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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Fox Searchlight
Salesrank: 1755
Released: April 21, 2009 |
| Our Price: $4.99 |
| Used Price: $2.58 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 04/21/2009 Run time: 109 minutes Rating: R
Description of The Wrestler:
The mystery of Mickey Rourke's career comes to a grungy apotheosis in The Wrestler, the much-battered actor's triumphant return to the top rope. He plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a heavily scarred and medicated battler who's twenty years past his best moment in the ring. But he still schleps to every second-rate fight card he can get to, stringing out the paychecks (more likely a fistful of cash) and nursing what's left of his pride. His attempts to adjust to a more normal kind of life form the most absorbing sections in the movie, whether it's flirting with a stripper (Marisa Tomei is in good form, in every sense), establishing a bond with his understandably angry daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), or working behind the deli counter at a nondescript megastore. Rourke is commanding in the role; he obviously spent hours in the gym and the tanning salon, and his ease with the semi-documentary style adopted by director Darren Aronofsky allows him to naturalistically interact with the colorful real-life wrestlers who crowd the movie's ultra-believable locations. All of which helps distract from the film's overall adherence to ancient formula. You might find yourself waiting for the scene where the risk-taking Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) pulls the switch and reveals his true motives for pursuing this otherwise sentimental story, but there's no switch. The Wrestler is an old-fashioned hoke machine, given grit by an actor who doesn't seem to be so much performing the role of ravaged survivor as embodying it. --Robert Horton
Stills from The Wrestler (Click for larger image)
The Wrestler Reviews:
The Wrestler 
2009-11-04 - I was very satisfied with this purchase. Fast shipping, arrived in the exact condition as it was described.
Mediocquium for a Dream? 
2009-11-02 - The first time I saw The Wrestler, I was looking forward to it so much. It was a much-hyped film from the imagination of Darren Aronofsky, who directed Requiem for a Dream- one of the most powerful movies of the decade. However I was expecting to be disappointed after that majestic turd that was "The Fountain". And the first time I saw the movie, I thought it was disappointing. But actually, upon a second viewing, that seems to be an understatement- It's a bad movie.
OK, yes, Rourke did great in his performance, seeing as not very many can pull off the gritty "Washed up wrestler" type figure that has mainly been done (to death) several times before. ANd Yes, it is rather unfortunate he was snubbed. However, I think his performance is what alone saved the movie from a 1 star rating.
Basically, the storyline is nothing special. A washed up wrestler moping and whining about his life. IT's pretty entertaining for a bit, but, as it turns, it's more of the same the more the movie unfolds. THe fight scenes are brutal, not pretty, but very well done- they seem to capture the spirit of Wrestling, which is a brutal as hell sport. But the look of the film is not well. It may be the grainy blu-ray look, but the film has muted and washed-out visuals, combined with headache-inducing shaking camera that does get distracting.
THe film, thankfully, is not too long- That seems to be a thing with Aronofsky, he keeps his movies short and sweet (thank God for that. Had he done the opposite with Requiem for a Dream, I'd OD on Prozac, LOL!) However, there's almost nothing redeeming about this film, except for Marisa Tomei looking like she usually does, Mickey Rourke's amazing performance, and the fight scenes. But aside from that, this is not a good movie at all.
Pretty Good But Could've Been A Lot Better.
2009-10-30 - The film has a pretty promising plot line about an old man way passed his glory days and yet refuses to accept the reality. I've really felt for this pass time wrestler as the issues he is facing was down right heartbreaking and had me teary-eyed and everything. The one thing That disappointed me the most in this film was the ending or the should I say, the lacking of. There was no significant closure for this character whom which you've grown a heart for throughout the whole entire progression of the film, which left me completely disheartened and disappointed. Darren Aronofsky had another good one here but then blew it at the very end of the film. Unbelievable. Hence, the 4-Star rating. Don't believe me, watch it for yourself and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Great movie 
2009-10-29 - Great movie about a one time king of the wrestling world trying to make one last attempt to regain glory. I can't imagine anyone but Rourke playing the lead role. Very well done.
Well-made but too familiar
2009-10-26 - The Bottom Line:
Mickey Rourke and Marissa Tomei certainly embody their characters fully and the film gives the viewer some interesting information and insight into pro wrestling (I particularly enjoyed when the crowd cheered when Mickey Rourke smacked the "bad guy" wrestler and then booed when the bad guy hit him back) but the general arc of the screenplay is so familiar and trite that the movie consistently holds itself back from greatness; The Wrestler is a good film, but not a great one.
3/4
