The Wrestler

Director - Darren Aronofsky

Genre - Drama

Darren Aronofsky is usually a rebel director who doesn't feel the need to conform to the rules of a conventional filmmaker. In 'The Wrestler' however, this recognizable imprint is untraceable. The movie on the whole didn't live up to Aronofsky's previous dalliances in taking cinema beyond the tried and tested waters. At times, we even felt that it wasn't any different from watching a bio-documentary on Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold Steve Austin. Mickey Rourke wasn't, isn't and never will be the great actor some have tagged him as. He was right on the money for the role being a washed up public figure himself but that is all there is to it. Mind you, he wasn't playing a character which required a miraculous transformation like what De Niro did to himself in 'Raging Bull' or Will Smith's solid turn in 'Ali'. To call Rourke's acting any better than being average in view of these extraordinary performances is unfair and off the mark. An unimaginative script and a safe directing style also contributed to this being Aronofsky's biggest letdown so far.

2.5 STARS!

All about The Wrestler

Comments

Ben said…

THANK YOU! Finally someone who shares similar opinions to mine about that movie. It's what I call "Aronofsky-naturalist-renewal" which is cool, because it totally works in Black Swan, a more organic (read bloody) movie. I found Randy Robinson's struggle for the spotlight to be very unappealing. I mean, the shooting was fine. The subject wasn't. Or maybe it was the shooting that didn't correctly reflect the inner struggle of Ram

May 11, 2011 at 8:35 AM

1minutefilmreview said…

Glad you don't find 'The Wrestler' appealing as well. It was just a pointless movie for us. Maybe only people who are interested in professional wrestlers or fans of Rourke's work (we still can't believe he is still employable. Him, Keanu Reeves and John Cusack definitely have questionable acting prowess) would dig this. Thank you for your fantastic insight Ben! :)

May 12, 2011 at 7:46 AM

Dan said…

Terrific film. Arguably Aronofsky's best but what really sets this film apart is the brutally honest performance of Mickey Rourke. The best performance of his career and proof of what a great actor he could have been.

May 13, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Well, it was just a pointless movie for us. Maybe only people who are interested in professional wrestlers or fans of Rourke's work (we still can't believe he is still employable. Him, Keanu Reeves and John Cusack definitely have questionable acting prowess) would dig this.

May 14, 2011 at 1:38 AM

Unknown said…

I actually thought this was a really good movie. It wasn't Requiem or Black Swan, but this was still one of the better movies made in a while. If you scale it in comparison to his other work it may not rank up as high, but in comparison to the trend at the moment it still rises high above most.

May 15, 2011 at 12:59 AM

Our feelings about the movie have already been said. We don't hate it but we don't think it is something impressive either. Thank you for dropping by and hopefully, we'll see eye to eye on other movies Xay. :)

May 16, 2011 at 7:52 AM