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The Wrestler

Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a legendary professional wrestler. The crowd screamed his name, chanting for him to perform his signature move to defeat the bad guys: "Ram Jam! Ram Jam! Ram Jam!"

But that was 20 years ago.

These days, Randy is still wrestling in small-time bouts for lousy purses that barely cover his rent. He works out hard, takes care of his hair and tan. He works part time in a grocery store. He hangs out in a strip club tentatively hitting on Cassidy (Marissa Thomei), a stripper who is also dealing with the issue of being over the hill. Some nights the patrons ask Cassidy to go away and "Send in a younger girl".

It's been 20 years since Randy's last big bout with "the Ayatollah," and their promoters want to set up a re-match.  Randy agrees and begins prepping for the match by increasing his workout and using more performance enhancing drugs.

And then it all goes sideways.  After a particularly brutal match, Randy is sidelined with a heart attack. His doctor tells him the last thing he wants to hear: no more wrestling. No more steroids. For a man who still thinks of himself as a champion, who doesn't know how to do anything but wrestle, what else is there in life?

There are many things about The Wrestler that are brilliant. It's been a hell of a couple years for Mickey Rourke. I wasn't a huge fan of Sin City, but he was undeniably good in it. His performance in The Wrestler is nothing short of astonishing; not only can he act, but he's excellent here. He's completely believable as a man stuck in his glory days of the 80s, and he even looks the part physically. Battered, worn, but still strong.

For every over-the-top scene that you might expect—and there are some chair- and table-smashing fights—there are far more quiet, tragically funny, and touching scenes in The Wrestler. When Randy plays his old Nintendo wrestling game with the neighbor kids on his NES so that he can use his patented "Ram Jam" move, but has no idea what Call of Duty 4 is; or when Randy and Cassidy dance together to Ratt's "Round and Round" and agree that the 80's music ruled and wonder why Cobain had to ruin it.

Even Randy's attempt to make a go at a normal job outside of wrestling at a deli meat counter is bittersweet and humorous. Witness his walk from the break room to the deli counter, as the hum of the refrigerators and equipment quietly transforms to the chants of the crowd as if he were entering an arena.

Tomei is great as Randy's love interest although her story is obviously overshadowed by his. Evan Rachel Wood puts in a strong and emotionally wrenching performance as Randy's estranged daughter. Everyone in the movie is playing second fiddle to the performance that Rourke puts on; he's really that good here.

You don't have to be a fan of wrestling to enjoy The Wrestler, although wrestling fans may get a kick out of some of the scenes. It's not really about wrestling. It's also a really great movie, and one of the best films that I saw at TIFF '08. Highly recommended.

4 and a Half Star Rating for The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke is one of those

Anonymous's picture

Mickey Rourke is one of those actors that turns out a few stinkers, but has a few really bright moments in their career. Thanks for the writeup, I'm gonna keep my eyes out for this one.

This is one of critically

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Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a

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Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a fighter of 1980 was professional, has become a burnt-out shell of its former self. After he has a heart attack during a minor party, a doctor said he could die if he fights again. In an effort to build a new life, Robinson started working at a deli, moves with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with your child. But the prospect of a rematch with .
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Fox Searchlight picked it up

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Fox Searchlight picked it up at TIFF so perhaps it'll hit more theaters. There's been some talk about Rourke getting an Oscar nomination too and I think it would be well deserved.

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Looks great

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I will try to find this. Mickey Rourke directed a boxing movies some years back with Christopher Walken in it called I think, Homeboy, and boy was that a good movie. It may be the only film he has directed but he did a good job as a down and out punch drunk fighter with principles. This loo-oks like it might be similar. I like Mickey Rourke alot even when the movie he is stinks he does a good and usually sleazy job. I will look for this one. Thanks.

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I really like Mickey Rourke as an actor. I know a lot of his movies are not thought highly of but i like them. He is one of those actors, to me, that makes the movie. I thought this one was one of his best. I also liked Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man.

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Mickey Rourke is truly an iconic and inspiration for struggling actor.I always enjoyed his performance as a wrestler and also as a actor.Interesting stuffs regarding celebrities journey toward success

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The Wrestler is one of the

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The Wrestler is one of the best action drama movie of 2010 by Darren Aronofsky starter Mickey Rourke his stunning ability and acting skills are quite amazing in this movie, though I love to watch only action movie but I was just amazed by the acting of Mickey Rourke it is the bravura performance which may win an Oscar.
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The wrestler the best action

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The wrestler the best action drama movie of 2008 I have ever seen, really this movie earns a lots of critics regarding the acting skills of Mickey Rourke who plays an aging wrestler, it was very well plotted with a good script I really enjoy this movie.

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The Wrestler is the 2010 action drama movie directed by Darren Aronofsky, and starer Mickey Rourke, this movie collects a huge amount of critics while in its released and still do a better business in the box office report, it have a well pot and script including good editing and direction, this is about a wrestler character played by Mickey Rourke.
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This looks like a fun movie.

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This looks like a fun movie. Wrestling can be an entertaining sport. This might be the sort of movie where you could set up an american pavilion tent and do a lawn showing. Summer would be a great time to do something like this.

I thought Mickey Rourke did

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While being a huge fan of

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While being a huge fan of good movies I love to watch almost every kind of movies and about The Wrestler it was quite heart touching drama and I was really appreciate the act of Mickey Rourke who played the character of a legendary professional wrestler in this movie, the script and direction was good with a strong plot.
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After watching the full

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After watching the full review of this movie I was make a quick conclusion that this is a quite better movie with some good acting skills and performances by the most rated actor Mickey Rourke its script and screenplay are quite impressive, I haven't watched this movie but wish to experience this adventure.
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This is such a well made

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Definitely I have enjoyed all performance of actor Mickey Rourke's Wrestling styles. Mickey Rourke have extremely Astonishing and extraordinary ability to attract viewer's special vision through his performance.autocad drafting services

I must say that if anyone

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I must say that if anyone here who is a die hard fan of good action and drama movies then this would be a better choice for satisfied the needs, I personally noticed Mickey Rourke as a brilliant actor and his movie The Wrestler is one of the awesome movie I have ever seen, I was spot the four and half ratings out five which shows how the movie was running, this movie has a bold script with great actions.
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Critically this movie claims

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Critically this movie claims a millions of success through its script and performance although Mickey Rourke is also done a fine work and won several award for his contribution, this movie is one of the best ever watched by me, and very honest appreciate the role and act of the main character Mickey Rourke The Wrestler.
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I have been a huge fan of

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I have been a huge fan of good movies and almost I have watched all kind of movies The Wrestler is also one of the movie which having some better scripts with far better performance by the acting legend Mickey Rourke who survives as a wrestler in this movie.
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