The Wrestler
The academy award nominated movie The Wrestler is a story of a man who keeps doing what he knows despite the damage that it is doing to him. In this way it is a story that mirrors many mens' careers and speaks about the way by which men define themselves through their jobs and what they do. In many ways it shows the limits and the cost of having one's identity defined in such a way. The Wrestler also suggests that it is very difficult for a person to change their career and life if there is nothing else they know. It also raises the questions of: even if a person loves what they do, what does it cost to keep doing it?
The damage that the wrestler's career has done to him is not merely physical, but it has destroyed his relationships too. Randy (played by Micky Rourke) is lonely for human company and reaches out to others: a kid to play old Nintendo games with, a stripper for companionship. He tries to fix things with his daughter, but is doomed to repeat his same mistakes. When he is forced to try and change what he does for money he has few options. He also has to face little twerpy other men with small amounts of power but the will to use it.
The film functions as an allegory to the career options we have. As we get older we find we have less and less options in what we can do for work - particularly men. When we are children the world is open and anything is possible, we can be a fireman, a doctor or even a wrestler. But then when we hit our 30s, 40s, 50s doors close, people don't let us change, and we struggle to change ourselves.
I could not help but care about this broken man played by Rourke. As a film it has a number of interesting and thought provoking features, so is worth watching. 3 1/2 stars.
5 comments:
I remember well the impact Mickey Rourke had in his first substantial part: 1982's Body Heat. This is something of a comeback vehicle for him but I guessed it would be okay. Now I have a reason to check it out
Rourke is amazing in the wrestler - whether he can do other things after this remains to be seen.
The Wrestler might not be everyone's cup of tea though Ladlitter.
Everyone I know who's seen this movie has found it really moving. I'll get it on Netflicks, because it's no longer playing here.
Ed, you left me a nice long comment once on The Vitruvian Man and Woman.
You said I was good at writing train wrecks. If you like train wrecks, I've got two huge speed trains running fast on the same track right now. Tomorrow I'm putting up the 17th episode. After that, the background and characters and their fate are set. And the rest is acceleration.
Lad Litter is right - Body Heat was a great noir film and Rourke's small part stole the buzz from the 3 major actors.
I guess, due to his 09 nomination, he will be on camera again at this year's academy awards, and we can only hope he will wear another amazing ensemble.
re your predelection for miniature war games: have you noticed that our beloved CALLAN has been newly released on DVD?
sorry no link - for non-believers: Callan was Edward Woodward in title role of cult 1970 series on MI6 and KGB and he loved his miniature soldiers.
Had not come across Callan. Although I believe my parents may have been influenced into naming me because of Edward Woodward.
I also recently rewatched Rubblefish and Rourke is almost unrecognizable in that film compared to today. Lot of damage and plastic surgery...but this only added to his role in the wrestler.
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