Mini Review: 'The Wrestler'

Darren Aronofsly is one of the most interesting film makers currently working. From the headache mind games of 'Pi', to the visually stunning nightmare of 'Requiem for a Dream', to the eternal love sci fi epic 'The Fountain' he has made his name as a director with the ability to merge both story and visuals in an always interesting way.
For 'The Wrestler' he goes a different direction. The emotional story is still there, but the pristine look is not. This film is ugly to look at, and with reason. The people in this film are real people living with and in the grime, there is no glorious technicolour in their lives.

Mickey Rourke brings such subtle emotional shifts to his role. It is not a loud performance at all, it is all quiet despair and self loathing. When he is in his wrestling world he is somebody to a few fans, but when he is out of it he is not able to exist. He can’t form relationships, yet alone hold on to them. The two relationships he has are either bound to fail or have no chance at surviving. In the hands of Rourke, you can see the resignation of his fate in his eyes.

His relationship with his daughter is broken, he has wasted the one chance to salvage it and wasted it. Even Rachel Wood give a wonderful performance as his daughter. All little girl in need of a father wrapped up with an adult angery with constant rejection, all bound loosely in one package. She allows you to see her pain as both the adult and the child.

As good as those two performances were, nothing prepared me for how honest Marisa Tomei was going to be. She is this woman, and knows her inside out. The forced smile and not so thick skin become her amour, but the caring sensitive woman constantly gives her away. Oscar should take note. She has no big scenes, but as a viewer you latch onto her. She becomes your safety net.

The Wrestler is a film about how we deal with rejection. We either grow skin like leather, turn away from that aspect of our lives, or grab on to one thing that can keep you going.

Darren Aronofsky has created one of the films of the year.

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