MOVIE REVIEW : The Wrestler

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In the early 1980′s, Mickey Rourke transformed himself from amateur boxer into a actor, he starred in films of significant note such as Year of the dragon, Barfly, 9 1/2 weeks and desperate hours which all were sexually charged movies and added to his image as “rumpled, slightly dirty, sordid … rebel persona”. The 8o’s however, were to good for him as adultery, alcoholism, drug addiction and a sense of unreliabilty lead to his temporary downfall. He felt as though he was self destructing so he turned back to his first love, boxing where trained by Chuck Zito (Hell’s Angels member) he had a 6 win 2 draw record in 4 years of professional boxing.

Since then Rourke has had bit parts in films, TV series etc but never really delivered on what was promised so early on in his career. This is where the story changes.

Mickey was cast as Robin/Randy ” THE RAM ” Robinson in The Wrestler who’s story to some extent mirrors Rourke’s ups and downs over his career (remebering just like wrestling the movie is fictional). As the movie starts, Randy enjoys the 1980′s as the World Champion of World of Wrestling (titles also held by Hulk Hogan, Brutus the Barber Beefcake and Zeus to name a few). The 80′s, where hair metal flowed freely, where living the dream was day to day business, where the RAM dealt with the Iraq/Middle eastern Ayatollah as his main enemy on a weekly basis. Fast forward 20 years and all is changed.

The RAM lives in a caravan, works the deli part time at the local supermarket and is generally spiralling down mentally. He’s still treated like a hero but merely out of sympthany. Still looking for that one fight that could take him back to prominence. To earn a honest buck he’ll take whatvever physical harm or personal embarassment. Anything to pay the rent. His relationships exist with fans (who still haven’t grown up), Drug dealers and two ladies.

The first being Cassidy/Pam (Marissa Tomei) who’s a professional entertainer (stripper) down at the local watering hole. Cassidy has a mint body, sexually clad in full body tattoo’s and gets full marks for spending most of her role in a g-string and nothing else. The RAM painfully tries to turn himself from a paying customer to a boyfriend and possible father to her child (MILF status). They momentarily bond when the RAM has a heart attack, but she has to return to work. As the movie evolves so does the relationship (but no X rated scenes). Saying that though, The RAM does pull a young buxom blonde one night who has a penchant for bedding fireman (interesting morning tap and gap scenario). A breathtaking toilet love scene ensues, where the RAM rams away from the back whilst the young lady trash talks him (quite ironic isn’t it).

The next women he relates to miserably is, his daughter Stephanie (Evan Racheal Wood) who is a possible muff duster which is lightly touched upon but should’ve been explored at considerable depth. Trying to get himself back into her life after years of neglect while he was “living the all american dream”. As you would expect this doesn’t go at all well. I thought he was going alright with such super lines as this

“And now, I’m an old broken down piece of meat… and I’m alone. And I deserve to be alone. I just don’t want you to hate me. “

But he brings it all down on himself. He does leave us with this great line to remember him by.

“When you live hard and you play hard and burn the candle at both ends… in this life, you can lose everything you love, everything that loves you. Alot of people told me that I’d never wrestle again, they said “he’s washed up”, “he’s finished” , “he’s a loser”, “he’s all through”. You know what? The only one’s gonna tell me when I’m through doing my thing, is you people here. You people here… you people here. You’re my family. “

The Ram essentially is the poor man’s Rocky/Terminator/John McLlaine. A down trodden member of society who struggles with his own lack of destiny and vision. Very much a one trick pony. If you liked Rocky I, II, III and IV then you’ll like this. Also i’d recommend the doco Bigger, Faster, Stronger which gives us an insight into steroid use and reasons why.

The music is killer, Very 80′s rock from the Scorpians to the L.A Guns. High intense post punk dirty hard rock blues. Which reminds me of a mid 1990′s (form 3/4) Liks strip bar vivian street. My favourite scene is when the RAM, is coming out for his final fight (or one of many more to come) and Sweet Child of Mine (Guns an Roses) is blaring at full volume. Ram and Cassidy/Pam bonded earlier in the film to the soundtrack…

Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Goddamn they don’t make em’ like they used to.
Cassidy: Fu*%in’ 80′s man, best shit ever !
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Bet’chr ass man, Guns N’ Roses! Rules.
Cassidy: Crue!
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Yeah!
Cassidy: Def Lep!
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Then that Cobain pussy had to come around & ruin it all.
Cassidy: Like theres something wrong with just wanting to have a good time?
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: I’ll tell you somethin’, I hate the fu*$in’ 90′s.
Cassidy: Fu%&in’ 90′s sucked.
Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Fu*%in’ 90′s sucked.

I definetly got wood out of this film and would recommend it to all. Basically its a chick flick on “steroids” as there is a love scene and many emo moments. Rourke delivers a fantastic performance so believable because hes led basically the same life. He wins a BAFTA but gets robbed of an Oscar, He can always get one when hes dead though!!

I’d give 7 inchs out of a possible 12 using John Holmes as the gauge!!

Also Rourke has joined the WWE. Check this article out..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/2320835/Mickey-Rourke-punches-WWE-star

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