The Wrestler: Review

Darren Aronofsky's last film, The Fountain, was a modern-day sci-fi parable of love and loss set against a kaleidoscope of Spanish conquistadors and outer space. It is a visual and spiritual feast of ideas that is well-worth the 90min running time. However, critically the film was divisive and audiences stayed away in droves. Add a tortured production, that saw the initial version of it scrapped to be resumed two years later with a lower budget, it is no surprise that Aronofsky followed that ambitious film with this low-key character study.

Playing an ageing wrestler, who only receives affection by having himself beaten to a pulp in-front of a screaming audience or by paying lap-dancers, Rourke's hulking figure is in almost every frame. And, it is his performance that makes the film worth-seeing. Some have said that his performance is perhaps less worthy as he is essentially playing himself; a broken down piece of meat actor playing a broken down piece of meat wrestler. This, of course, is an absurd idea. It is no easier playing a version of yourself than someone else entirely and surely it takes much more courage, insight, and humility to expose yourself on film as Rourke does here.

Aronfosky's direction in his past films has been very conscious. While the mark of his direction is still all over this film; note the use of the steadicam to mirror the images of Rourke heading to the wrestling ring with him heading to the deli counter; all visual tricks to entertain the audience have been discarded to watch the actors in a raw, almost uneditorial fashion. It does not make for an overly entertaining film but it does pay off in dividends by letting this unassuming story seep into viewers hearts as the final frames play.

I think this is what it must have been like to see a film in the seventies. Discerning adults, going to the movies, not for mind-numbing escape but, looking for something to stimulate the heart and fuel the late night conversation. If that was the film-makers goal then they have succeeded admirably!