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The Wrestler (2008) 8.0
Ratings:
8.0/10 from 192,294 users
Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 518 user | 371 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle. Director:Darren AronofskyWriter:Robert D. Siegel |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Mickey Rourke | ... | ||
| Marisa Tomei | ... | ||
| Evan Rachel Wood | ... | ||
| Mark Margolis | ... | ||
| Todd Barry | ... | ||
| Wass Stevens | ... | ||
| Judah Friedlander | ... | ||
 |
Ernest Miller | ... | |
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Dylan Keith Summers | ... |
Necro Butcher
(as Dylan Summers)
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Tommy Farra | ... | |
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Mike Miller | ... | |
| Marcia Jean Kurtz | ... |
Admissions Desk Woman
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| John D'Leo | ... | ||
| Ajay Naidu | ... | ||
| Gregg Bello | ... | ||
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
This is a drama about an aging professional wrestler, decades past his prime, who now barely gets by working small wrestling shows in VFW halls and as a part-time grocery store employee. As he faces health problems that may end his wrestling career for good he attempts to come to terms with his life outside the ring: by working full time at the grocery store, trying to reconcile with the daughter he abandoned in childhood and forming a closer bond with a stripper he has romantic feelings for. He struggles with his new life and an offer of a high-profile rematch with his 1980s arch-nemesis, The Ayatollah, which may be his ticket back to stardom. Written by Matlock-6
Taglines:
Love. Pain. Glory.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 January 2009 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El luchador See more »Box Office
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£802,046 (UK) (16 January 2009)Gross:
$26,236,603 (USA) (8 May 2009)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Written by Eben Jones and Deesha Sarai
Performed by Deesha Sarai featuring Critical Child
Courtesy of Critical Child Productions
By Arrangement with Fine Gold Music
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Shot in 40 days. See more »Goofs
Prior to his last fight, whilst he is preparing, Randy is seen shaving his armpits. However, whilst at the fight venue, he can clearly be seen to have hair under his armpits. See more »Soundtracks
"Just Let Your Freak Out"Written by Eben Jones and Deesha Sarai
Performed by Deesha Sarai featuring Critical Child
Courtesy of Critical Child Productions
By Arrangement with Fine Gold Music
See more »
Wow, what a sordid but fascinating film. I can why Mickey Rourke won so many awards for his performance, too. The same goes for the film.
The film was shocking to me: For instance, it was a shock seeing Rourke -"Randy The Ram" - with the long, flowing blond hair and rippling muscles. Hey, it's not that former boxer was ever in bad shape, but he never had muscles like this either. The man must have pumped a lot of iron to get ready for this role as an aging wrestler.
Another shock was seeing Maria Tomei, of "My Cousin Vinny" fame, naked
- and in that state in more than one scene. She didn't leave much to
the imagination as "Cassidy." A third shock was seeing some of the early wrestling scenes. Yeah, pro wrestling is rough stuff and it's bloody and it's fake, etc., but the scenes in here are pretty brutal, more than I've ever seen on TV. The one extended match with the "staples" was pretty gruesome.Evan Rachel Wood is convincing as Randy's daughter "Stephanie." This 21-year-old is no stranger to acting, having been doing it since she was four! The scenes with her and her dad are memorable.
When the shock of the above scenes of sex and violence (and language) fade away, underneath it all is a very tender, sad tale of a lonely man who invested too much in his career and, after coming close to mortality, realizes the important of family and simply being loved by anyone. That's what sticks with you long after the film ends. Loneliness can be a killer.
"Randy" tries to mend fences and post a few himself - in his final quest not to wind up as an island in this world of humanity - with both successful and unsuccessful results. Sometimes you can never change what you are, and sometimes you can. Both of those are demonstrated here in this oddly-edgy-but sentimental film.