Worth Seeing, Only if You're a Wrestling Fan
Reviewed by diocrash for The Wrestler at 2011-10-02 16:23:56
It wasn't necessarily a bad movie, and it did relaunch Mickey Rourke's floundered career. But really, this movie does exactly what pro wrestling has been doing to their audience for years. It fakes them out.
It is a behind-the-scenes look at the 'real' world of wrestling. Honestly who cares?
I have seen this movie several times. It is very atmospheric and since I love film noir, this movie was a great fit for me. Kathleen Turner burns up the screen and William Hurt is devine the slightly clueless conspirator. If you have seen Double Indemnity, you can't help but make comparisons. The chemistry between Hurt and Turner will make YOU sweat.
Worth seeing, especially if you're a professional wrestling fan.
Reviewed by UncleKitty for The Wrestler at 2009-02-15 00:31:39
Having seen Aronofsky's other films, I was prepared for this one to be pretty bleak, and it is kind of dark. I was hesitant to go see it because A) I?m not a fan of dramas, and B) Of late I?ve gotten burned every time I went to the theater. However, I am a long time professional wrestling fan. A fan who was somewhat astonished that Mickey Rourke not only performed pretty well as a wrestler, but the obvious lengths that were made to appeal to wrestling fans. Mickey Rourke has a match with Necro Butcher from the CZW (a very painful match involving barbed wire and a staple gun I might add). Normally I am not a huge fan of Marisa Tomei either, quite possibly because I don?t normally watch the sort of films she makes. But I find it surprising she didn?t get as much attention from this film as Rourke did. She did very well in it, and it?s probably her role as an aging stripper that keeps her from getting the same recognition. Apparently being naked dancing near a pole as part of your role means your acting abilities count less than if you kept your clothes on. Taking a moment to set aside my first attempt at professionalism and rationality in reviewing a film for a moment: OMG SHE IS HOT!! Wrestling fans will enjoy cameos by various indie wrestlers, many from the CZW, ECW, the former WCW, and even a few former WWE/TNA wrestlers. The matches are pretty much old school 80?s wrestling, except for the hardcore match with Necro Butcher. I am rather surprised they showed the death match style of wrestling. It?s popular and common in the indie wrestling feds, but not with the bigger ones anymore. Even though the Ram is supposed to be in the independents federations now, I thought they?d gloss over how brutal it can be. They didn?t. It was as accurate enough a portrait of wrestling as you can probably get in a big budget film. In short, if you?re a wrestling fan, there are lots of reasons to see it. The wrestling is done well enough, there are many cameos and little shout outs to fans (if the people making this aren?t wrestling fans someone working for them was), and you get to see the darker side of the wrestling life that not many people know about. If you aren?t a wrestling fan, and like a really good drama, you still have plenty of reason to see it, you just wont get some of the stuff that will be noticeable to wrestling enthusiasts. And if you like naked women, there are several visits to a strip club where Tomei?s character works. Have I mentioned she?s hot? She?s actually hotter than the other actress half her age that gets naked in the film. I should probably quit here before I end up focusing on her instead of the film.
Underrated gem
Reviewed by CoolerKing for 1941 at 2008-08-05 12:50:31
OK, not all of the scenes work, but you have to give it to Spielberg. He really, really wants this movie to be funny. Like REALLY. The movie is literally dripping with ambition, so you have to give it credit for that.