example where flashbacks would only serve to be a crutch. Not a device or part of a style.

Were there some of them in the film?

 

[Spider-Fan]

Were there some of them in the film?

I don't recall the movie having any flashbacks. I remember seeing the articles at the beginning describing how popular he was, and then the film following Randy years later. I don't remember it having any flashbacks, and Aronofsky I think was right in doing that. This is not like The Fountain where the flashbacks serve a grander purpose. This is a slice of life film chronicling a man going through a low point in his life. No flashbacks needed.

 

[The Guard]

I went back and reread the comments, and that is how it read the first time to me. After rereading them, I see you feel they have no build up. I don't think seeing what happened with them via flashback adds anything. The story and scenes are fine without flashbacks, and showing flashbacks in that manner just to explain something is using the flashback as a crutch, not a device. Flashbacks are a cheap way out, and only used by people who have no idea how to work the past in with either dialogue or subtle reactions that express something is there. The Wrestler had Wood react in a manner that suggested there was bad blood and briefly commented on this. Anything more is just cheap and unneccessary.

I'm not asking for flashbacks. I'm asking for a scene that builds emotion that is believable. So that when the intense emotion comes, it doesn't feel like "Actor X is turning on the angry/paranoid stuff because that's what the script says they're supposed to do". It's really down to pacing and structure of the scene more than anything else.

I mean, can you imagine if one of those "My family member molested me" movies played out like this?

Father sees daughter coming down sidewalk.

FATHER: Hey, I know it's been a long time-

DAUGHTER: WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT WITH ME NOW? YOU MOLESTED ME! YOU *******! I HATE YOU!

The use of flashbacks isn't always cheap. They're a filmmaking technique, like anything else. Overuse of them is generally a bad idea, but many filmmakers use them to fantastic effect.

 

[Lobo]

I saw this today, and i loved it. Hunter's review on TMT says it all better than I could. But as a fan of the business since 1984, and having watched countless shoots, and documentaries like Beyond the Mat, a part of me felt like, I've seen this before. Rourke was phenomenal.

 

[[A]]

what's TMT?

 

[Lobo]

www.thinkmcflythink.com

 

[Black_Board]

So what do you guys think?

You think this is better than Slumdug Millionaire? Or are they both the same?

 

[[A]]

^ what my cat brought to my room yesterday is better than Memoirs of a Slumdog

 

[Black_Board]

Oh, I get it now.

 

[K.B.]

I guess if her character is basically just a psycho hosebeast, yes, that's realistic. But it just rang false for me for her to go RIGHT into that mindset. There'd be far more impact if we saw who she REALLY was first, and saw how much she was hiding her anger, but we don't get that. She just MELTS DOWN the second he shows up. By far, the weak point of the film's structure and writing.

And that's another point. Their father/daughter "issues" are thin, at best, and could have been written by a 12 year old. "You were never there! You don't know my birthday!" While these are real issues, they are not deep or particularly interesting ones. There is no real motivation beyond the basic "You weren't there for me, and I'm mad about it". Unless we're supposed to feel bad that she became a lesbian or something over it (which I don't). Hell, Jim Carrey's absent father in LIAR, LIAR had better development in that regard.

So how is it living in a fantasy land? Is Palin president there?

 

[Episode29]

So what do you guys think?

You think this is better than Slumdug Millionaire? Or are they both the same?

They're definitely close, but I'd probably give Slumdog the slight edge.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I've always wanted to see this film and I was disappointed that the theatre I am employed at didn't receive it, nor did the state receive the film at all either. I was very disappointed and my best chance at catching it is when it comes out on DVD or if we get it by some miracle.

As far as people saying that there is no build-up and that people don't melt down like that? Well, everyone is different and if you've followed wrestling you'd know that the story portrayed in the film is very, very real and wrestlers such as Lex Luger, Jake The Snake, and the Dynamite Kid are iving proof as to how real it is.

 

[danoyse]

I guess if her character is basically just a psycho hosebeast, yes, that's realistic. But it just rang false for me for her to go RIGHT into that mindset. There'd be far more impact if we saw who she REALLY was first, and saw how much she was hiding her anger, but we don't get that. She just MELTS DOWN the second he shows up. By far, the weak point of the film's structure and writing.

And that's another point. Their father/daughter "issues" are thin, at best, and could have been written by a 12 year old. "You were never there! You don't know my birthday!" While these are real issues, they are not deep or particularly interesting ones. There is no real motivation beyond the basic "You weren't there for me, and I'm mad about it". Unless we're supposed to feel bad that she became a lesbian or something over it (which I don't). Hell, Jim Carrey's absent father in LIAR, LIAR had better development in that regard.

But why did their issues need to be anything more elaborate than the fact that he just wasn't there for her? Not being there for a birthday may be "thin", but they're important to a daughter whose father never bothered to show up for one.

You spend a lifetime being disappointed by someone, you're more likely to blow up at them when they try to come back into your life rather than let them back in and be inevitably disappointed again.

It showed how important it was that he be there for that dinner, and how unforgivable it was when he missed it.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

So what do you guys think?

You think this is better than Slumdug Millionaire? Or are they both the same?

I prefered The Wrestler. I bummed it didn't get a best picture nod.

 

[DIRECTOR]

I just finished watching the Wrestler...........

Slumdog is better....

The Wrestler was ok, but it's not exactly a GREAT movie that everybody is saying it is.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I prefered The Wrestler. I bummed it didn't get a best picture nod.

Me too, it's the best movie of 2008 IMO., of the ones nominated I think Slumdog was probably the best.

 

[DIRECTOR]

I didn't cry when I watched the Wrestler............. was I suppose to?

When did you guys cry?