agmtw logo
search
The Wrestler (2008)

The Wrestler (2008)

An action movie on struggling with failure late in life, featuring a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Mickey Rourke

The Very Best

9.3

Movie

France, United States of America
English
Drama, Romance
2008
DARREN ARONOFSKY
Abraham Aronofsky, Ajay Naidu, Alex Whybrow
109 min

What it's about

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.

The take

In 2008, legendary and controversial director Darren Aronofsky delivered yet another unforgettable allegory, starring Mickey Rourke as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aging professional wrestler long past his prime, who is struggling to retain a sense of identity, purpose, and dignity later in life. Rourke, who worked as a professional boxer in his 90s and, like his protagonist, almost hung his hat at the time the movie was shot, delivers a once-in-a-lifetime performance that rightly earned him a Golden Globe. Everybody talked about this movie when it came out! Marisa Tomei's performance, who plays the mid-40s stripper The Ram pursues a serious relationship with, was also deemed iconic by some critics. Shot on 16mm film, The Wrestler's cinematography, like its acting, feels incredibly raw, intimate, and realistic. It is essentially about bouncing back, making amends, and growing old and features acting performances that will be remembered for a long time. One for the books!

Comments

An excellent film! Rouke perfectly portrays the action, violence and emotions that come with his characters. Great script too, never boring.

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

My Old Ass (2024)

A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears

8.6

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

8.1

Silenced (2011)

A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea

9.0

System Crasher (2019)

A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.

9.0

The Substance (2024)

Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror

8.0

Forgotten Love (2023)

The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama

7.7

Look Back (2024)

Art connects people through time and space in this short and sweet drama

9.0

Emilia Pérez (2024)

Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez return to their roots in this multinational crime musical drama

7.5

Incendies (2011)

Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene

9.9

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.