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The Wrestler - Darren Aronofsky's newest film

Platypus

Platypus

Lifer
Caveat: I'm a HUGE Aronofsky fan. Furthermore there will also be spoilers, though not direct plot in this thread so do not read if this will bother you.













This film is in limited release and about to be released nationwide soon. I knew going into this film that I would most likely not care about the main character because professional wrestling holds absolutely no interest to me and while that wouldn't usually stop me from caring about a compelling character, it just felt like a cheesy premise for a movie. Aronofsky even admits this is one of those films on his list of things he 'wanted to make since art school' so that further lessened my excitement for the film.

But it's Darren Aronofsky.. he's created some of the most powerful and some of my favorite films of the last 11 years. Furthermore it took the Golden Lion award in Venice.. so despite the preceived plot handicapp on my part I figured this had to be at least worth watching. I can now say that Darren has directed a film that I have no desire to watch over and over again, let alone a single time ever again.

The plot was exactly what I thought it was, a down and out wrestler 20 years after his prime and dealing with the world around him. Not a single character aside from Marisa Tomei's character was the least bit compelling and to call her as such would be quite a stretch. The character development was completely null and void in this film. From the very start of the film the pacing just felt like you were following around Rourke's character in real time as he dragged himself aimlessly around his derelict trailer park community. There were two places in the film where something interesting or a shred of development could have occured for the protagonist but those moments were both squandered and hackneyed and felt tacked on to the film at the last second.

I simply could NOT care about Rourke or anyone else in the film, there wasn't even the desire to follow them on the journey even out of curiosity.

I'm not a movie-goer who demands the typical 'protagonist with an issue has a conflict and becomes somehow more enriched or changed by said conflict in the end...' I don't mind characters who make no transformation at all as long as their characters are interesting and compelling to watch... this film had none of this.

I haven't been more let down in a long time by a movie experience, especially from one of my favorite directors. I wouldn't have even gone to see this film from the description had it not been directed by him.

I will say that in typical Aronofsky fashion the cinematography was flawless. There are a few great 'scenes' in this film where everything comes together for a brief second but they're so few and far between that it doesn't come close to making up for the rest of the film.

Sigh. Maybe I'll give it another chance when it comes out on DVD but I just can't bring myself to think about watching it again in the near future.
 
I think you, like me love Aronofsky's previous films so much that our expectations were way too high.

I think the movie was a pretty good film but doesn't hold a candle to Pi or Requiem. That is just a fact. The movie also doesn't hold a candle to Slumdog Millionaire
 
Originally posted by: Codewiz
I think you, like me love Aronofsky's previous films so much that our expectations were way too high.

I think the movie was a pretty good film but doesn't hold a candle to Pi or Requiem. That is just a fact. The movie also doesn't hold a candle to Slumdog Millionaire
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Perhaps.. I had almost no expectations going in because of how contrived I knew the plot would be but even Aronofsky couldn't save this abortion.
 
Hmmm, interesting. I've been very excited to see this since I first heard about it however long ago that was.

Shame you didn't like it, but I'll definitely still be seeing it.

KT
 
Originally posted by: Lamont Burns
Apparently the studio wanted Nicolas Cage for the role originally. Could have sucked worse for you.
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Yeah I mean honestly if Nick Cage had been cast I wouldn't have even gone to see it, despite my burning gay love for Aronofsky.
 
I'll admit I was intrigued when i found out that it is an Aronofsky film. I got introduced to Aronofsky by The Fountain. Loved the movie so much that I looked it up in wiki and downloaded the director's commentary which was not included in the DVD - read about all the controversies and difficulties making the movie, etc. That movie led me to Aronofsky's other movies such as Requiem and Pi (I'd heard of Requiem before but never watched it) and liked those too. But my disdain for anything WWF/WWE, etc kept me from watching this movie, even though it was directed by Aronofsky. But maybe i'll rent it once it comes out on DVD...
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
I'll admit I was intrigued when i found out that it is an Aronofsky film. I got introduced to Aronofsky by The Fountain. Loved the movie so much that I looked it up in wiki and downloaded the director's commentary which was not included in the DVD - read about all the controversies and difficulties making the movie, etc. That movie led me to Aronofsky's other movies such as Requiem and Pi (I'd heard of Requiem before but never watched it) and liked those too. But my disdain for anything WWF/WWE, etc kept me from watching this movie, even though it was directed by Aronofsky. But maybe i'll rent it once it comes out on DVD...
Click to expand...

Aside from a few signature pieces of cinematography you'd be hard pressed to notice Aronofsky had anything to do with this film.
 
Just got done watching it, and it was merely OK for me, nothing special. In typical guy fashion, I'll say that seeing Marisa Tomei naked was fantastic. She has an amazing body at 44 years old. I was quite surprised to find out she was born in 1964 when I looked up her age, since I was sure she was in her mid-30's.

Mickey Rourke was probably about as perfect for this part as you can get. He personified the aging wrestler, and was very believable. It's the whole story that I felt was pretty weak, though. Like the OP, I just didn't really care about the characters. Without spoiling anything, the whole thing with his daughter seemed very tacked on. Tomei's character as a stripper seemed "convenient", if that makes any sense. And I hated the ending.
 
Just came back from seeing this. Holy shit, what a depressing movie. The characters really weren't that deep. It was cohesive, and came together well though. I liked it, and would recommend it. And finally, the ending was, in a way, perfect.



SPOILER?

Was there something after the credits, or did people just stick around for the Bruce Springsteen song?
 
I really enjoyed it.

I used to watch wrestling as a kid and I am from NJ, where the film was shot and takes place, so there might be some bias there (it was actually filmed where I live - my cousin works at the hospital). I'm so-so on Aronofsky's films, too - so I wasn't expecting much. Didn't know anything about it going into the movie.

Some of it was a little cliche - the stripper with the heart of gold who is supporting her kid, the deadbeat dad trying to make amends with his daughter after a life-threatening experience, etc etc.

But I really felt for Ram. What really did it for me was just about all of the scenes in the deli. He had the heart-attack, was forced to retire from the only thing he loved (and loved him back), and he was working the deli-counter the only way he knew how - performing for customers. Showboating. He just had a way with people. He was upbeat and friendly - cracking jokes, complimenting people. It was the same charisma that led him to be a wrestler in the first place.

The deal with his daughter didn't overwhelm me as much as I imagine the director hoped - and since there was very, very little backstory about the daughter - all of her scenes felt really over-the-top and overdramatic. But I did enjoy the bright green jacket he got for her as a gift. It was like he was giving his daughter a piece of himself - a piece of professional wrestling - flashy, ridiculous, impractical, a little tacky, a little white trash. Again, that just added to the connection with Ram, at least for me.

I thought the ending was perfect. Throughout the movie, Ram is associated with Jesus. It's a little subtle if you aren't paying attention, but it's there. Pam even bluntly says it to him - referencing the Passion of the Christ - "the sacrificial Ram" - and Ram even has a tattoo of Jesus right in the middle of his back. He's trying to "resurrect" his wrestling career. He's constantly being beaten - both physically and emotionally. So at the end he takes one final leap "into the unknown". The cut to black can be whatever you want, I guess. He even says to the fans before the match that only they can say when he's done - so you can be "deep" and look at the cut to black the same way - It's up the the fans to decide his fate - he has given everything for us - so if you think he survives the leap and marries the stripper and gets a call from Vince McMahon to give his career new life - then you can. Or you can see him for the washed-up, drug-taking, charismatic, deadbeat dad he really is - and understand his time is up.

Either way, I was entertained throughout. The wrestling scenes were well done - but I imagine I liked them because I used to like wrestling. The crowd chants were spot-on. A great one was the "Ho-ly-shit" chant (which actually happens). But my absolute favorite was when they all cheered "Use-his-leg!" when he hit the guy with the fan's fake leg.

So there's my pseudo-intellectual "review".

After seeing "Revolutionary Road" last night, this movie was much welcomed.
 
didn't read the thread.

probably going to see this tomorrow.

best be better than the fucking Fountain, which as you know, Platypus, was fucking wretched. 😛
 
Pretty much an acting showcase for Rourke. The story was pretty weak and predictable and all the characters are relatively one dimensional.
 
Originally posted by: ducci
I really enjoyed it.

I used to watch wrestling as a kid and I am from NJ, where the film was shot and takes place, so there might be some bias there (it was actually filmed where I live - my cousin works at the hospital). I'm so-so on Aronofsky's films, too - so I wasn't expecting much. Didn't know anything about it going into the movie.

Some of it was a little cliche - the stripper with the heart of gold who is supporting her kid, the deadbeat dad trying to make amends with his daughter after a life-threatening experience, etc etc.

But I really felt for Ram. What really did it for me was just about all of the scenes in the deli. He had the heart-attack, was forced to retire from the only thing he loved (and loved him back), and he was working the deli-counter the only way he knew how - performing for customers. Showboating. He just had a way with people. He was upbeat and friendly - cracking jokes, complimenting people. It was the same charisma that led him to be a wrestler in the first place.

The deal with his daughter didn't overwhelm me as much as I imagine the director hoped - and since there was very, very little backstory about the daughter - all of her scenes felt really over-the-top and overdramatic. But I did enjoy the bright green jacket he got for her as a gift. It was like he was giving his daughter a piece of himself - a piece of professional wrestling - flashy, ridiculous, impractical, a little tacky, a little white trash. Again, that just added to the connection with Ram, at least for me.

I thought the ending was perfect. Throughout the movie, Ram is associated with Jesus. It's a little subtle if you aren't paying attention, but it's there. Pam even bluntly says it to him - referencing the Passion of the Christ - "the sacrificial Ram" - and Ram even has a tattoo of Jesus right in the middle of his back. He's trying to "resurrect" his wrestling career. He's constantly being beaten - both physically and emotionally. So at the end he takes one final leap "into the unknown". The cut to black can be whatever you want, I guess. He even says to the fans before the match that only they can say when he's done - so you can be "deep" and look at the cut to black the same way - It's up the the fans to decide his fate - he has given everything for us - so if you think he survives the leap and marries the stripper and gets a call from Vince McMahon to give his career new life - then you can. Or you can see him for the washed-up, drug-taking, charismatic, deadbeat dad he really is - and understand his time is up.

Either way, I was entertained throughout. The wrestling scenes were well done - but I imagine I liked them because I used to like wrestling. The crowd chants were spot-on. A great one was the "Ho-ly-shit" chant (which actually happens). But my absolute favorite was when they all cheered "Use-his-leg!" when he hit the guy with the fan's fake leg.

So there's my pseudo-intellectual "review".

After seeing "Revolutionary Road" last night, this movie was much welcomed.
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My problem was the character development, or the complete lack thereof. The scenes where the director wanted you to feel or care for Rourke's interaction with other characters just didnt work at all.

The daughter... could have been something there but he shot the wad too quickly after one time of them hanging out. I simply didnt care about her (she was a bitch) and there wasn't enough of an established relationship with them to make me care.

Same with the stripper... she was cold and empty to him the entire movie save for a few endearing moments that weren't long enough and then all of the sudden she changes her mind after it's way too late for him to care and for the audience to care.

If Aronofsky had developed those two interactions a lot more by making the film longer or by not spending 45 solid minutes of following Rourke around New Jersey in real time then maybe I would been much more effected by the final scene. I agree the last scene was perfect but the whole 'speech' thing was WAY in your face and not needed.. we got the point, we don't need to be t-boned by it.


Also, fuck you zinfamous, the Fountain was awesome 😛
 
The cinematography in The Fountain was awesome but you need to watch the movie three times and create a fucking flowchart to follow the plot.
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
I'll admit I was intrigued when i found out that it is an Aronofsky film. I got introduced to Aronofsky by The Fountain. Loved the movie so much that I looked it up in wiki and downloaded the director's commentary which was not included in the DVD - read about all the controversies and difficulties making the movie, etc. That movie led me to Aronofsky's other movies such as Requiem and Pi (I'd heard of Requiem before but never watched it) and liked those too. But my disdain for anything WWF/WWE, etc kept me from watching this movie, even though it was directed by Aronofsky. But maybe i'll rent it once it comes out on DVD...
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wow.

If The Fountain were my first introduction to Aronofsky, I probably would have tried to hunt him down in order to spare the world from more of that crap 😉

Pi and Requiem, though, are absolutely incredible.
 
Allrighty, so the GF and I just got back from seeing this, and I have to disagree with the monotreme.

The only complaint I have with the film is too much shaky cam. I like shaky cam, when it's appropriate, but not when it's overused (read: Bourne Ultimatum. The Wrestler isn't that bad, but it does seem excessive at times)

SPOILERS:
I thought Tomei's and Rourke's characters did show significant (enough, for this story at least) development. Tomei lives up to the expectations that a woman in her position would have--she may want to get close, but her profession prevents her from doing so. We get a glimpse into her background, enough of it, I think, to infer that she is cautious, she has been damaged by poor decisions and bad luck. She certainly chooses to make that change at the end, but because of Rourke's decision, she can't realize that change. It's unfortunate and depressing, but the ending, I think, is perfect.

The Ram is at the end of his life, confronting lifetime of poor decisions, fading glory, the loss of everything that ever meant anything to him. I think many of us reach that point when faced with the harsh reality of our mortality, when forced to reexamine the choices we've made in life--was it worth it? He tries very hard to make these changes. But, I think because of his own detachment, because of that draw to the only type of world he understands, the only people he can identify with are those fans, that world that gave so much to him, while taking so much. It's fucking harsh.

We don't get that satisfying change in the end, I think, because of yet another series of unfortunate decision, social interactions, failures to connect. Had the final conversation in the club gone a bit differently, had Rourke remembered to meet his daughter, things would not have cascaded they way they did. For Tomei, the window she is allowed to give people is small; and she opened it just briefly--probably more than she has done for anyone in many years, yet Rourke was already to far gone to come back.

I can see why Aronofsky fans would be disappointed as this is a far more typical character-driven story. Something he hasn't tackled before. Frankly, I'm glad to see that he is capable of this, and that he has gone as far away from the Fountain as he possibly can. I feel like he bit off far more than he could chew with The Fountain--should have taken a cue from how difficult it was to get that project off the ground, maybe put more time into it, or suffer those early losses and move on.

I've always loved his approach, but it's good to see filmmakers refuse to let themselves be pigeonholed into an expected genre, fans be damned. This is classic film storytelling, and we don't get much of it these days. Too much experimentation and action. It's good to settle back from time to time, and do something simple.

When I was maybe 4-7 years old, I watched a lot of wrestling (Saturday morning WWF--Hulk vs Iron Sheik days; clearly the inspiration for this character and his career). did get into it after that, but roommates in college were way into the wrasslin world. I gained some more exposure through them, and especially into the more underground, hardcore wrestling circuits. The type of stuff that is it explicitly shown in this film. There's not a bit of nonsense in Aronofsky's film; you really get a sense that this is how it is--these are real people, this is their life, and there isn't anything else in the world--this is how it is.


I thought it was brilliant. I hope Rourke gets the recognition he deserves for this; especially considering how Aronofsky fought to keep him in this project despite the producers' desires to keep him away.
 
You really have to like Aronofsky to get this film. I'm probobly one of the few people that liked the Fountain 😛 It was a LOT like his other movie, Pi, in a lot of ways. It was kinda deep but kinda simple. There were some parts that kinda dragged but so much of Rourke's performance was what you imagined a worn out old wrestler would do and it just lent to his likability. It ended at the perfect time on the perfect scene on the perfect moment hen you look back at what you had just watched. I really liked this one and although not his best work - that title goes to Pi imho - Aronofsky is one helluva director when it comes to telling the story of a man.

And Marisa Tomei naked = :shocked: wow!!!! I would totally pay for a dance from her 😉
 
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