Thoughts on 'The Wrestler'
When I first heard that there were plans to make a movie titled The Wrestler a little more than a year ago, I was skeptical to say the least. I thought Nicholas Cage, who was in talks at the time to star in the film, was miscast as a pro wrestler, and the plot came across as clichéd. More than anything, I just didn’t think Hollywood was capable of making a good movie about professional wrestling.
Obviously, I couldn’t have been more wrong. As I’m sure nearly everyone reading this knows, The Wrestler – starring Mickey Rourke, who landed the role after Cage bowed out – has received rave reviews, won Golden Globe awards and is expected to land some Oscar nominations when they are announced Thursday morning.
I finally saw the movie earlier this week, and you can add my name to the long list of people who were blown away by it. I’m no Roger Ebert, but I thought the script was terrific and director Darren Aronofsky did a great job of creating the realistically gritty world of lead character Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a broken-down wrestling has-been trying to adjust to life outside the ring after health problems force him to hang up the tights. What makes The Wrestler truly special, however, is Rourke’s brilliant performance as Randy. With all due respect to Cage, it just wouldn’t be the same movie without Rourke.
Some who have seen The Wrestler probably consider it to be a downer, but if I were to use one word to describe the movie, it would be “honest.” The wrestling industry is accurately portrayed as unforgiving, but I didn’t get the sense that it is a condemnation of the business. Nor does it glorify it.
The fact is that Randy’s life is typical of a number of down-on-their-luck, past-their-prime wrestlers with battered bodies and dysfunctional lives. Randy just can’t walk away – or, in his case, limp away – from the business even when it is painfully obvious that he should. The rush that he gets from the roar of the crowd is an addiction he can’t kick.
His life is a dichotomy in that he still has some level of fame – fans who will shell out money to get his autograph or have pictures taken with him – yet outside that bubble he is just another guy living in a trailer and taking orders for potato salad behind a deli counter. All the while, he hangs on to the delusion that he’s just one phone call away from getting another shot at the big time.
Of course, there are guys who do make successful adjustments to life after wrestling, and that is acknowledged in the movie in the form of Randy’s story line rival, The Ayatollah (played by former WCW star Ernest Miller), who runs a profitable used car business.
What I like most about the film is that viewers who aren’t fans will come away with a better understanding of what professional wrestlers put their bodies through in the name of entertainment. In graphic detail, The Wrestler demonstrates the distinct difference between the terms “scripted” and “fake.”
Here are some more observations I made about the film:
Any knowledgeable, longtime wrestling fan will be impressed with the authenticity and attention to detail. In the opening sequence, for example, the magazines that Randy appears in are all real wrestling magazines from the 1980s. The scenes that take place backstage at independent shows – with the exception of the one in which a steroid transaction takes place – are spot-on based on my experiences. As a side note, among the independent wrestlers shown in the background are Maryland Championship Wrestling’s Cobian and DJ Hyde. …
Randy’s estranged relationship with his daughter reminds me a lot of the scenes with Jake Roberts and his daughter in the documentary Beyond The Mat. Actually, there are a few similarities between Randy and Roberts. ...
There are some things about Randy’s plight that don’t totally add up for me. For one thing, he maintains a ripped physique, and I would think that a guy who was once a big star and still looks great would be at least a mid-carder in a major promotion. I certainly don’t think he would mutilate himself in barbaric weapons matches for little money in high school gyms, as Randy does. Also, while there are a few hints, it is never made clear why exactly Randy has fallen from grace. He certainly doesn’t come off as disruptive or unreliable. ...
I loved the scene in which Randy assaults his opponent with a fan’s artificial leg. Something like that actually happened at a WWE pay-per-view in 1996, when Shawn Michaels and Diesel beat each other with the artificial leg of the legendary Mad Dog Vachon, who was seated at ringside. ...
I think one thing missing from the movie was a scene that showed the contrast in lifestyles between those at Randy’s level and major stars in a big promotion. ...
If you’re a fan of ’80s metal music like I am, you’ll be thrilled with the soundtrack, which includes songs by Quiet Riot, Cinderella, Ratt, Guns N’ Roses and Accept among others.
Comments
When this movie first came out , I almost disregarded it completely .Then , I figured I'd give it a try , what did I have to lose. .... Wow , I was blown away by this movie . From the onset you knew it was going to be special . Mickey Rourke was outstanding , the story was outstanding and even the manner in which the camera seemed to "follow" Rourke in the movie was unique . There were a few scenes that seemed a little far fetched but overall I loved it . Glad you got to see it Kev .
5*****
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | January 21, 2009 8:26 PM
Any idea on when this is opening in wide release? I don't want to drive 3 hours just to watch it ... but I will if I have to.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I'm not sure about that. Maybe this will help:
http://content.foxsearchlight.com/inside/node/3041
Posted by: Chris Slater | January 21, 2009 11:19 PM
I have commented on this before but what the hell, I hope Mickey gets himself an oscar for this role. He is awesome
Posted by: Seamus | January 22, 2009 12:33 AM
Just saw that Mickey Rourke has been nominated for best actor , but the movie was not nominated for best picture .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | January 22, 2009 9:00 AM
Been meaning to see the film but have not yet, although I do have one question for you Eck. Do you think Eddie Gilbert's estate will get any proceeds from the filmmakers? Aside from the long hair, the Ram has the exact same ring attire and look, with the white elbow pads and lime green tights. That was my first impression when I saw some stills from the movie.
Posted by: Pat O. | January 22, 2009 12:11 PM
Oscar nods are out. Rourke and Tomei were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
That's where the good news ends. Siegel was completely ignored for Best Original Screenplay and Aronofsky was bypassed for Best Director. Being a film nut, and hoping to be involved in the industry some day, it drives me absolutely crazy to see a masterpiece like this get ignored for two important categories, when something like WALL*E got a nod for Screenplay.
At any rate, Kevin, I am thrilled you enjoyed it. :)
Posted by: Mina | January 22, 2009 12:20 PM
I really want to watch this film and I intend to do so soon.
Was that R-truth I caught a glimpse of in the trailer (01:40)
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It was. He even has some brief interaction with Mickey Rourke's character.
Posted by: Sam Fletcher | January 22, 2009 1:49 PM
I just wanted to thank you Kevin for your columns on the wrestling world and thank the Sun Papers for letting you do this....I may have written this before.....my memory is a bit shot.....but at my age and being a wrestling fan for sooooo many years....and still a fan....I so much appreciate what Kevin offers and his opinions on storylines.
Thanks man.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I appreciate the kind words.
Posted by: bking | January 22, 2009 2:13 PM
My biggest surprises from this year's nominations were the exclusion of "The Dark Knight" for Best Picture, The Boss getting overlooked (especially in favor of TWO songs from "Slumdog Millionaire"), and the inclusion of "Tropical Thunder" anywhere for anything!
Honestly, I don't think "The Wrestler" was a standout film -- aside from the performance of Mickey Rourke. I loved it as a film and, especially, for its authentic representation of the independent wrestling community, but to a wider audience, its appeal is fleeting.
Best Original Screenplay is a vastly misrepresented category (where great screenplays are ignored and bad screenplays can win) but even still, I didn't think of "The Wrestler" as a front-runner.
As a director, Darren Aronofsky seems to be fond of alienating the audience through his work, and that trademark was present throughout this film.
The constant ambiguity (which was one of the film's charms) left a lot of work to the viewer in order to fully enjoy it. That may make it his masterpiece, Mina, but in this case, it did not make it a great film.
Still, for us wrestling fans -- you know, the kind that faithfully read well-written blogs from newspapers in cities where we don't even live, "The Wrestler" is a great film! And rest assured, contrary to my original fears, it is NOT just a fictionalized account inspired by "Beyond the Mat" (even if a few elements are at play in both).
Posted by: Mr. Sarcasm | January 22, 2009 3:59 PM
Mickey looked so fit in The Wrestler. I read here (www.projectweightloss.com) about his strict training and diet and, wow, he couldn’t have chosen a better trainer to transform his body.
Posted by: Helen | January 23, 2009 6:46 AM
I, too, was blown away by "The Wrestler" and I can see why Vince hates it. The truth is the truth though, and we all know that what is portrayed in this movie is unfortunately very realistic. I thought the movie was beautifully done, never got cheesy and Rourke was out of control. I remember watching "Training Day" and forgetting that I was watching Denzel Washington and the same can be said for Mickey Rourke in this picture. You're also spot on with your observation that it spells out the differences between "scripted" and "fake". I especially loved when he was making and hiding his blade in his tape.
Also, as far as Vince feeling that it "exposes" the business, isn't this the same guy that put "Tough Enough" on the air and puts mediocre workers over week in and week out? This movie exposed nothing that watching a John Cena match won't do.
Posted by: JGavin | January 23, 2009 11:38 AM
This movie was fantastic, as were the heavy metal soundtrack and the Springsteen theme song. The father-daughter bit did seem straight out of Beyond The Mat with Jake Roberts, and that got me thinking about the hardcore match - was that supposed to channel Terry Funk? Wasn't he doing matches like that at the end of his career?
Posted by: Barney | January 23, 2009 1:49 PM
I loved this movie, especially the fact that it shows the difference between "scripted" and "fake", as you pointed out. Many people who aren't wrestling fans are quick to dismiss the actual hard work that goes into putting on a good show.
And yeah, the soundtrack is awesome! *devil horns*
Posted by: dangergirl | January 23, 2009 6:17 PM
I like the fact that the movie didn't get into what caused him to fall out of the top spot. That seems to be the way it really plays out. Top guys in the business just seem to fade away, more often than not. Very relatable to any fan who lived the sport during that time, like most of us I would assume.
Posted by: Jersey Bill | January 24, 2009 11:09 AM