Maybe it's because Mickey Rourke is staging a "comeback" with this movie. Maybe because the film was low-budgeted and in spite of this, delivered beyond satisfaction. Maybe because Darren Aronofsky (my favorite actress's Rachel Weisz's real-life partner) directed it. Whatever the reason is, I find The Wrestler overrated. There is so much ballyhoo about Rourke's performance and how award-worthy this whole movie is and I probably expected too much. To be fair, Rourke did a remarkable job here. Marisa Tomei (nominated for Best Supporting Actress) is equally deft in her portrayal as a pole-dancing, stripteasing, lap-dancer. Evan Rachel Wood playing Rourke's lesbian daughter is worth mentioning, too.
But there's nothing really fresh or new in this movie that hasn't been tackled in any other film before it. Stories of personal redemption and glory, of trying to connect with abandoned children, of trying to find love in the unlikeliest places and circumstances, of "seizing the day" have always been Academy Award staples. Even the ending that's left open for interpretation is just a tad contrived.
My verdict: Although a definitely breakthrough performance from Rourke may snag him the Oscar, I still favor Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) or Sean Penn (Milk) to win.
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