The Wrestler: The Sacrifical Ram

The Wrestler is a movie about life's let-downs, the high of attention in the entertainment business, and personal sacrifice. It's language is physical pain, carried out by Mickey Rourke in a physical role. Like LaMotta's (Raging Bull) boxing ring being the arena for him to work out his issues with women and trust, delivering self-punishment, Randy "The Ram" Robinson recieves cheers and applause, reliving the glory days by spilling blood.

The movie begins with "20 years later." We only see newspaper clips of the glory days, but they are absent from Randy when he's not in the ring. Afterwards, he's hunched over like he's been defeated while the match's script has him win. Yes, wrestling is fake. Before each round, the wrestlers determine what is and is not allowed, who should be winning which portion of the rounds, and how it all ends. They're each other's fans. The fighting might be fake, but the falling is real. Randy cuts himself on the forehead so he can bleed real blood for the effect in the match. Years of falls and cuts have taken affect on him.

He's forced to retire by doctor's orders. And to quit the variety of painkillers he's become an expert on. He tries to get his life back on track by visiting his estranged daughter and developing a relationship with his only friend, Cassidy, a stripper he's a fan of. She's equally a fan of him, but they're both only seeing the show. She loves the wrestler, the modern gladiator, and he loves the sexy image she puts on. She is aware entertainers' personalities and real lives are two different things even if Randy has never separated them.

How do things turn out? Randy is living in the past. He's only had to jump, take hits and fall and has been worshiped for it. It isn't about how things turn out, but watching him go through the world trying his best where he doesn't always fit in is highly entertaining. He's lovable and loving, but his only job has been a show of violence, he sometimes misses the proper way to express himself. Everyone else is afraid, but the audience will be heartbroken for him.

The roles are very physical and it is hard to imagine someone other than Mickey Rourke to play Randy. It is not acting in the traditional sense, but taking the pain. Digital effects could have done this for him, but it would not have the same effect. Before one round, Randy is told to avoid twisting his opponent, but the opponent asks him "Do you have any problems with a staplegun? It's kind of scary when up against you, but it doesn't hurt much, just afterwards, you have two holes in you and bleed alot." They go overboard with staples.

Marissa Tomei, who won an Oscar for My Cousin Vinny is worth a nomination here. She is definitely older, but she's not trying to play someone young. She is still just as sexy now as she was before. Age has only helped her out. Something rare when trying to portray a stripper.

Is it entertaining? Yes. Not in where the story leads, but how it gets there. Each second with the performances is convincing and compelling. Never thought wrestlers would be so heartbreaking.

Is it for everyone? Yes. The violence might limit the audience, but the variety of emotions can relate to most.

Is it memorable? Yes. Mickey Rourke deserves an Oscar for this performance.