John’s Movie Musings

Do you like sad movies?  Do you kindly offer your middle finger to any film that ends Happily Ever After?  Do you yearn for an existential hero who, already without any tangible value, proceeds to remove all perceived value as well?  Let me introduce you to The Wrestler.

For a lot of people, The Wrestler was the best movie last year.  These same people need a hug.  Slumdog Millionaire got all the awards, but both Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were nominated for best actor/actress.  Despite the depressing story, all the kudos are well deserved.

Tragedies aren’t always bad movies.  Shakespeare, anyone?  The Wrestler certainly isn’t of that caliber (duh), but still very enjoyable.  I think the most fascinating piece of this is the bizarre life of a wrestler.  I used to work with a guy who was once a Pro Wrestler.  He would say that everything was fake, except for the injuries.  The Wrestler brilliantly captures this in disturbing ways you can’t look away from.  Imagine Bob Ross painting a train wreck.

There was one scene towards the end involving a cheese slicer that took me out of the moment, but for the rest of the movie, the acting is superb.  You care about every single one of the characters, from Marisa Tomei’s stripper every guy wants to rescue to Evan Rachel Wood’s daughter with serious father wounds.

The Wrestler won’t be for everyone and you definitely should prepare yourself beforehand.  But if you want to risk it, it’s a powerful film that’ll hit you emotionally.

Grade: A-