Post by Lance Uppercut on Sept 10, 2008 14:40:35 GMT -5
POSTED: September 10, 2008 - 10:51 am
CATEGORIES: Wrestling
Sent in by reader Kirk Haviland
The Wrestler:
Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood.
Appearances by: Ron 'The Truth' Killings, Ernest 'The Cat' Miller, Austin Aries, Johnny Valiant and I know I saw Jay Lethal even though he's not credited (they did refer to a Lex Lethal in the film though).
NO, this NOT a remake of the Verne Gange film!!! Thank God!!
The toughest part about doing this review is deciding on which context in which to review this. Do I review this as a cinephile (ie Movie Fanatic) on it's artistic merit and the performances only or do i review it as a lifelong wrestling fan who probably knew more than over half the audience did! (watching at 12 noon and Tuesday September 9th, not sure how many other wrestling fans made it out!) I will preface this by saying Mr Aronofsky was almost 20 minutes late for the screening and as such I could not stay after for the Q&A session as I had another movie to attend. So I did not get to ask any questions or hear his thoughts on the script and where things came from, that said I really did'nt need to (as will become evident later).
Don't let that last statement throw you I REALLY liked this movie, but to wrestling fans who know thier stuff the source material will be all too familiar. That said I will start with a description. if you do not want to know too much than maybe skip ahead, I will try not to give too much away. The story revolves around Randy 'The Ram" Robinson, a huge star in the 80's pro wrestling scene (great opening montage setting the background up) cut to present day where we see a older more weary Ram changing in a Pre-School classroom after wrestling a match in a school gymnasium for what appears to be about $55. Ram lives in a trailer, which he can't into because he's behind on rent, and works off and on in a supermarket, where his boss riffs on him but ultimately feels sorry for him. Ram's life is pain, he's constantly got one part of his body killing him and has a cigar box of drugs to go with it (there's even a scene where he buys the drugs in the locker room of his gym!) Ram is alone, no wife, estranged daughter (sounding familiar?) his 'friends' are the kids of the trailer park who look up to him and a stripper at a local strip joint (Tomei, in a performance where's she's naked more than clothed!! This alone is worth admission!!) that's he's actually fallen in love with! She's also somebody toiling in a profession that has passed her by for younger models! Ram's biggest match against The Ayatolla in a Wrestlemania type event is coming up on it's 20th anniversary, and a promoter thinks it's a great opportunity for a rematch! (Great line from Rourke about why 'Bob" aka Ayatolla might not want the match!) But something happens SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ram has a heart attack after a match and has bypass surgery and must retire (doctor's orders). He tries to use this time to reconnect with his daughter but screws that up as well, loses his job in a very funny sequence, and ultimately ends up in the only place he knows.... the ring.
From a Movie Lovers point of view this is a great film that shows a underside to fame/sprots entertainment not seen by the general public. Mickey rourke is fantastic in this performance, no the Oscar buzz is not unwarrented. Despite the bravado usually surrounding the subject matter (sports entertainment is bombastic by nature) this strips it all back and is, in essence a character study of a man who simply cannot let go, Despite the fact that he has to live in his van time to time due to being locked out, he still goes through his regimin to stay in ring shape (hair color, tanning beds, drugs). As Aronofsky himself introduced, it's a quiet film about this one man, and it's a great ride!
Now on to the Pro Wrestling Fan's perspective. If you've seen 'Beyond the Mat' then you should know that most of this film is obviously derived from that. Rourke's character Rodney 'The Ram' Robinson is basically Jake Roberts if he had been as big as Hogan in the 80's, right down to the messed up relationship with his daughter! As a wrestling fan thought this film excites me though, this film shows a side to professional wrestling most people don't know about!! Byeond the glitz and glamour, Aronofsky does not shy away from any subject, yet its not over exploitive in any way! This is straight bare bones filmaking, no sensationalism to it at all! See this Movie!!
Special items put in this movie for the wrestling fans - a Funk/Foley like character Ram has a hardcore match with in the middle of the film replete with staple gun and weapons AND a ECW chant! (great sequence preceding showing Ram in a dollar store shopping for weapons!) Cameos from current and former ROH and TNA talent, and the final sequence occurs at a ROH tapping!!
In closing, go see this movie! Rourke is fantastic, and while i'm not a Aronofsky fan per say (hated the Fountain) i can say he's done fantastic work here!!
Guess i've rambled long enough!
Kirk Haviland (aka Molsonboy2000)
CATEGORIES: Wrestling
Sent in by reader Kirk Haviland
The Wrestler:
Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood.
Appearances by: Ron 'The Truth' Killings, Ernest 'The Cat' Miller, Austin Aries, Johnny Valiant and I know I saw Jay Lethal even though he's not credited (they did refer to a Lex Lethal in the film though).
NO, this NOT a remake of the Verne Gange film!!! Thank God!!
The toughest part about doing this review is deciding on which context in which to review this. Do I review this as a cinephile (ie Movie Fanatic) on it's artistic merit and the performances only or do i review it as a lifelong wrestling fan who probably knew more than over half the audience did! (watching at 12 noon and Tuesday September 9th, not sure how many other wrestling fans made it out!) I will preface this by saying Mr Aronofsky was almost 20 minutes late for the screening and as such I could not stay after for the Q&A session as I had another movie to attend. So I did not get to ask any questions or hear his thoughts on the script and where things came from, that said I really did'nt need to (as will become evident later).
Don't let that last statement throw you I REALLY liked this movie, but to wrestling fans who know thier stuff the source material will be all too familiar. That said I will start with a description. if you do not want to know too much than maybe skip ahead, I will try not to give too much away. The story revolves around Randy 'The Ram" Robinson, a huge star in the 80's pro wrestling scene (great opening montage setting the background up) cut to present day where we see a older more weary Ram changing in a Pre-School classroom after wrestling a match in a school gymnasium for what appears to be about $55. Ram lives in a trailer, which he can't into because he's behind on rent, and works off and on in a supermarket, where his boss riffs on him but ultimately feels sorry for him. Ram's life is pain, he's constantly got one part of his body killing him and has a cigar box of drugs to go with it (there's even a scene where he buys the drugs in the locker room of his gym!) Ram is alone, no wife, estranged daughter (sounding familiar?) his 'friends' are the kids of the trailer park who look up to him and a stripper at a local strip joint (Tomei, in a performance where's she's naked more than clothed!! This alone is worth admission!!) that's he's actually fallen in love with! She's also somebody toiling in a profession that has passed her by for younger models! Ram's biggest match against The Ayatolla in a Wrestlemania type event is coming up on it's 20th anniversary, and a promoter thinks it's a great opportunity for a rematch! (Great line from Rourke about why 'Bob" aka Ayatolla might not want the match!) But something happens SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ram has a heart attack after a match and has bypass surgery and must retire (doctor's orders). He tries to use this time to reconnect with his daughter but screws that up as well, loses his job in a very funny sequence, and ultimately ends up in the only place he knows.... the ring.
From a Movie Lovers point of view this is a great film that shows a underside to fame/sprots entertainment not seen by the general public. Mickey rourke is fantastic in this performance, no the Oscar buzz is not unwarrented. Despite the bravado usually surrounding the subject matter (sports entertainment is bombastic by nature) this strips it all back and is, in essence a character study of a man who simply cannot let go, Despite the fact that he has to live in his van time to time due to being locked out, he still goes through his regimin to stay in ring shape (hair color, tanning beds, drugs). As Aronofsky himself introduced, it's a quiet film about this one man, and it's a great ride!
Now on to the Pro Wrestling Fan's perspective. If you've seen 'Beyond the Mat' then you should know that most of this film is obviously derived from that. Rourke's character Rodney 'The Ram' Robinson is basically Jake Roberts if he had been as big as Hogan in the 80's, right down to the messed up relationship with his daughter! As a wrestling fan thought this film excites me though, this film shows a side to professional wrestling most people don't know about!! Byeond the glitz and glamour, Aronofsky does not shy away from any subject, yet its not over exploitive in any way! This is straight bare bones filmaking, no sensationalism to it at all! See this Movie!!
Special items put in this movie for the wrestling fans - a Funk/Foley like character Ram has a hardcore match with in the middle of the film replete with staple gun and weapons AND a ECW chant! (great sequence preceding showing Ram in a dollar store shopping for weapons!) Cameos from current and former ROH and TNA talent, and the final sequence occurs at a ROH tapping!!
In closing, go see this movie! Rourke is fantastic, and while i'm not a Aronofsky fan per say (hated the Fountain) i can say he's done fantastic work here!!
Guess i've rambled long enough!
Kirk Haviland (aka Molsonboy2000)
