Darren Aronofsky is taking on The Wrestler

[[A]]

^ bah.

 

[K.B.]

Anyone got fave. quotes?

This one had me..

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: I'm an old broken down piece of meat and I deserve to be all alone, I just don't want you to hate me.

 

[nite-owl]

I loved Ram's speech at the end it felt like an actual wrestling promo.

 

[dark_b]

the speech at the end was amazing.

''this is where i belong''

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

Wow. Its a roller coaster.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it per sé. But it was a brilliant film.

The acting, editing and cinematography was top notch. I particularly liked the 3rd person behind Randy camera angle.

The parallels and comparisons between him walking up to his boss asking for more time and him strutting round the ring like a champion around the ring were accentuated tenfold using that technique.

The ending was superb, the only way for it to end well IMO.

Also, a humerous gut punch for me was his trailer with the old NES. Wow that felt delapidated. Then the kid followed it up with COD4! Gotta feel for The Ram there.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The Review I wrote for the site in my sig.

SPOILER WARNING!

Ive been a fan of the business for nearly 20 years, Ive seen both the boom periods of "Rock & Wrestling" and "The Attitude Era", Ive laughed, Ive cheered, Ive rolled my eyes, Ive gotten annoyed over the booking, but Ive never stopped watching.

Darren Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler' is the first movie ever to pay any respect to the men that work in the bizarre world of professional wrestling, a business that seems to consume the men that work in it and creates an emotional bond with it's fans like few other.

Mickey Rourke is Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, a famous wrestler of the 80's that now lives in a trailer when he can afford to, at other times he lives in his broken down van, he works at a Deli for a man that looks down on him but keeps his weekends free so he can still wrestle on cards at little independent shows, a far cry from his heyday but he still needs it in any form.

The opening credits are fantastic, a bunch of old wrestling magazines litter the screen with covers of the Ram in his prime, then it cuts to the locker room and the Ram sitting hunched over on a chair, his back to the camera, breathing hard, this image epitomizes Randy, it single handedly tells you who he is, once he steps back through the curtain he is alone and damaged goods.

The hook if you will is a rematch fight with his old 80's nemesis The Ayatollah 20 years on from their last classic bout, in reality The Ayatollah is a guy named Bob who runs a used car lot now.

The way Aronofsky depicts the realities of the wrestling business will be a real eye opener for many, the locker room comradere, especially on the indie circuit is brought to the screen as we see the guys talk over their match plans and the respect the younger wrestlers have for Randy.

The first half hour sets up who Randy is, how he lives and what the business is he loves and lives for, and introduces the object of his affection Cassidy, a stripper he likes to go and see when he has some money.

the turning point is a brutal hardcore match he has with a wrestler fans of the CZW promotion will know as "Necro Butcher". The way Aronofsky shoots this is amazing, he actually starts at the end of the fight as both men, bloody and battered, return to the locker room, no tomato ketchup, no make up bruising, the real thing, it then cuts between the medic patching both men up and the spots in the match where these injuries take place, showing yes, the business is predetermined, but the pain is very often real. It is after this grueling match that Randy has a heart attack and is told he can never wrestle again, and he must cancel all the dates he has booked,

In this scene we see the doctor refer to him by his real name of Robin and he politely asks the doctor to call him Randy, this is a recurring theme that displays the idea that many wrestlers would rather be the guy they are when they step through the curtain than who they are in reality, and that for many of them, they have spent so long as their wrestling persona, they are now more that guy than themselves.

This is where the Ram starts to evaluate his life and the movie comes into it's own, his relationship with Cassidy becomes a focus as he tries to find something positive in his life, he also attempts to reconnect with his daughter with mixed results. The scenes Rourke shares with his two leading ladies are a mix of warm, funny and painful, his difficulty in communicating with them is evident, yet his likability means they give him a chance, although Cassidy is wary of getting too close, she has a son and dreams of getting out of being a stripper as the years are ticking for her as well, and at over 40 the tips are drying up, this is a little more difficult to buy as while Rourke looks every inch the "Broken down piece of meat", Tomei looks fantastic for her 44 years.

I could go through all the scenes I loved but I'd rather not rob those that haven't seen it of experiencing them for the first time. Rourke's magnificent performance as The Ram is as good as anyone has ever been in a leading role, he feels 100% authentic and the performance is as raw as any I have seen, it's not surprising that wrestlers have said he literally became "one of the boys".

The film is Rourke's no doubt but Darren Aronofsky deserves a lot of credit, he researched the business to make it as true to life as he could, his choice to shoot the moving scenes from a POV angle was a brilliant one, you feel as if you are in the Ram's shoes at points, but he never overplays that or any card in his execution, he gives the film a harsh but touching look, he pulls no punches but doesn't wallow in misery, he shows the other side of the business and the men that work in it, he shows the excitement, the respect and the humour, he also shows the gentle side of The Ram in many scenes, including a nice one where he plays an old Nintendo game with one of the kids from the trailer park.

Inevitably the happy ending is not on the cards, this is not Rocky, he doesn't win the day and walk off with the girl, his attempt to be a regular every day person is something he can't maintain, he can't be Robin he has to be Randy The Ram! and so he decides to take up the rematch with The Ayatollah despite being offered a last chance at redemption from Cassidy, as he says to her before he goes out to the ring "Out there is the only place I don't get hurt".

The final shot is beautiful and mixes both a sadness and joy, as Aronofsky frames a stunning shot of Randy, who is struggling with chest pains, standing on the top rope with the fans cheering in the background, he looks up at the balcony curtain where Cassidy was standing and she is gone, but the crowd cheer and Randy leaps off....

The Wrestler is a brilliantly made, well written and superbly acted drama that just happens to also be about professional wrestling, and is the best film of 2008 in my book.

10/10

 

[WeaponXProject]

I loved this movie. Very sad but true about 'has been' athletes. In the end they have to choose their passion or the people who love them.

Favorite scene is when Mickey is taking on the Deli slicer job and in the background you hear the sound of a crowd roaring until he steps up to the deli counter. Sad.



ROURKE RULES!

 

[Cinemaman]

Well written, hunter

 

[Showtime]

The Review I wrote for the site in my sig.

Ive been a fan of the business for nearly 20 years, Ive seen both the boom periods of "Rock & Wrestling" and "The Attitude Era", Ive laughed, Ive cheered, Ive rolled my eyes, Ive gotten annoyed over the booking, but Ive never stopped watching.

Darren Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler' is the first movie ever to pay any respect to the men that work in the bizarre world of professional wrestling, a business that seems to consume the men that work in it and creates an emotional bond with it's fans like few other.

Mickey Rourke is Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, a famous wrestler of the 80's that now lives in a trailer when he can afford to, at other times he lives in his broken down van, he works at a Deli for a man that looks down on him but keeps his weekends free so he can still wrestle on cards at little independent shows, a far cry from his heyday but he still needs it in any form.

The opening credits are fantastic, a bunch of old wrestling magazines litter the screen with covers of the Ram in his prime, then it cuts to the locker room and the Ram sitting hunched over on a chair, his back to the camera, breathing hard, this image epitomizes Randy, it single handedly tells you who he is, once he steps back through the curtain he is alone and damaged goods.

The hook if you will is a rematch fight with his old 80's nemesis The Ayatollah 20 years on from their last classic bout, in reality The Ayatollah is a guy named Bob who runs a used car lot now.

The way Aronofsky depicts the realities of the wrestling business will be a real eye opener for many, the locker room comradere, especially on the indie circuit is brought to the screen as we see the guys talk over their match plans and the respect the younger wrestlers have for Randy.

The first half hour sets up who Randy is, how he lives and what the business is he loves and lives for, and introduces the object of his affection Cassidy, a stripper he likes to go and see when he has some money.

the turning point is a brutal hardcore match he has with a wrestler fans of the CZW promotion will know as "Necro Butcher". The way Aronofsky shoots this is amazing, he actually starts at the end of the fight as both men, bloody and battered, return to the locker room, no tomato ketchup, no make up bruising, the real thing, it then cuts between the medic patching both men up and the spots in the match where these injuries take place, showing yes, the business is predetermined, but the pain is very often real. It is after this grueling match that Randy has a heart attack and is told he can never wrestle again, and he must cancel all the dates he has booked,

In this scene we see the doctor refer to him by his real name of Robin and he politely asks the doctor to call him Randy, this is a recurring theme that displays the idea that many wrestlers would rather be the guy they are when they step through the curtain than who they are in reality, and that for many of them, they have spent so long as their wrestling persona, they are now more that guy than themselves.

This is where the Ram starts to evaluate his life and the movie comes into it's own, his relationship with Cassidy becomes a focus as he tries to find something positive in his life, he also attempts to reconnect with his daughter with mixed results. The scenes Rourke shares with his two leading ladies are a mix of warm, funny and painful, his difficulty in communicating with them is evident, yet his likability means they give him a chance, although Cassidy is wary of getting too close, she has a son and dreams of getting out of being a stripper as the years are ticking for her as well, and at over 40 the tips are drying up, this is a little more difficult to buy as while Rourke looks every inch the "Broken down piece of meat", Tomei looks fantastic for her 44 years.

I could go through all the scenes I loved but I'd rather not rob those that haven't seen it of experiencing them for the first time. Rourke's magnificent performance as The Ram is as good as anyone has ever been in a leading role, he feels 100% authentic and the performance is as raw as any I have seen, it's not surprising that wrestlers have said he literally became "one of the boys".

The film is Rourke's no doubt but Darren Aronofsky deserves a lot of credit, he researched the business to make it as true to life as he could, his choice to shoot the moving scenes from a POV angle was a brilliant one, you feel as if you are in the Ram's shoes at points, but he never overplays that or any card in his execution, he gives the film a harsh but touching look, he pulls no punches but doesn't wallow in misery, he shows the other side of the business and the men that work in it, he shows the excitement, the respect and the humour, he also shows the gentle side of The Ram in many scenes, including a nice one where he plays an old Nintendo game with one of the kids from the trailer park.

Inevitably the happy ending is not on the cards, this is not Rocky, he doesn't win the day and walk off with the girl, his attempt to be a regular every day person is something he can't maintain, he can't be Robin he has to be Randy The Ram! and so he decides to take up the rematch with The Ayatollah despite being offered a last chance at redemption from Cassidy, as he says to her before he goes out to the ring "Out there is the only place I don't get hurt".

The final shot is beautiful and mixes both a sadness and joy, as Aronofsky frames a stunning shot of Randy, who is struggling with chest pains, standing on the top rope with the fans cheering in the background, he looks up at the balcony curtain where Cassidy was standing and she is gone, but the crowd cheer and Randy leaps off....

The Wrestler is a brilliantly made, well written and superbly acted drama that just happens to also be about professional wrestling, and is the best film of 2008 in my book.

10/10

Well written, hunter

I agree. Great article Hunter.

How are you Cin?

 

[Cinemaman]

I agree. Great article Hunter.

How are you Cin?

Thanks for asking, I am right now writing a manuscript, which will later be altered into a book.

What about you?

 

[Showtime]

Not bad, running ThinkMcflyThink, working my "day job", and writing as always.

 

[Cinemaman]

Not bad, running ThinkMcflyThink, working my "day job", and writing as always.

The web site looks great. Have there been any successful accomplishments in your writing career?

Oh, forgot to mention, I also registered my screenplay with WGAW Registry (I am now waiting for the confirmation document) and sent it to the university.

 

[Dr Strange]

A Completely brilliant film. Rourke's performance was excellent, what i admired most about the film was the grainy, documentry approach to the filming.

I highly recommend this film.

9/10

 

[The Shape]

Loved this movie, though I think it has been elevated to "overrated" status due to Rourke's performance. Does it deserve a Best Picture nomination? No, but it's a great film that hits you hard right where it hurts.

Mickey Rourke is just so good and so sad in this movie. Because the film is basically shot with a handy-cam for most of the time, following Randy around as he goes through the motions, I felt for him deeply. I found myself reacting to his actions as I would if they had happened to me, which is a real testament to Rourke's ability. He's so likeable, yet so lost.

Unlike Hunter, however, I feel Aronofsky overused the POV shots a bit that follow the Ram, and there are some other questionable and boring shots as well. I think this film had the potential to be much more visually interesting, but Aronofsky chose to keep it as simple and gritty as possible, which can often be a plus but fell flat at some points during the film. I also have mixed feelings about the Soprano-esque ending, which is an effect that I feel has also been overused lately, though it was rather fitting in The Wrestler.

My biggest gripe is the Springsteen's song was just thrown onto the end credits. It could have been used with great effect anywhere in the film!

Overall, I did enjoy this film immensely. Although the plot progression was somewhat limited, it was a marvel to watch Rourke take on this role.

 

[The Shape]

And Hunter, maybe you should give a spoiler warning of some sort because your article describes many pivotal points in the film.

 

[Dark Donnie]

I figured that POV shots were used to give the sense of a documentary, which I think served the film greatly.

 

[Hunter Rider]

And Hunter, maybe you should give a spoiler warning of some sort because your article describes many pivotal points in the film.

Good point man, I should have done that earlier, I forget sometimes b/c we get the movies quite a while after the US so my reviews are often after the fact.

Btw rather than debate your review as I think we both made our points clear on the film, I am curious, what would be your 5 best picture nominations ?

 

[Hunter Rider]

I figured that POV shots were used to give the sense of a documentary, which I think served the film greatly.

Especially the juxtaposition between the deli entrance and his ring entrance, I thin the idea was it was a character study and they were used at key points when we see how Randy lived.

 

[The Shape]

Good point man, I should have done that earlier, I forget sometimes b/c we get the movies quite a while after the US so my reviews are often after the fact.

Btw rather than debate your review as I think we both made our points clear on the film, I am curious, what would be your 5 best picture nominations ?

You know, I take back what I said. The Wrestler does deserve a nomination because it is just as compelling as any film nominated.

I'd take The Wrestler over Bejamin Button and The Dark Knight over The Reader.

 

[The Shape]

I figured that POV shots were used to give the sense of a documentary, which I think served the film greatly.

My favorite shot in the film is actually the POV shot following him through the deli, his "entrance". But there are other shots that can give a sense of documentary. I think he had a few too many POV shots from behind throughout the film, and I found myself thinking, "I wish I could see his face right now."

 

[War Party]

Don't have time to write a review, but I'll try to at some point. I just want to say this was such an emotional ride and I loved every minute of it. There was such great direction, fantastic acting, and great cinematography. I just loved the camera work. This is definitely my favorite film from 2008. The Ram broke my heart in this film and I haven't been so invested in a character in a movie in some time. And one added note. It was cool seeing some of my friends at the matched in the film. Ok, I'm off to finishing up my horror film script. Looking forward to showing it to people from the Hype. Well the film, not the scrip itself.

 

[War Party]

And that was a great read Hunter Rider. Love reading your stuff.

 

[Hunter Rider]

You know, I take back what I said. The Wrestler does deserve a nomination because it is just as compelling as any film nominated.

I'd take The Wrestler over Bejamin Button and The Dark Knight over The Reader.

I haven't seen Frost/Nixon or Button yet but until I can judge them, TDK and The Wrestler would both be in my 5 nominations.

And that was a great read Hunter Rider. Love reading your stuff.

Thanks.

 

[The Guard]

Saw this tonight. It's definitely a good movie. I don't know exactly how to feel about it. I'm not sure it's Best Picture material. Mickey Rourke is indeed fantastic as Randy, and it's impressive to see how far he went for this role. It's heartbreaking to watch him try to make friends with children over NES games, and to see how the world has moved on. His relationship with his daughter was handled, I thought, in a somewhat uneven manner. Evan Rachel Wood is generally good, but somewhat over the top when she gets angry at him, and the dialogue they've given her belongs on LIFETIME. There's almost no buildup to her explosions, which robs them of some of their immediacy. Marisa Tomei's character is ok, but really only serves to reinforce to Randy that he belongs in the ring, doing what he loves. I liked a lot of the humorous elements, like Randy's manager, and the "fireman" girl, and I did really enjoy his attempts to work a 9-5 job at the deli, to try to fit into an environment he is alien to. The main message of the movie is mixed, but interesting enough, and the wrestling itself was well done, with little insights into what actually goes on in the ring and behind the scenes. The end of the film is fantastic, as he gives his all and then some in the most important match of his life. Aronofsky's directing, as always, is superb, with some really nice camera work. I did think that the film could have used a better soundtrack and score, though.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I thought the scenes with Rourke and Wood were very realistic b/c Ive lived them to a degree, and we are made well aware the Randy was never there for her and when he shows up it's clear she hasn't seen him in years, so she goes off on him, same after he drops her in.