A haunting story about redemption

"The Wrestler"
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
****/****

Great directors are those who often re-invent themselves after a few films. Darren Aronofsky has just re-invented himself with his 4th feature, "The Wrestler." Aronofsky has also resurrected an acting career in Mickey Rourke, who was more than left for dead a decade ago.

The topic of wrestling has never been tackled in a film, the documentary "Beyond the Mat," has been the only true look into professional wrestling done by a film-maker. I grew up a wrestling fan as a kid, I would order every Pay-Per-View event, and if I was lucky I would go to Cleveland or Pittsburgh to view one. The whole idea of a scripted wrestling match done by trained athletes could seem ridiculous to some, but millions of fans have followed the sport for decades.

"The Wrestler," successfully shows the end of an era for a wrestler who was big in the 80's but has faded into obscurity. Mickey Rourke plays Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an 80's fan favorite, who is now at the end of his time, he now wrestles in local gyms, halls, and run down arenas. He is broke, alienated from his daughter, and alone. He leaves in a trailer in Jersey, where he regularly can't pay the rent. When he doesn't have a low-paying wrestling gig on the weekend, he goes to a strip club to see his favorite dancer Cassidy, played by Tomei.

Aronofsky takes a very indie approach to making this film, the budget was only 6 million, and Aronofksy shoots the whole film hand held. There are no fancy shots, or edits, only an actor and a director telling an intimate story. The film doesn't capture the high-caliber wrestling shows that the WWE would represent, but the lower level circuits that travel through small towns to put on shows. Aronofsky captures the behind the scenes real life stuff with authenticity. All of these wrestlers are friends looking out for each other, before the match they go over what they will do in attempt to fire the audience up. After one brutal fight that Randy is involved in, he walks back to the dressing room with medics waiting to treat him, he suffers a heart attack and wakes up in a hospital.

Mickey represents Randy in every sense of the word, they are each other through and through. While most of the other wrestlers have different persona's in the ring, Randy doesn't, he IS Randy "The Ram" . After Randy's heart attack, he attempts to visit his estranged daughter Stephanie played effectively by Evan Rachel Wood. They're relationship now means the world to a man that can no longer do what he loves. When the opportunity comes around for "The Ram," to face a rival opponent in the ring on the 20th anniversary of their last match, he must risk his health and career on one last match.

The film could have been over-wrought with cliches, but screen-writer Robert Siegel humanizes the 3 main characters in the film. Mickey Rourke's career-comeback has stemmed from this brutally honest performance; his physical ability along with his battered real life persona have created a likable character that wants redemption.

Marisa Tomei as the love interest/stripper is deeply touching, she along with Randy, depend on their bodies to live, a strong parallel that connects them. Tomei, along with Rourke will get nominated for their tough performances.

Films like these don't come along often, original ideas blended with a realistic approach by a director who based his last 3 films on style more than story. Aronofsky's vision, along with his ability to awaken a forgotten actor, have proved to be worthwhile in this exhilarating tale of a man who has become the product of his environment. "The Wrestler," is in limited release now, but should expand wide in the coming weeks, its as true a film as you will see this year.