WWE / WWF. Professional Wrestling, or as it is called these days, ’Sports Entertainment’. Yeah, we’ve all seen, or at least heard about it at one point in our lives. And we may have different opinions on the subject of seeing bare chested guys go around with fancy pyrotechnic entries in the stadium, killer lines ’If you smelllllll.... what the Rock.... is cooking.", fancy ’finishing’ moves that defeat the opponent; and at times, the sheer horror of guys taking falls from 20 foot high structures or crashing on a pile of thumbtacks.
Yes, professional wrestling is an entertaining circus for some, and indeed, has a cult following. For others, it is just another ridiculous sham, with all the moves being pre-orchestrated, and some of the acting seemingly overdone at times...
... but why did I just relate the last couple of paragraphs to pro-wrestling? Because, as the title suggests, ’The Wrestler’ does delve into that line of thought...
... but before you dismiss this movie as something which only a wrestling fan-boy can appreciate, hold on a second. For this movie does not, once mention the WWF or get entralled into a fake-glamour world with a rubbish storyline.
No, The Wrestler is about the search of one man, his struggle, his demons, and his quest for redemption. And it also shows a not-so-glamorous reality of the Pro-Wrestling world, just like the Ranji Trophy is the not-so-glamorous part of the cricketing world.
Indeed, The Wrestler is so hard hitting, so painfully real, so emotionally filled and so moving, that is does induce sadness, guilt, pain, tears, pity, empathy and for a few brief moments, joy, in its 2 hour run time.
The story delves into the story of a fictional wrestler, Randy ’The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke), who was a high-flying all-star wrestler in the 1980’s who used to headline all the nationwide events, but now, 20 years on, is a washed up figure of his old self. He has no money to pay the rent for his trailer home, and he makes ends meet by working at a supermaket on weekdays and wrestling the local circuit on weekends against much younger opponents, for whom he is still an icon.
There is only only thing that Randy knows how to do... is to wrestle. He cannot imagine being anyone else. Indeed, that is aptly highlighted in one of the best dialogues in the movie which Randy delivers, "The only place I get hurt... is out there.", signifying that while in the wrestling ring, inspite of the physical injuries, he can only get hurt when he is out of the ring, in the real world, when he confronts reality.
Randy has no one left in his life. No family, no relationships. He goes occasionally to a strip club where he has developed a friendship with a 40’s something stripper, Cassidy (played by Oscar Winner Marisa Tomei). Indeed, in many ways, Cassidy is like Randy. They are both past their prime and their bodies cannot hold out, but their professions are the only things that they can do. Randy may actually have some feelings for her, but whether she is using his feelings to get more business out of him, or indeed, does she genuinely reciprocate them? These are questions that you ask yourself in the movie.
It is through Cassidy’s advice that Randy tries to resolve his differences with his enstranged daughter, Rachel (Evan Rachel Wood). Indeed, this part of the story shows Randy’s complete failing at being any good at anything beyond the professional wrestling ring, for instance, at relationships. It is here, more than ever, that you start to feel for the old, broken down bum that Randy is. Yes, he is a loser, has-been in so many parts of his life. But he still tries to make amends whenever possible, and fails in his attempts.
Randy’s character is not perfect, but he does not wallow in self pity. He just does what he thinks is best, which may not be to everyone’s understanding. And he just wants one last show at getting back in the ring and making it back to the top again, a most likely to be unrealized dream, but that does’nt stop him from trying.
You would have noticed that the review has till now been mostly focusing on Randy’s character, and that’s because, like the movie, it deserves to. Mickey Rourke has delivered a performance worthy of an Oscar. Indeed, as of today, he has won the Best Actor gong at the Golden Globes and the BAFTA. Five minutes into the movie is all you need to understand why he so deserves it. He brings across all the emotions to Randy ’The Ram’ that has just been described. He has trained a lot to build his physique for the movie (Indeed, he took steroids to build his muscles for the role). He lives and breathes Randy ’The Ram’. and brings out the range of emotions from the audience that Sylvester Stallone could only dream of with Rocky Balboa. He makes you feel sorry for him, feel like crying, makes you cringe, and at times, makes you see hope. Rourke also delivers some heart wrenching dialogue, for instance, "I am an old, broken down piece of meat, and I’m all alone.... and I deserve to be all alone... I just don’t want you to hate me."
And he is helped very ably by Tomei, who has also been nominated in the Supporting Actress category at the Oscars. Her character mirrors Randy’s in so many ways, that, in a strange sort of way, they appear to be soulmates.
Evan Rachel Wood does her small part well too, as the daughter who never had a father growing up, but at times, her overscreaming personality just smirks with a hint of artificialness. Still, it does not take away from the brilliant moments she shares with Rourke.
The Wrestler should also be appreciated for showing that, while Pro-Wrestling is fake and orchestreated, there is a lot which goes behing the spectacle. It shows the true life of the local wrestler in the US, the backstage, where the opponents discuss their moves that they would perform in the match. They used a handheld camcorder to get a ’live’ feel of the ring, and it works. Indeed, some times, the brutaulity will make you cringe, like for instance, in the hard-core match in the movie, where the wrestlers actually us a staple gun, and objects like barbed wire pierce through their flesh. It is gruesome and not for the faint hearted.
Another bonus with the movie is the title track, ’The Wrestler’ sung by Bruce Springsteen, which appears during the closing credits. Trust me, you want to stay back after the movie ends just to listen to this song in the credits.
The Wrestler has already been released in the US, and will most probably release in India only after the Oscars. No, the Wrestler will not uplift you like Slumdog Millionaire. It is a gritty, realistic tale of one man’s quest for himself. See if for a brilliant performance from Rourke, who, like Health Ledger for the Dark Knight, should deservedly walk away with an Oscar this year.
Should you see the movie with your spouse... No, for he/she would probably find it too gruesome. With your friends? No, even if they are WWE fans. And this movie is definitely too gristly to be shown to children.
No, see this movie by yourself... if only to better appreciate one of the best performances of 2008.
Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=61-GFxjTyV0
Warning: Contains Violence, Nudity and Graphic Language.