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Post by Munkie91087 on Dec 29, 2008 22:56:32 GMT -5
I just watched it today, and I would give it a 9/10. It was an absolutely amazing movie. That really got to me a few times in regards to the emotion. You could feel The Ram's emotion in a lot of the scenes.
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Post by RareTradU on Dec 29, 2008 23:14:18 GMT -5
I would def. rate this a 9.5/10, great acting, great production, great wrestling, great emotion! It's perfect. If I didn't know he was an actor I would fully believe that Rourke was a professional wrestler. Watching an up-close blade-job is weird though. But even non-wrestling fans should enjoy this movie! I'm recommending it to everyone.
Spoiler:
I also assumed that Ram died at the end of the movie.
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Post by thwak is T.hawk on Dec 30, 2008 0:01:20 GMT -5
***SPOILERS*****Spoilers** This film was amazing. Very few movies do I shed a tear at, but this one had me. Rourke's performance was fantastic. The part with his daughter when he forgets to show up for dinner ripped me apart. So much emotion in this movie. Definitely one of my favorite films this year. really because that's the scene that took me out of the movie because Evan Rachel Wood soooooooo screws up trying to act there. if Evan Rachel Wood actually pulled that off I would've said that this movie is perfect, but as it is I can only say it's my favorite film of the year but with one blemish.
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dannyrctv
Trap-Jaw
Big Time Wrestling video guy
Posts: 365
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Post by dannyrctv on Dec 30, 2008 1:01:53 GMT -5
Here's a review from NODQ.com
SPOILERS!!!!
NoDQ.com > Columns > On the Mat, w/ Matt Henry Review of "The Wrestler" Posted by Matt Henry on 12/29/2008 at 04:07 PM
Hello my friends. Welcome to another edition of "On The Mat", with Matt Henry. Just last night I had the chance to sit down and watch the critically acclaimed new film, "The Wrestler". The movie was written and directed by Darren Aronofsky and starred Mickey Rourke as the veteran 80's wrestling star Randy "The Ram" Robinson.
From start to finish this film will tug at your heart strings. Particularly if you are a fan of guys like Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, or Greg Valentine. Randy Robinson is a dead ringer for just about any guy who made it big in the 80's and fell into the drug lifestyle and was unable to save any money for the future. The story itself is a bit gritty. It gives you a rather sad look into the underbelly of professional wrestling, yet still shows the compassion and respect that some rookie promoters have for the legends of yesterday.
Rourke plays the part of Randy Robinson. Robinson's character was a huge star in the 80's, similar to our real life Hulk Hogan. Main eventing shows all over the world and selling out Madison Square Garden, in his signature feud with "The Ayatollah" (a character very similar to the Iron Sheik") This character is played by a familiar face in former WCW star Earnest "The Cat" Miller. Miller does a nice job in his brief role in the film, but he's no Mickey Rourke.
As the film begins it is set in present day with Robinson looking back on his career. Robinson still works every weekend on the independent circuit, working matches as well as doing personal appearances to pay the bills. During the week Randy Robinson works full time at a grocery store. He makes his home in a beat up old mobile home or even sleeping in his van. As the movie progresses Robinson suffers a severe heart attack and is told that he must quit wrestling for good. This is where the struggle begins.
Robinson does his best to step away from the limelight, but as with any professional wrestler, you simply can't just walk away. Randy tries to pour himself into the heart of an exotic dancer named Cassidy, played by Marissa Tomei. When that initially fails she talks Randy into trying to reconnect with his daughter. His attempt is somewhat successful at first, but falls flat when he once again is too drunk and high to keep a promise to his teenage child. When he finally realizes what he has done and tries to make it right it is too late. She tells her brokenhearted father to leave and never contact her again.
At the mid way point of the film Randy Robinson has lost it all. His career, his child, and the woman he loves. The only thing left for him to hang onto is his day job at the grocery store. Randy immerses himself deeply into his menial job to try to avoid the pain of all his losses. He decides to swallow his pride and begin working with the customers out front as apposed to his old job of working in the stock room hidden from the public eye. Robinson does this for as long as he can, but when he is finally recognized by a former fan and called out as being "The Ram" working as a meat cutter, Randy snaps and makes a scene quitting his job and the only thing real and tangible he has left.
When he feels he has nothing left to live for Randy decides he must make one more leap for glory. He takes a promoter up on his offer for a huge rematch against his greatest foe of the 80's "The Ayatollah". Just as Randy is loading up his van and heading off to the arena Cassidy makes her way to Randy's mobile home to apologize for refusing his advances. Randy explains to her that he understands that she doesn't want some broken down old wrestler and hands her the poster for what will be his last showdown. He invites he to come watch as he pulls away.
At the arena Randy makes the rounds saying his hellos and shaking hands. Just as his opponent is being introduced Cassidy arrives at the building with just enough time to beg Randy one more time to skip this match. He tells her that it is too late and this is the only life he knows as he walks through that curtain one more time to the adulation of his adoring fans. Randy enters the ring and takes the mic to cut his final heartfelt promo. He thanks the fans for their years of dedication and support and reminds them all that without them there would be no "Ram". As he finishes his almost tearful goodbye "The Ayatollah" jumps him from behind and the match is on. Back and forth action until Randy begins to have chest pains. The ref tries to stop the match, but Randy keeps pulling forward. Eventually his opponent and friend of 20 plus years notices his struggle and begs Randy to "go home". He tells his friend, "I got this Randy." and "Come to me and I'll take us home" Randy is too proud to give up and listens to his fans cheering him on. They are begging for his finisher! A top rope splash he calls the "Ram Jet". Randy struggles through the crippling pain and mounts the top rope. He stands on that top rope for the final time and looks out over his audience. Everyone screaming his name. By this time we see a shot of Cassidy still standing behind the curtain. Unable to watch the man she finally realizes that she loves risk his life, she turns and walks away as Randy poses for the crowd and takes his leap to immortality. Randy's face turns to a grimace of pain as he soars through the air. The screen fades to black and the movie ends before Randy even lands. We are left to ponder on our own if Randy survived the match.
The film took you on a shot journey of the final weeks and months of a broken down professional wrestler. The pain they go through on a daily basis, both physical and emotional. It shows us a man well into his 50's still bleaching his hair and laying in tanning beds to look the part. It shows us a man still using steroids to keep his body looking good. A man still using cocaine and alcohol to mask the emotional pain of losing his family and his legacy. You can really see men like Jake Roberts when you watch the fictional character of Randy Robinson. It makes you want to find a way to help them before more end up the way so many of our heroes have.
All in all if you are a wrestling fan, you must see this film! Mickey Rourke is simply amazing and the story is extremely touching. Even if you are not a fan of professional wrestling you should see this movie. I will even goes so far as to say that it may even convert a non fan into a fan. It's a brave look at the dark side of the sport we love. The wrestling action itself is nothing too spectacular, but it does give you some samples of the carny talk and even shows how wrestlers do "blade jobs"
The acting in this movie was superb and the directing was spot on. The only reason Vince McMahon didn't like this film was because it was too brutally honest. It shows a side of the sport that Vince doesn't want us to see. Vince wants us to forget about these legends of the past and not worry about what their lives are like now. Please understand that it is my opinion that 99% of the problems former wrestlers encounter in their post wrestling lives are all brought on by their own choices and actions. I in no way blame Vince McMahon or the wrestling industry, nor should the troubled wrestlers. The fact remains that the problems exist and more should be done to preserve these heroes of our past. No one should end up the way so many of them have.
Once again I urge all of you to see this film. It will bring you to tears and inspire you at the very same time. I for one loved it and will watch it again and again. Kudos to both the director and the man who brought the character of Randy Robinson to life, Mikey Rourke. Go see this movie folks! You will not regret it.
Well friends, I'm afraid that's all I have for today. Before I close I would like to send a special congrats out to Jeff Hardy for finally earning the right to be the top dog. It's about time that the most popular guy in the company is recognized for his abilities and accomplishments. Congrats Jeff Hardy!
I hope you all had a nice holiday and have a safe and Happy New Years. Take care of yourselves and be good to each other. Thank you for going "On The Mat" with Matt Henry! I wish you all a wonderful 2009!
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Post by Gobbledy Demon on Dec 30, 2008 1:31:24 GMT -5
This is the first movie I've cried during in a long time, it pulls at your heart every scene in one way or another, and as a wrestler it really makes me question being in this business, I can see why Piper cried
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Post by x on Dec 30, 2008 3:12:46 GMT -5
TRIPLE SPOILERZ! If you're going to spoil the movie make it a bigger gap between the spoiler and the actual WORD spoiler and make it bold use HTML to do it. Though the movie was great we never got to find out what happened to him money wise and politically. SPOILER!!!! It is most certainly assumed and pretty much confirmed that he dies from his final Ram Jam at the end I wonder what that would do to ROH if the most popular wrestler ever died in the middle of their ring. And after watching the end of the movie, I can fully understand the dead crowds at Double Feature, ROH is forgiven for those two shows having awful crowds. But I still don't forgive them for putting Kingston on a PPV dark match.
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Post by Fruity Delicious Skittles on Dec 30, 2008 16:00:08 GMT -5
Just finished watching the film and while I felt it ended somewhat prematurely, I really enjoyed the film. It was touching, emotional and thought-provoking. Fantastically acted, and a film where you really emotionally invest in the characters. I was left wanting more for sure.
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Post by Aaron E. Dangerously on Dec 30, 2008 22:17:48 GMT -5
If you're going to spoil the movie make it a bigger gap between the spoiler and the actual WORD spoiler and make it bold use HTML to do it. Though the movie was great we never got to find out what happened to him money wise and politically. SPOILER!!!! It is most certainly assumed and pretty much confirmed that he dies from his final Ram Jam at the end I'd like to believe he didn't die. I wouldn't be shocked if he did, but I kinda hope they didn't have that in mind.
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Post by Se7en: Horse That Wrote Poems on Dec 30, 2008 22:28:30 GMT -5
It's awesome and the performance Rourke does is outstanding. Emotion, physicality, reality, desperation, truth. The film itself is great, but might receive a little too much praise based on it's subject matter. They did however cover the subject matter perfectly in the time they allotted themselves.
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Hawk Hart
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Sold his organs.
The Best There Is, the Best There Was, and the Best That There Ever Will Be
Posts: 15,296
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Post by Hawk Hart on Dec 30, 2008 22:39:31 GMT -5
Saw it today and I loved it. Ernest Miller is an awful actor IMO and they should have gotten a actual wrestler.
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Post by thwak is T.hawk on Dec 30, 2008 23:20:10 GMT -5
Saw it today and I loved it. Ernest Miller is an awful actor IMO and they should have gotten a actual wrestler. umm he was an actual wrestler.
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Post by Rob's No. 1 Fan on Dec 31, 2008 4:15:16 GMT -5
Saw "The Wrestler" today. And wow - I'm so happy most of you crappers liked it. I half expected a bunch of whining and complaining about some petty point or another... but you guys obviously loved it like I did. And, man, I fell in love with Mickey Rourke in this movie!! - that was a total friggin' surprise!! HAHA. I mean, I've never seen him deliver such a TOTALLY CONVINCING performance. I actually lost track of reality... I forgot I was even watching an 'acted' movie. "The Wrestler" has just enough hand-held camera work to give it that slight "reality or documentary" feel.... sorta feels like you're watching a documentary on a real wrestler's life. In a way, you are!! The meaningful similarities between him and the stripper are very important. And, I can't see how anyone could walk away from this movie and not be emotionally moved somehow. I have a new respect for Mickey Rourke, and a re-newed respect for wrestlers in general. 9/10. Well written script, well acted, directed, etc...
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Hawk Hart
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Sold his organs.
The Best There Is, the Best There Was, and the Best That There Ever Will Be
Posts: 15,296
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Post by Hawk Hart on Dec 31, 2008 18:09:15 GMT -5
Saw it today and I loved it. Ernest Miller is an awful actor IMO and they should have gotten a actual wrestler. umm he was an actual wrestler. Meant actor. Sorry. Thanks for modifying my post. Thanks alot.
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Post by tibbo on Jan 1, 2009 21:08:42 GMT -5
Can we put some kind of spoilers caution in the title of this thread......I just wanted to see what people thought of the film, not ruin the ending before i've even seen it. Sorry for moaning, but hopefully one of the mods can sort it out. Thanks guys! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Gopher Mod on Jan 1, 2009 21:52:17 GMT -5
BTW, a story from Gerweck with the two major companies (WWE and TNA) who have statements regarding The Wrestler: www.gerweck.net/news/1230862951.shtmlAlso: TNA's dead on, WWE's out to permanent vacation.
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Post by Brandon Walsh is Insane. on Jan 2, 2009 3:48:19 GMT -5
I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't like it, myself.
I really wanted to like it, too.
Ah well.
The Necro stuff was hard for me to watch, I must admit.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 13:01:46 GMT -5
Ernest Miller selling Nigel a car was epic stuff.
Everything Necro said gave me a giggle too:
Ram: Was the table spot okay? Necro: I'll live sir. I'll live
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pegasuswarrior
El Dandy
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Post by pegasuswarrior on Jan 2, 2009 22:23:50 GMT -5
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
PLEASE DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND AVOID THIS THREAD IF YOU PLAN ON SEEING IT AND HAVEN'T YET
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Ram didn't die in last sequence. He had already died a long time ago in a sense. In terms of the movie, he "died" when he was at the American Legion "meet and greet." I LOVE the last sequence of shots. When he sees that the one person left in his life (and even that person was never really in his life), the last leap symbolizes his plunge into the reality that he's *already* dead. And the heart thing is a front for the emotional death as well. His heart had continued to beat, but it's good use of symbolism in that he acknowledges his "heart" condition the most when he finally realizes everyone in his life is just backstage whenever he actually sees them and won't be there when he really needs them anyway. It would be a letdown dramatically if he actually escaped *that* version of death by actually physically dying.
So I guess I disagree with any criticisms about the ending. A "wrap it up" ending would have been the worse thing possible for this film. Why would we give an audience "closure" for a movie that's entirely about "lack of closure?"
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Rube
Hank Scorpio
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Post by Rube on Jan 3, 2009 13:51:19 GMT -5
Watched it with a non-wrestling fan and she came away with a new-found respect for what they do.
Great movie
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Steveweiser
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Post by Steveweiser on Jan 3, 2009 13:52:01 GMT -5
Saw posters for the film in the London Underground today.
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