On W List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
The Wrestler (2008)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
4/09, 8/11
4/09:
The most fun I've had while watching an awards show was the Golden Globes when Bruce Springsteen won the award for Best Song
and Darren Aronofsky flipped the bird which went uncensored during Mickey Rourke's speech for his Best Actor award.
Up next was the Oscars. The show droned on forever until the announcement finally came. When Robert De Niro was making a long
tribute to Sean Penn, I immediately turned off the TV, knowing exactly where it was going. For your information, Robert De
Niro and Mickey Rourke never got along during the filming of Angel Heart, and they've hated
each other since then.
It was the most disappointing moment in a long time, and I vowed not to watch any more of the garbage Academy Awards show.
My hopes were high for Mickey Rourke. Because he burned many bridges during his career, the snub wasn't a surprise.
The truth is: Mickey Rourke was robbed because he gave one of the best performances of his career in
The Wrestler. Technically, I'm somewhat disappointed with Darren Aronofksy's direction; it's not as deep as I hoped
for, and there are too many close-ups, giving me a headache. I prefer medium shots most of the time.
What I wanted is more depth out of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. Instead, it's been the strength of Mickey Rourke's acting.
He has taken his craft to another level. It's harrowing to watch his character sink to new lows. By the way, when
the two wrestlers were stapling each other, I was thinking, "Why not fake it like they did for the film instead of the other
way around?"
All in all, in many ways, The Wrestler is the 21st century pro wrestling version of
Raging Bull.
8/11:
It's clear Mickey Rourke was robbed of Best Actor Oscar.
I grew up watching WWF during the 80's and 90's and fondly remember the names of the wrestlers, the legendary matches,
and their eventual deaths. Then, I remember Mickey Rourke's films from that time, too, and what an enormous talent
he was. Combining both, it's been an amazing convergence to make The Wrestler possible.
All in all, Mickey Rourke, not Sean Penn, should've won the Oscar for Best Actor.