Kevin's Watch

Wow, just wow. Possibly, one of the best movies I've ever seen. This is DeNiro's Raging Bull (which I have never seen, btw ), Brando's On The Waterfront, Hank's Philadelphia, Pacino's Godfather II, Berenger's Platoon, Grant's North By Northwest...this list goes on. There are some roles that very few actors were born to play. Randy "The Ram" Robinson is clearly Mickey Rourke's. A role that parallels his own career so succinctly it's almost scary, it's a one man show that he blows out of the park.

Jesus, this movie was so detail oriented, in all aspects, that it gave me a serious Jersey flashback: Elizabeth still remains a dead-end deathtrap despite nuclear energy and a serious decline in cancer deaths due to horrible air pollution. I was at a beer can collector's convention with my friend Livy in the first large building they show in Atlantic City in '78 (hey, I was a nerd before I knew it...) Of course The Boss singing the closing song sums it all up.

That song, as it was at the Golden Globes, should have been nominated for the Academy Awards. Marisa Tomei was hot and did a good job, but there's no way she should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress, there are a number of other women that deserve that more. The film boils down to Darren Aronofsky's keen eye for tragedy and absolute detail. Rourke and he have pushed each other to the very limit and have come out changed. The ultimate anti-hero! Superior.

I'm going to see this for my birthday! Cant wait!

Both people that I know that have seen this one give it rave reviews as well. Of course I am sure it helps that they watched a good bit of WWF back in their younger years...

I was aware of WWF in the past, but always considered it a joke. This film shows you the gritty reality that actually faces these guys in the ring, unintended injuries, intended injuries, drug use and their potentially life threatening consequences. If you're as old as I am you remember Gorgeous George and Andre the Giant, even before Hulk Hogan. "The Ram" is a combination of George and Hogan-not solely based on Hogan. You don't have to be a Pro-Wrestling fan to love this movie--my wife has never seen the 'sport' before and loved it.

I have a long memory concerning pro-wrestling, too. I was 10 or 11 when my dad started taking me to matches at the Winnipeg Arena (now demolished). I used to watch matches on TV, too. Back then (the early 80's) it was still called the AWA. I remember the likes of the Gagne brothers, the Crusher, Mad Dog Vachon, Baron von Rashke, and a bunch of others. It was still a simpler time, when the wrestlers weren't as over-the-top in their personas as they are today.

Your enthusiasm for this movie does make me want to see it, too, danlo.

Ahhh, Matrixman appears to be of the same era as I, although for me as a kid my interest peaked with Chief Jay Strongbow.

AjK wrote:Ahhh, Matrixman appears to be of the same era as I, although for me as a kid my interest peaked with Chief Jay Strongbow.

I go back at least as far as Mr. Wrestling I and Mr. Wrestling II, Tora Tanaka, Andre the Giant, Haystacks Calhoun, Dusty Rhodes, etc.

I remember Andre the Giant. He was a hard guy to miss!

And I just now remembered Jesse "the Body" Ventura. What a character!

But High Lord -- oops, Chief Jay Strongbow and some of the other names don't ring a bell with me. (Pro-wrestling was an intense but brief part of my existence as a kid, so I didn't get to know every name.)

Wrestler was one of the most well-done films I've ever seen. Rourke was perfect. But I was kind of bored through the middle of it...but by the end, with that last scene, it all fit, and I was almost in tears. Yah, much like Raging Bull from that perspective.

*** out of **** for me.

i love Rourke and was pulling for him at the Oscars. I grew up with Andre, Chief, Haystack, Captain Lou....

Not too long ago, I watched a movie from the year 2008 called The Wrestler. It stars Mickey Rourke as aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who is told by his doctor after he suffers a severe heart attack (and has to undergo the resulting bypass surgery) that he must retire from the ring. Marisa Tomei is his also-aging exotic dancer friend (and potential love interest) going by the stage name of "Cassidy". Evan Rachel Wood is his high school-aged daughter Stephanie, who is estranged from him.

This movie is for sure not a family film, as it has violence, drug use, sex, and cursing. But, while I normally don't care for many sports movies, and have never truly been a wrestling fan, I feel I must say some positive things about this particular flick. It feels very introspective, and I admire that. Rourke as The Ram does a terrific job showing a concerned and vulnerable side to his tough guy character, as he is remorseful about how he has neglected Stephanie, who apparently lives in an orphanage. Tomei's dancer Cassidy walks a fine line between being tough and empathetic, ultimately deciding to be there for The Ram as he decides to get back in the ring, reminding him that he is risking his life by doing so though ahe doesn't want to see him take another beating in his performance. Wood's Stephanie is thoroughly believable as a righteously resentful offspring.

I can't consider a movie like The Wrestler to be down for the count, so I'm still in the ring for it, down to the final sounding of the bell.

Cord - I'm a huge wrestling fan. And I have to say that Rourke does a great job in this film. It is very accurate to the industry. I really enjoyed this film.

And thought that Maresi Tomei was also outstanding.

Also adding authenticity were actual wrestlers in roles including R Truth, Austin Aries, Cesaro, Drew Gulak, the Blue Meanie and many others.

I am really enjoying your movie reviews.

I'm glad you took a chance on this gem of a movie.