The Wrestler

I have not seen Sean Penn's Oscar winning performance in Milk, but unless Penn actually took a bullet in the making of the film I do not see how he could have outdone Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky's harrowing The Wrestler. Rourke is mesmerizing with his shear size and presence throughout the film. Aronofsky fills every frame with the broken giant and Roarke abliges him by creating a character with an aura that outshines even the most earnest of supporting performances, and this is a superb supporting cast. Rourkes character, Randy, is, as his daughter, Stephanie, played by Evan Rachel Wood, describes him, "a living, breathing fuck-up." He has been selfish, irresponsible and whole-heartedly single minded in his pursuit of success in professional wrestling. However, wrestling has not given nearly as much back, or, at least, not of the things most people count as truly important. Randy is alone in the autumn season of his life and while he has developed a sincere bond with, Pam, his favorite stripper, he struggles to push the relationship beyond business because of the sordid circumstance under which they have met. At the same time Randy hopes to repair the seemingly irreparable breach in his relationship with his daughter.

It becomes obvious by the end of this story that this is not a story of redemption, but of destiny. While I cannot agree with the thesis put forward by Aranofsky with this film, I cannot ignore that is a powerful story of warning to those who live for themselves, and singularly invest themselves in their work without regard for relationships or the consequences that come from such a life with blinders.