The Wrestler

Sometimes the best moments in films come from small quiet scenes that have little if any dialogue. The opening scene of director Darren Aronofsky's film "The Wrestler" shows the back side of Mickey Rourke's character Randy "The Ram" Robinson sitting on a chair in a locker room after he has just wrestled in a high school auditorium. No dialogue is needed for the audience to see that "The Ram" is both physically and emotionally in pain. "The Wrestler" is a moving and sometimes sad movie of a man struggling to make his way in life after his best years have long since passed him by. Randy "The Ram" Robinson on the outside is fake. His real name is Robin, the tan on his body is from indoor tanning booths, and his muscles are the result of steroids but his desire to be a good man and his character flaws that can prevent him from being one are very real and easy to relate to.
Aronofsky is a director that likes to use creative editing and unique camera shots in his films but in "The Wrestler" he has the good sense to leave that out and let the story develop quietly. Robinson, a once famous and successful wrestler, now lives in a trailer park and has to make ends meet by working in a grocery store, wrestling in high school auditoriums, and signing autographs in community centers that only a few fans go to. In his spare time he goes to a topless bar to meet his favorite perfomer "Cassady" whose real name is Pam (well played by Marissa Tomei). She dances for him and listens to what he has to say about how things have been going for him. Even though Robinson probably knows she is playing him, he still chooses to open up to her since he has alienated himself from his family and most of his friends. After Robinson is offered a chance to take part in a reunion match with an old rival in a big time arena, he suffers a heart attack after a match and is told by his doctor that he can no longer wrestle. He then tries to reestablish a relationship with his daughter (played by Evan Rachel Wood) who he walked out on many years ago. She is in college now and has hard feelings about him but Robinson is at the point of his life where he realizes the consequences of his poor decisions. On a boardwalk he confesses to her the mistakes he has made and is able to start mending his relationship with his daughter. Unfortunatley afterward his destructive behavior with drugs and women return and his relationship with his daughter is again damaged but this time probably beyond repair. Left with little in his life that has meaning, Robinson agrees to wrestle in a sold out arena with his old rival even though his doctor has told him his heart is to weak handle it. The final scene of Robinson performing in the ring and saluting his fans is nothing short of heartbreaking.
"The Wrestler" is a movie that can only work with a strong performance from the lead character and Mickey Rourke delivers the performance of his career. Like the character he plays Rourke was once respected in a younger day and made poor choices both personally and professionally that wrecked his career. Most of the time performances by actors are judged based on how well they disappear in their character and make us believe they are that person but Rourke did something that might have been more difficult and definitely more courageous in his portrayal of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. He honestly revealed himself and ultimately created a character who with all his flaws was still a man that audiences could identify with and embrace. Everyone knows that wrestling is fake but the emotions generated in the "The Wrestler" are very real.