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The Wrestler

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The Wrestler: A film to reflect on life's struggles@irenenavarroart471d
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  1. Film Review: The Wrestler (2008)@drax613d

    (source: tmdb.org)

    Mickey Rourke's journey through Hollywood is a compelling story of talent, turmoil, and eventual redemption. In the 1980s, he was heralded as one of the hottest stars, with a promising trajectory that seemed destined for greatness. However, a series of personal problems and questionable career choices led to his decline, transforming him into the quintessential "Has Been." It was only well past his prime that Rourke delivered what many consider his finest performance in The Wrestler (2008), a film that, paradoxically, may not be particularly loved by his long-time fans. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this sports drama encapsulates the essence of Rourke's own tumultuous life and career.

    Rourke portrays Robin Ramzinski, better known as Randy "the Ram" Robinson, a professional wrestler who once basked in the limelight of the 1980s but now finds himself wrestling sporadically in the semi-professional circuit of Northern New Jersey. Living in a trailer and struggling to pay rent, Ram's life is a stark contrast to his former glory. He attempts to make ends meet through various low-paying jobs while finding solace in visits to a local strip club. Here, he forms a connection with Cassidy (played by Marisa Tomei), an ageing stripper who mirrors his own decline. Cassidy encourages Ram to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Stephanie (played by Evan Rachel Wood), who harbours resentment towards him for abandoning their family. The plot thickens as Ram is invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a match against his legendary rival Bob "the Ayatollah" (played by Ernest Miller). However, just before this pivotal rematch, Ram suffers a heart attack and is advised by doctors to cease wrestling if he wishes to live.

    Rourke's embodiment of Randy "the Ram" is particularly poignant given the parallels between the actor's life and that of his character. Both experienced their peaks in the 1980s, both were athletes and faced significant declines thereafter. Rourke's commitment to the role was evident; he undertook rigorous physical preparation at 55 years of age while embracing an unflattering appearance that included fake blonde hair and an exaggerated physique influenced by steroids. This transformation not only highlighted his dedication but also served to underscore the character’s tragic arc.

    In many respects, Rourke’s portrayal can be seen as an anti-Rocky; rather than a triumphant comeback story, it depicts a man whose life is marked by failure both professionally and personally. While Rourke elicits sympathy for Ram, he also conveys an inevitable sense of doom regarding Ram’s attempts at redemption—whether through fatherhood or romantic involvement with Cassidy. The film suggests that despite his efforts, Ram's life is irreparably marred by past mistakes and physical tolls from years in the ring. Ultimately, he returns to wrestling, fully aware that this choice may cost him his life.

    The film's dark tone aligns with Aronofsky’s thematic preoccupations seen in works like Requiem for a Dream. The bleak resolution of subplot involving Stephanie adds layers of melodrama that some may find excessive. Aronofsky’s stylistic approach here veers towards cinema verité rather than the more poetic aesthetics of his earlier films.

    Moreover, the quasi-documentary style enhances audience immersion into the world of professional wrestling—a realm often dismissed as mere spectacle outside the United States. By featuring real-life wrestlers playing fictionalised versions of themselves, the film reveals a complex subculture where public rivalries mask genuine friendships. While wrestling matches are choreographed performances, they demand extensive physical preparation and carry substantial risks—elements that The Wrestler captures with authenticity.

    Despite its merits, The Wrestler also bears the hallmarks of an Oscar-bait film, crafted around Rourke’s powerful performance which garnered widespread acclaim and numerous nominations. However, it is essential to acknowledge that other performances within the film also contribute significantly to its impact.

    Marisa Tomei shines as Cassidy, delivering a nuanced portrayal of an ageing stripper who, unlike Ram, has learned harsh lessons from her own experiences. Tomei in many ways delivers performance more impressive and memorable than her comical Oscar-winning role in My Cousin Vinny. Her willingness to strip on screen, something quite rare for Hollywood actresses of her age and stature, is another commendable aspect of her role.

    Ultimately, The Wrestler stands as a significant cinematic achievement that briefly revitalised Rourke’s career—a bittersweet reminder of what could have been had circumstances been different. Although it brought Rourke a lot of well-deserved critics praise and Oscar nomination, many fans may would likely prefer to see him in more uplifting roles reminiscent of his earlier successes in the 1980s.

    RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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  2. Cine TV Contest: The Wrestler. Portrait of the defeated [ENG/ESP]@carminasalazarte690d

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    Hello to everyone in the CineTV community! Today I'm joining CineTV Contest #112, with the theme of this opportunity: Favourite Movie about Competitions. I had planned to talk about one of my great favourites that is handled under that theme, Million Dollar Baby, because it certainly meets all the characteristics. However, I talked about it another time. So I chose one of equal calibre and which is undoubtedly exceptional. Very moving. It is "The Wrestler" (2008) directed by Darren Aronofsky. And to mention this director is saying enough, knowing the imprint of his works full of sensitivity, rawness and social criticism. No doubt "The Wrestler" will not be a disappointment. Let's begin.

    Mickey Rourke stars as Robin Ramzinski, a professional wrestler who had a lot of fame, popularity and success during the 80's, but who lost everything because of his excesses with drugs, waste of money, women and a very bad character. The most brutal loss of all: his dignity. Living in the shadow of his past and his glory days, Robin supports himself by working as a clerk in a supermarket in Elizabeth (New Jersey), occasionally fights in minor events and regularly attends strip clubs. Everyone seems to notice that Randy (as he is known in the ring, "The Ram", for his iconic fall), has lost all lustre. However, this fact torments him and he tries to prove otherwise. He takes refuge in his home, a small mobile home, where he reflects on his own life. Randy wants to change and put his private and professional life in order.

    ¡Hola a todos en la comunidad de CineTV! El día de hoy me uno al Concurso de Cine TV #112, con el tema de esta oportunidad: Película Favorita sobre Competiciones. Tenía pensado hablar sobre una de mis grandes favoritas que se maneja bajo ese tema, Million Dollar Baby, porque sin duda cumple con todas las características. Sin embargo, en otra oportunidad hablé de ella. Así que elegí una de igual calibre y que es sin duda excepcional. Muy emotiva. Se trata de "El Luchador" (2008) dirigida por el director Darren Aronofsky. Y mencionar a este director ya es decir bastante, conociendo la impronta de sus trabajos llenos de sensibilidad, crudeza y críticas sociales. Sin duda "El Luchador" no será ninguna decepción. Comencemos.

    Mickey Rourke protagoniza a Robin Ramzinski, un luchador profesional que tuvo mucha fama, popularidad y éxito durante los años 80's, pero quién perdió todo a causa de sus excesos con las drogas, despilfarro de dinero, las mujeres y un muy mal carácter. Siendo la pérdida mas brutal de todas estas: su dignidad. Viviendo bajo la sombra de su pasado y sus tiempos de gloria, Robin se sostiene trabajando cómo empleado en un supermercado en Elizabeth (New Jersey), pelea de vez en cuando en eventos menores y asiste de forma regular a Strip Clubs. Todos parecen notar que Randy (cómo se le conoce en el ring, "The Ram", por su icónica caída), a perdido todo brillo. Sin embargo, este hecho lo atormenta e intenta demostrar lo contrario. Este se refugia en su hogar, una casa rodante de poca monta dónde reflexiona sobre su propia vida. Randy, desea cambiar y poner orden en su vida íntima y profesional.

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    Interestingly, Robin is played by Mickey Rourke, who had a similar life story to the one told in the film. It almost seems like a biopic, although we are not told. But with a few variables. Although Robin is a fighter and Mickey is a boxer (a difference in sports), he, like the character, had his great golden moment during the 80's where he excelled in boxing. Mickey, however, went a little further than sport as he also ventured into the world of acting and gained some recognition. Mickey again coincides with Robin's story because his decline in his professional and intimate life was due to his excesses (drugs) and his lousy character (quite violent and problematic). However, Mickey had a much happier redemption and ending than Robin.

    What brings this film over here is precisely the performance of Mickey Rourke, who steps into Robin's shoes and makes it possible for us to empathise with his story. We imagine how it must feel to be a sportsman who was acclaimed, recognised and admired, but who is now a "nobody". Part of the point, though, is that Robin's pride is wounded and he finds himself unable to recognise that even though he is "past his prime" as a boxer, he is still somebody. This fact betrays that he has placed all his esteem in how others see him, leaving it to them to determine his value as a person. Robin has no identity outside of Randy, understanding that he can only live his life through this character called "Randy".

    Resulta interesante que quién encarna a Robin es Mickey Rourke, quién tuvo una historia de vida similar a la narrada en la película. Casi parece una película biográfica, aunque no se nos diga. Eso sí, con algunas variables. Aunque Robin es un luchador y Mickey un boxeador (diferencia de deportes), él a igual que el personaje tuvo su gran momento dorado durante la década de los 80's dónde destacó en el boxeo. Aunque Mickey, fue un poco más allá del deporte pues también incursionó en el mundo de la actuación y obtuvo cierto reconocimiento. Mickey vuelve a coincidir con la historia de Robin debido a que su descenso en su vida profesional e íntima, se debió a sus excesos (drogas) y su pésimo carácter (bastante violento y problemático). Sin embargo, Mickey tuvo una redención y final mucho más feliz que Robin.

    Lo que trae por acá esta película es precisamente la actuación de Mickey Rourke, quién se mete de lleno en los zapatos de Robin y hace posible que empaticemos con su historia. Nos imaginamos cómo debe sentirse un deportista que fue aclamado, reconocido y admirado, pero que ahora mismo es un "don nadie". Aunque parte de la cuestión está en que el orgullo de Robin está herido y se ve incapaz de reconocer que a pesar de que "ya pasó su mejor momento" cómo boxeador, él sigue siendo alguien. Este hecho delata que a puesto toda su estima en el cómo lo ven los demás y su carrera, dejando que sean ellos quienes determinen su valor cómo persona. Robin no tiene identidad fuera de Randy, entendiendo que él, solo puede vivir su vida a través de ese personaje llamado "Randy".

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    Robin, in his best moments of emotional lucidity, understands that the most important thing is to recognise himself outside the ring and learns to take responsibility for his life, taking into account the people who truly love him (his daughter and his beloved). Building something for Robin, not for Randy. However, that's not enough because when little encounters resurface again where he is reminded that more than a man he is "Randy - The Ram", the boxer, he throws all his growth away. Giving us a very hard and emotional denouement, that only Aronofsky can achieve together with a great guy like Mickey Rourke. A film worth seeing. So far my participation, so without further ado, thank you very much for stopping by and reading my post. Hugs.

    Robin en sus mejores momentos de lucidez emocional, comprende que lo más importante está en reconocerse a si mismo fuera del ring y aprende a tomar responsabilidad en su vida, tomando en cuenta a las personas que de verdad lo aman (su hija y su amada). Construyendo algo para Robin, no para Randy. Sin embargo, eso no es suficiente pues cuando afloran de nuevo pequeños encuentros dónde se le recuerda qué más que un hombre es "Randy - The Ram", el boxeador, arroja todo su crecimiento por la borda. Dándonos un desenlace muy duro y emotivo, que solo Aronofsky puede lograr junto a un gran tipo cómo lo es Mickey Rourke. Una película que vale la pena ver. Hasta aquí mi participación, así que sin más que decir, muchísimas gracias por pasar y leer mí publicación. Abrazos.

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    Concurso CineTV

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  3. The Wrestler (film): Rourke is incredible in this kinda true-to-life drama@gooddream2874d

    Mickey Rourke is one of those actors that i have a lot of respect for. He doesn't just take every piece of trash movie that is offered to him and most of the films that he has been in have been pretty decent. He also decided to leave acting altogether to pursue and semi-professional boxing career where he was reasonably successful. I also have a lot of respect for the man because he works for animal rights and is an avid dog-lover.

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    Rourke plays the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aging professional wrestler who can't let go of the fame that he acquired in the 80's participating in the sport. Despite getting very few bookings and generally being broke, he spends all of his time and money on trying to make it back to the big show.

    The reason that this is so stellar because this actually happens to a LOT of wrestling stars. They get addicted to the fame and when their popularity drops in the sport they experience a very difficult time rejoining "regular life." Many of these stars kill themselves, or because of how hard they worked in their glory days, suffer crippling injuries that affect them in a very negative fashion for the rest of their lives.

    Although this has changed a lot in recent times, the wrestling circuits of the 80's was absolutely riddled with substance abuse. It is extremely difficult to get and maintain a physique like these guys have without resorting to some sort of chemical enhancement and it (was) quite common for the massive dudes to be constantly on a coctail of steroids and pain-killers at all times.

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    Randy "The Ram" Robinson is no exception to this, and although his character is completely fictional, the trials and tribulations that he faces certainly are not. The dude is broke and what little money he comes by he puts into maintaining his physique, dying his hair, going to tanning salons, and of course working out with the asssitance of pharmaceuticals.

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    Although Rourke has maintained a generally great physique throughout his life, I am still very impressed with how hard he trained in order to get in the shape necessary to play this role. He pulls off the representation of a pro wrestler excellently and I was delighted to find out that Rourke took the role as Nick Cage was actually going to be in it at first - urgh.... I can't even imagine that.

    The movie was extremely well-received by critics and fans alike and while there were a few detractors from the actual pro-wrestling world who stated that it was an unfair representation of the wrestling world, most people enjoyed it. There are multiple documentaries that back up the overall image the film tries to portray and I think those nay-sayers are simply trying to uphold a cleain image that while true now, definitely wasn't in the 80's.

    Although I didn't see this film in 2008 when it was released, I think it is likely one of the best films of that year. It won tons of awards but was snubbed at the Oscars as it was completely overshadowed by "Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire," which are both excellent films - no complaints there.

    Overall this movie is an emotional roller-coaster and well, if someone doesn't at least get misty-eyed while watching it I am convinced they don't have a soul.

    9 / 10

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