The Wrestler

Aronofsky, never one to disappoint, knocks our socks off with his fourth feature. He has proven his technical prowess in Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, but with The Wrestler he showcases his range and talent for simplicity in this grainy, handheld low-budget drama. Screenwriter Robert D. Seigel was the editor-in-chief of The Onion (America’s Finest News Source) until 2003 when he apparently turned his attentions to screenwriting. And for all the comedy in his past, he succeeded in turning a comedic target into an object of pathos. In this well-researched story, Seigel brings WWF star Randy “The Ram” Robinson out of the ring into the real world where he cannot blend in with his hulking, awkward body and no employable skills. Seigel juxtaposes Randy with his closest confidant, stripper “Cassidy” (Marisa Tomei), whose relationship highlights the film’s 21st-century take on prostitution in entertainment and issues of identity. When “Cassidy” and “Randy” get together outside of the strip club, she asks to be called Pam, insisting that she a mother first and foremost, not a stripper, whereas Randy (whose real name is Robin) identifies only as a wrestler. When Cassidy is stripping, she draws a very distinct line with her customers that protect her from the slippery slope toward prostitution, but when it comes to a gristly match involving a staple gun, barbed wire, and piles of shattered glass, it is clear to the audience that Randy has drawn no line in wrestling—he is willing to go to any extreme to please his audience. The camera haunts him throughout his unraveling life with a von Trier/Van Sant bent, following him slavishly until the final wrestling match when the roles reverse—Randy has surrendered control of his life, and he must follow the camera out into the ring. We know then with certainty that he has given everything over to his wrestling audience and the camera—to us—leaving nothing for himself. Rourke’s extraordinary performance creates a character that is vulnerable and loveable, and will haunt you for days.

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Robert D. Seigel