The Wrestler (2008)

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writer (WGA):

Robert D. Siegel (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Love. Pain. Glory.

Plot:

A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.

Plot Keywords:

Wrestling | Wrestler | Professional Wrestler | Stripper | 1980s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Randy
Marisa Tomei	...	Cassidy
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Stephanie
Mark Margolis	...	Lenny
Todd Barry	...	Wayne
Wass Stevens	...	Nick Volpe
Judah Friedlander	...	Scott Brumberg
Ernest Miller	...	The Ayatollah
Dylan Keith Summers	...	Necro Butcher (as Dylan Summers)
Tommy Farra	...	Tommy Rotten
Mike Miller	...	Lex Lethal
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Admissions Desk Woman
John D'Leo	...	Adam
Ajay Naidu	...	Medic
Gregg Bello	...	JAPW Promoter Larry Cohen
Scott Siegel	...	Greg
Maurizio Ferrigno	...	Spotter
Donnetta Lavinia Grays	...	Jen
Andrea Langi	...	Alyssa
Armin Amiri	...	Dr. Moayedizadeh
Vale Anoai	...	Pharmacist (as Lynn Tovale Anoai)
Ryan Lynn	...	Strip Club Best Man
Michael Drayer	...	Strip Club Bachelor
Alyssa Bresnahan	...	Cheeques Bartender
Jeff Chena	...	Hotel Bartender
Vernon Campbell	...	Big Chris
Felice Choi	...	Beautician
Bernadette Penotti	...	Tanning Salon Owner
Johnny Valiant	...	The Legend Johnny Valiant
Ron Killings	...	Ron 'The Truth' Killings
Giovanni Roselli	...	Romeo Roselli
Robert D. Siegel	...	Autograph Fan #1 (as Robert Siegel)
Scott Franklin	...	Autograph Fan #2
Sylvia Kauders	...	Hudson Acres Lady at Deli Counter
Alissa Reisler	...	Young Housewife at Deli Counter
Willy Rosner	...	Touchdown Man at Deli Counter
Rebecca Darke	...	German Potato Salad Lady at Deli Counter
E.J. Carroll	...	Teamster at Deli Counter
Abraham Aronofsky	...	Annoyed Man at Deli Counter
Charlotte Aronofsky	...	Annoyed Woman at Deli Counter
T.J. Kedzierski	...	Jameson
Jen Cohn	...	Get a Room Lady
Maven Bentley	...	WXW Announcer
Douglas Crosby	...	WXW Referee
Larry Legend	...	CZW Announcer
Nick Papagiorgio	...	CZW Referee (as Nick Papagerio)
Kevin Foote	...	ROH Announcer
Jon Trosky	...	ROH Referee
Andy Anderson	...	Wrestler (as Andrew Anderson)
Austin Aries	...	Wrestler
Brian Heffron	...	Wrestler (as Blue Meanie)
Nicky Benz	...	Wrestler
Brolly	...	Wrestler
Lamar Braxton Porter	...	Wrestler
Claudio Castagnoli	...	Wrestler
Cobian	...	Wrestler
Doc Daniels	...	Wrestler
Bobby Dempsey	...	Wrestler
Billy Dream	...	Wrestler
Rob Eckos	...	Wrestler
Nate Hatred	...	Wrestler
Kit Cope	...	Wrestler (as Havoc)
DJ Hyde	...	Wrestler
Jeff Joslin	...	Wrestler (as Inferno)
Jess Liaudin	...	Wrestler (as Joker)
Judas	...	Wrestler
Armond Cecere	...	Randy the Ram Robinson 'Stunt Dbl'
LA Smooth	...	Wrestler
Toa Maivia	...	Wrestler
Kevin Matthews	...	Wrestler
Devon Moore	...	Wrestler
Pete Nixon	...	Wrestler
Paul E. Normous	...	Wrestler
Papadon	...	Wrestler
Sabian	...	Wrestler
Jay Santana	...	Wrestler
Sugga	...	Wrestler
Larry Sweeney	...	Wrestler
Whacks	...	Wrestler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Rosen	...	Ring Announcer (voice)
Sakinah Bingham	...	Ring Girl (uncredited)
Kevin Cannon	...	Strip Club Hood (uncredited)
Peter Conboy	...	Fans at table (uncredited)
Brandon Dicamillo	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Bennett Dunn	...	Ringside fan (uncredited)
Anna-Karin Eskilsson	...	Girl in Supermarket (uncredited)
Evan Ginzburg	...	Fan at Convention (uncredited)
Richard Graves	...	Fan (uncredited)
Piper Kenny	...	DJ (uncredited)
Marca Leigh	...	Wrestling fan (uncredited)
Jill Lord	...	Autograph Mom (uncredited)
Michael Marino	...	Medic #2 (uncredited)
J. Matthew Miller	...	Crazy Fan (uncredited)
Robert Oppel	...	Wrestler (uncredited)
Arthur E. Pittman Jr.	...	Samoan Wrestler in CZW Locker Room (uncredited)
Vincent James Russo	...	Wrestling Fan (uncredited)
Erika Smith	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Thornton	...	Strip Club Patron (uncredited)
Ben Van Bergen	...	Deli Customer (uncredited)
W.A. Walters	...	Wrestling fan (uncredited)
Emanuel Yarbrough	...	Sumo wrestler (uncredited)

Directed by
Darren Aronofsky

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert D. Siegel		(written by) (as Robert Siegel)

Produced by
Darren Aronofsky	....	producer
Scott Franklin	....	producer
Evan Ginzburg	....	associate producer
Ari Handel	....	associate producer
Mark Heyman	....	co-producer
Vincent Maraval	....	executive producer
Agnès Mentre	....	executive producer
Jennifer Roth	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Clint Mansell

Cinematography by
Maryse Alberti

Film Editing by
Andrew Weisblum

Casting by
Suzanne Smith		(as Suzanne Crowley)
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Tim Grimes

Art Direction by
Matthew Munn

Set Decoration by
Theo Sena

Costume Design by
Amy Westcott

Makeup Department
Judy Chin	....	makeup department head
Marjorie Durand	....	key makeup artist
Mandy Lyons	....	hair department head
Michael Marino	....	prosthetic makeup designer
E. Morrow	....	makeup artist
Jeffrey Rebelo	....	wig maker
Diana Sikes	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Alexis Arnold	....	production supervisor
Colleen Bachman	....	post-production supervisor
Frank Murray	....	production supervisor: Philadelphia

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Graves	....	first assistant director
Matt Lake	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Pastor Alvarado III	....	set dresser
Jeff Butcher	....	property master
Paul Camarro	....	set dresser
Travis Child	....	camera scenic
Daniel Fisher	....	assistant property master
Dan Fisher	....	assistant property master
Dennis Franklin	....	art assistant
David Scott Gagnon	....	leadman
Craig Hench	....	art intern
Akeo Ihara	....	set dresser
Shane Ingersoll	....	art production assistant
Michael Lee Nirenberg	....	lead scenic artist
Hollywood Nick Pagani	....	picture car wrangler
Eric Pastore	....	set dresser
Tim Rossiter	....	leadman
Selina van den Brink	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Brian Emrich	....	sound designer
Dror Gescheit	....	machine room operator
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator
Mike Howells	....	adr recordist
Ken Ishii	....	production sound mixer
Tony Martinez	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor
Joe Origlieri	....	additional sound mixer: second unit
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Jacob Ribicoff	....	sound supervision and design and sound re-recording mixer
Stuart Stanley	....	foley editor
Eric Strausser	....	assistant sound editor
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Vierhaus	....	sound consultant: dolby

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects
Andrew Mortelliti	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Jessica Allen	....	conform editor
Adam Avitabile	....	flame artist
Chad Buehler	....	digital compositor
Randall Furino	....	videogame programmer
Kristyn Hume	....	main title sequence
Kristyn Hume	....	videogame imagery
Barbara Jean Kearney	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Eric Leverenz	....	digital retouching
Morgan Miller	....	digital retouching
Jesse Morrow	....	fire artist
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Joseph Ryals	....	digital film scanning and recording
Chad Schott	....	digital compositor
Daniel Silverman	....	digital film scanning and recording
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Niko Tavernise	....	visual effects
Kevin Vale	....	digital film scanning and recording

Stunts
Heather Arthur	....	stunts
Jonathan Arthur	....	stunts
Jared Burke	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Douglas Crosby	....	stunt coordinator
Brandon Dicamillo	....	stunts
Jon Trosky	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ruark Behan	....	grip
Travis Cadalzo	....	second assistant camera
Howard J. Cournoyer	....	moving light programmer
Nick Deeg	....	second assistant: "b"camera
Jeffrey Dutemple	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
M. Autumn Eakin	....	additional second assistant camera
Michael Gallart	....	rigging gaffer
Philip Gleason	....	video assist operator
Aurore Guyot	....	camera intern
Timothy Healy	....	rigging gaffer
Graham Klatt	....	key rigging grip
William Louthe	....	electrician
Doug Meils	....	additional rigging electric
Jerad Molkenthin	....	electrician
Malcolm A. Purnell	....	first assistant camera
Edward Read	....	light board programmer
Chris Skutch	....	key grip
David Skutch	....	gaffer
Niko Tavernise	....	still photographer
James Temme	....	rigging electrician
Daniel Wiener	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Lori Eastside	....	casting associate
Lori Eastside	....	extras casting
Todd Feldman	....	casting associate
Lindsay Graham	....	casting associate
Jessica Kelly	....	casting associate
Robert Oppel	....	extras casting assistant
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlynn Abseck	....	set costumer
Steffany Bernstein	....	costume supervisor
Estella Marie	....	seamstress
Lenore Pemberton	....	assistant costume designer
Nicci Schinman	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Don Ciana	....	color timer
Richie Roefaro	....	editorial assistant: Technicolor
Tim Stipan	....	digital intermediate colorist
Bobbie Thomas	....	colorist: dailies
Kenneth Wachtel	....	first assistant editor
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music supervisor
Dan Evans Farkas	....	music editor
Geoff Foster	....	score engineer & mixer
Julie Greaux	....	music licensing
Eric V. Hachikian	....	composer: additional music
Gabe Hilfer	....	music supervisor
Katia Lewin Palomo	....	score mixing assistant

Transportation Department
Jim Buckman	....	transportation captain
Charlie Fay	....	driver
Kenneth Garrison	....	driver
David Haddad	....	transportation: equipment
Brett Michel	....	driver
Vic Miech	....	driver

Other crew
Afa Anoai	....	wrestling trainer: Mickey Rourke
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Beverly Billin	....	production coordinator
Jason Booth	....	key production assistant
Anna Bosco	....	payroll accountant
Nate Braeuer	....	assistant location manager
Jeff Chena	....	stand in: Mr Rourke
Kristyn DiPane	....	mastering project manager
Tom Farra	....	trainer
Aurore Guyot	....	office production assistant
Sean Hogan	....	production accountant
Molly Irwin	....	production assistant: first team
Abi Jackson	....	key location assistant
Andrew Jones	....	production office intern
Conor Kelly	....	key production assistant
Michael J. Linowes	....	legal counsel
Michael J. Linowes	....	production legal
Stephanie A. Marquardt	....	additional script supervisor
Matthew Monaco	....	first assistant accountant
Frank Murray	....	production accountant
Jesse Ozeri	....	set intern
Anthony Pettine	....	script supervisor
Daniel Pollack	....	location scout
Joe Proietto	....	production office intern
Caryn Sarnicki	....	set intern
Mike Sime	....	video playback engineer
Ryan Smith	....	location manager
Jennifer Sonnenfeld	....	office production assistant
Jon Trosky	....	trainer
Joseph Turner	....	set production assistant
Sasa Watt	....	production assistant
Justin Wolfson	....	assistant: Mr. Rourke
Travis Wood	....	assistant: director
Igor Yankilevich	....	set intern
Liam Doyle	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Tony Atlas	....	thanks
Nikita Breznikov	....	thanks
Dory Funk Jr.	....	thanks
Shane Ingersoll	....	special thanks
Ed Leslie	....	thanks (as Brutus Beefcake)
Josip Peruzovic	....	thanks (as Nikolai Volkoff)
Jason Reso	....	thanks (as Jay Reso)
Johnny Rodz	....	thanks
W. Axl Rose	....	special thanks (as Axl Rose)
Richie Rotten	....	thanks
Adrian Street	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Wild Bunch
• Protozoa Pictures
• Saturn Films

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• ACME (2009) (Latvia) (all media)
• Bazuca Films (2009) (Chile) (all media)
• Bir Film (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Central Partnership (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• Cinema Mondo (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Distribution Company (2009) (Argentina) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Hopscotch Films (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Lucky Red (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Mars Distribution (2009) (France) (all media)
• Midget Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Nikkatsu (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• NonStop Entertainment (2009) (Scandinavia) (all media)
• Optimum Releasing (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Paris Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Remstar Distribution (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• SPI International (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• SPI International (2009) (Poland) (all media)
• SPI International (2009) (Slovakia) (all media)
• Spentzos Films (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Video Vision Entertainment (2009) (South Africa) (all media)
• Volga (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• Wide Pictures (2008) (Spain) (all media)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2009) (Belgium) (all media)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2009) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (all media)

Special Effects

• LOOK! Effects (visual effects)
• Tinsley Transfers (prosthetic make-up effect tattoos: Marisa Tomei)

Other Companies

• CSC  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA)  filmmakers representation
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Koch Records  soundtrack
• Postworks New York  HD dailies
• ScriptE Systems  script supervision software
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | USA:R (certificate #44697) | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:14 | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:16 | Germany:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:R16 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:B15 | Denmark:15 | Austria:16 | France:U (with warning) | Iceland:14 | Chile:18

Filming Locations:

1230 East Linden Avenue, Linden, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Wild Bunch

Trivia:

Randy "The Ram" Robinson shares characteristics of the two biggest wrestling icons of the 1980s: Hulk Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage. The look of the Ram,with the long blonde hair and tremendous physique as well as the steroid use is obviously Hoganesque while the "Ram Jam" (a flying double forearm smash off the top rope) is inspired by Savage's "Flying Elbow" even down to the pose before executing it. The Ram's feud with "The Ayatollah" also mimics the feud that Hogan had with the "Iron Sheik" that made him a venerable superstar and the face of 1980s and early 90s wrestling.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Shadow of mike on wall in Stephanie's living room.

Quotes:

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: When you live hard and you play hard and burn the candle at both ends... in this life, you can lose everything you love, everything that loves you. Alot of people told me that I'd never wrestle again, they said "he's washed up", "he's finished" , "he's a loser", "he's all through". You know what? The only ones gonna tell me when I'm through doing my thing, is you people here. You people here... you people here. You're my family.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#4.8)" (2009/I)

Soundtrack:

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke is as great as everyone's saying he is.

Nicholas Cage? Bruce Willis? Wrong. Never would have worked. No one else could have played Randy "The Ram" Robinson with the compassion and energy he brings to the role--it's painful to see the fading professional wrestler coming to terms with both his mortality and the emptiness of his life outside the ring, and this is largely due to Rourke's excellent acting. Twenty years after the defining match of his career, Randy is still a fan favorite and loving his work--until he suffers a heart attack. The film follows the gentle giant as he tries to adjust to living without wrestling, reconnect with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), and kindle a bond with a friend who works in a strip club (Marisa Tomei).

This isn't just a film about professional wrestling, but Aronofsky gets that part right. He does a beautiful job showing the sport with realism without mocking it: he highlights the humor, but never makes fun of it. He doesn't just deconstruct the mythical image of wrestlers' performances, but he also destroys their apparent rage towards each other. It's clear that these guys are friends--they care about and respect each other. These other wrestlers in the film are all played by professionals, and they do a great job with the acting. The film respects them and their world, and demands the same from the audience.

The other supporting characters are strong as well. Tomei and Wood's characters could easily have fallen into clichés, but they give Randy some of his best moments on screen. Tomei's storyline, especially, serves as a nice parallel and contrast to Randy's. Wood's could use a little more juice, but her story arc does the same. Both are effective.

Another notable aspect of the film is its music. The character of Randy is a big '80s rock fan, and for the film, they got the rights to use Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine." A special thanks at the end of the film went out to Axl Rose. On the softer side, Bruce Springsteen wrote "The Wrestler" for the credits, and its sweet melancholy serves as the perfect coda for the film.

Overall, 'The Wrestler' is great. It's a rich, round film that smoothly weaves together pathos and comedy and soul. It's funny and dramatic, tear-jerking and tough. Definitely a must-see this winter.