When thinking of a great film to review for this week, I was actually amazed that I (or no one for that matter) had never reviewed The Wrestler.  Mickey Rourke makes an incredible comeback into the art of acting, and animates a story of an old wrestler’s life onto the screen.  This drama film is a perfect “diamond in the rough” and is one of the most raw and realistic films I have ever seen.

Two decades ago, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was one of the most successful wrestlers of his time.  Now, he is still trying.  Randy lives alone in his trailer, requires glasses and a hearing aid to function, works part time at a supermarket, and wrestles on the weekends to make ends meet.  You can now find “The Ram” at the local VFW or Lions Club Hall and, needless to say, they aren’t exactly tearing down the house to come and watch him wrestle anymore.  The audience experiences the life of a dejected wrestler who is desperately trying to find his purpose and regain his past.  Randy attempts to reconcile his relationship with his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). But, like all scarred relationships, the attempt to fix childhood abandonment is not easy.  Randy is also attempting a relationship with a stripper he is in love with, Cassidy, played by Marisa Tomei.  Randy demonstrates that it is difficult to change a life that you are used to.  The Ram is seemingly a “lost soul” and struggles with accepting his life outside of the ring.  He arranges a comeback fight with his 1980′s nemesis, The Ayatollah, in a desperate attempt to win back his fame and glory.

What most attracts me to this movie is the organic creativity of it.  The Wrestler has no amazing special effect scenes, it was not filmed in 3D animation, and the actors portrayed in the film look like everyday normal struggling people.  In a culture where our movies are being injected with beefed up special features and effects and can charge you an extra buck or two for 3D glasses, this film, as I stated before, it a diamond in the rough.  I must honor the writer of this film, Robert D. Siegel and the director that made this movie come to life, Darren Aronofsky.  They made sure that The Wrestler required only a camera, an inspiring story, and some incredible acting.  That’s it.  This film is well deserving of 5 stars and is truly a Micky Rourke masterpiece.  Some say this film was a depiction of Mickey’s acting career, but who knows!  I do know that this is one of my favorites and I am overjoyed that film makers are not lost in the 21st century movie steroid movement and are still able to create raw masterwork movies.

P.S.  Happy Valentine’s Day!  Sorry I didn’t review something a bit more romantical!