The Wrestler
The Wrestler

Movie spotlight

The Wrestler

2008
Movie
109 min
English

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.

Insights

IMDb7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes98%
Metacritic80/100
Google Users88%
Director: Darren AronofskyGenres: Drama, Sport

Plot Summary

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, a faded professional wrestler from the 1980s, struggles to relive his glory days in dingy independent circuits. Facing declining health and a life of isolation, he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter and pursue a relationship with a former adult film star. The film chronicles his poignant journey as he grapples with aging, regret, and the search for redemption, both inside and outside the wrestling ring.

Critical Reception

The Wrestler was met with widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Mickey Rourke's performance, which was hailed as a career-defining comeback. Critics praised Aronofsky's raw and intimate direction, the film's unflinching realism, and its emotional depth. It resonated with audiences for its powerful portrayal of a man confronting his past and mortality.

What Reviewers Say

  • A raw and powerful character study anchored by Mickey Rourke's triumphant performance.

  • Darren Aronofsky delivers a gritty and emotionally resonant depiction of faded glory and personal redemption.

  • The film is lauded for its unflinching look at the life of a professional wrestler past his prime.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised Mickey Rourke's performance and the film's emotional impact, with many appreciating its realistic and poignant portrayal of a flawed protagonist seeking redemption.

Awards & Accolades

Mickey Rourke won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film also received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and Best Original Song, and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Mickey Rourke insisted on performing many of his own stunts, including real-life wrestling moves, which contributed to the film's authentic and gritty feel, but also led to some real injuries during filming.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
griggs79

griggs79

What a film. It’s raw, heartfelt, and unexpectedly tender. Mickey Rourke's character, all battered pride and broken dreams, is a reflection of our own struggles, clinging to past glory while life keeps kicking him in the ribs. The themes of...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Mickey Rourke is on top-form in this depiction of fading wrestling star "Randy". Once the talk of the tour, he has fallen on hard times. His body hasn't the strength or stamina it once had and after one fairly convincing pasting in the ring...

Wuchak

Wuchak

“The Wrestler” (2008) Twenty years past his glory days in the mid/late 80s, a wrestler (Mickey Rourke) struggles to make ends meet in New Jersey while wrestling on the weekends, taking illegal pain-meds, pursuing a dancer at the local st...

Video Reviews

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