If you haven't seen the Wrestler yet, what are you waiting for? Don't you think it's at the top of everyone's movie downloads queue for a reason? Actually, you're probably sick of hearing about the movie at this point, so why not just watch the darn thing and get it over with?
The heart, soul and body of the movie is Mickey Rourke's performance as Randy The Ram Robinson. Well, his real name is Robin Ramzinski. He was a huge star in the hair metal eighties days of wrestling, but has since faded into obscurity. Now he wrestles on the weekends, but it doesn't quite pay the bills, and he has to supplement that by putting in hours at the local grocery store.
Randy's lifestyle has alienated everyone he's ever loved and seriously done a number on his body. He has to see if he can make a comeback, both in the ring, where he's washed up, and in his personal life, where he doesn't even have a loyal fanbase to keep him going.
The movie is heart wrenching, incredibly emotional, and while it shows Randy as he is, as a man who has hurt himself and others with his lifestyle, it never judges him or looks down on him. Randy the Ram is a lovable guy, and it becomes tragic that all cannot be forgiven so easily.
Rourke is, again, incredible here. He lived this role in life for years, suffering through all sorts of problems and losing his place in the Hollywood pecking order. This movie is Rourke's comeback, his story, just as it is Randy's. Rourke didn't just play this role, he was this role. Interestingly, Nicholas Cage was offered the job and dropped out because he knew his friend Rourke wanted it, and, in fact, would have done a better job.
They might have been able to secure a bigger budget had Cage stayed on, but the end result is a smaller, more intimate, personal movie, and it's all that much better for it. Rourke wrestles for small crowds, and it really drives home the fact that Randy gives his all to every show, whether he's wrestling for a few thousand fans or a few dozen. He really bleeds it out.
It's an old story with a lot of stock characters, but somehow, it never feels cliche or predictable. The movie is all heart, treating its characters with real love, respect and affection. As a result, it's one of the best movies of the last decade, and probably the best performance of Rourke's career. Even if you weren't too impressed with Requiem for a Dream or Pi, this movie is well beyond anything you might have thought director Darren Aronofsky to have been capable of.
When you hear the acoustic song by Springsteen at the end, take a moment to reflect on what the ending really means. This movie has a lot of depth, and sits somewhere between Rocky and Raging Bull in the pantheon of sports movies. It is, at once, heart breaking and heart warming, both upbeat and tragic, and the ending really drives that home. At the very least, it's a story you'll never forget. - 40725
The heart, soul and body of the movie is Mickey Rourke's performance as Randy The Ram Robinson. Well, his real name is Robin Ramzinski. He was a huge star in the hair metal eighties days of wrestling, but has since faded into obscurity. Now he wrestles on the weekends, but it doesn't quite pay the bills, and he has to supplement that by putting in hours at the local grocery store.
Randy's lifestyle has alienated everyone he's ever loved and seriously done a number on his body. He has to see if he can make a comeback, both in the ring, where he's washed up, and in his personal life, where he doesn't even have a loyal fanbase to keep him going.
The movie is heart wrenching, incredibly emotional, and while it shows Randy as he is, as a man who has hurt himself and others with his lifestyle, it never judges him or looks down on him. Randy the Ram is a lovable guy, and it becomes tragic that all cannot be forgiven so easily.
Rourke is, again, incredible here. He lived this role in life for years, suffering through all sorts of problems and losing his place in the Hollywood pecking order. This movie is Rourke's comeback, his story, just as it is Randy's. Rourke didn't just play this role, he was this role. Interestingly, Nicholas Cage was offered the job and dropped out because he knew his friend Rourke wanted it, and, in fact, would have done a better job.
They might have been able to secure a bigger budget had Cage stayed on, but the end result is a smaller, more intimate, personal movie, and it's all that much better for it. Rourke wrestles for small crowds, and it really drives home the fact that Randy gives his all to every show, whether he's wrestling for a few thousand fans or a few dozen. He really bleeds it out.
It's an old story with a lot of stock characters, but somehow, it never feels cliche or predictable. The movie is all heart, treating its characters with real love, respect and affection. As a result, it's one of the best movies of the last decade, and probably the best performance of Rourke's career. Even if you weren't too impressed with Requiem for a Dream or Pi, this movie is well beyond anything you might have thought director Darren Aronofsky to have been capable of.
When you hear the acoustic song by Springsteen at the end, take a moment to reflect on what the ending really means. This movie has a lot of depth, and sits somewhere between Rocky and Raging Bull in the pantheon of sports movies. It is, at once, heart breaking and heart warming, both upbeat and tragic, and the ending really drives that home. At the very least, it's a story you'll never forget. - 40725
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Just picture, the lights coming on as you walk into each room. public television movies Yes, we know you're hot and raring to go but your ears are tired. Additional features include the fact that you can pause a live show being recorded and replay it.
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