The Wrestler: 'Rourke' solid

Jan 13 2009 Pierce Hunt, Surrey Herald

With the majority of financers reluctant to fund Darren Aronofsky's latest project - The Wrestler - the determined director was left with the bare minimum of cash to make the film with the unlikely lead of Mickey Rourke.

Having trained for two months for the role without payment, Mickey was told that the film company would have to recast for a bigger name because they were struggling to raise the collateral with him as the star. But after a week or so, Aronofsky decided to go ahead with a minimal budget - less than £5million - and managed to get Mickey back on board.

Rourke shines as the larger-than-life character of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson. It's obvious Randy's heyday is well and truly over. After his rise to mega-stardom in the 80s as an iconic professional wrestler, twenty years on, he is resigned to the independent wrestling circuit, where he performs to diehard fans in high school gyms across New Jersey to make ends meet.

His prominent, perma-tanned, steroid-induced torso remains, but it's showing clear signs of wear and tear from years of abuse.

Living in a grotty trailer park, The Ram's existence is a drab one. His fall from grace is spectacular, if not a little depressing. But it's the thrill of the performance and the adulation from the fans that drives Randy to carry on regardless.

However, after a prolonged and brutal match, Randy suffers a heart attack, forcing him into retirement.

Soon, Randy begins to feel lost without the ring and the screaming fans, and re-evaluates his direction in life.

His attempts at patching up relations with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) lean towards the farcical as he proves that his parenting skills are in need of some serious honing. And his love life eventually staggers into gear when he woos an initially hesitant stripper, Cassidy (Marisa Tomei).

After managing to mess things up with his daughter, once again through his own negligence, it's clear that Randy will not change.

He cannot help himself in coming out of retirement and engaging in the rematch of the century against The Ayatollah (Ernest Miller). Not even the allure of Cassidy's willingness to finally commit can stop The Ram from the battle, this one last time.

Rourke is magnificent in a performance of a lifetime. The film cannot fail to blow you away. The dry humour and brilliant one-liners litter a script Rourke was born to take the reins of. You will not be disappointed.

10/10