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 & 22 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

Also Known As:

El luchador (Argentina) (Peru) (Spain) [es]
Рестлер (Russia) [ru]
A pankrátor (Hungary) [hu]
Hrvac (Croatia) [hr]
Maadleja (Estonia) [et]
O Lutador (Brazil) [pt]
O Wrestler (Portugal) [pt]
O palaistis (Greece) [el]
Resurâ (Japan) [ja]
Sampiyon (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
The Wrestler (Czech Republic) [cs]
The Wrestler (Germany) [de]
The Wrestler (Slovakia) [sk]
The wrestler - Painija (Finland) [fi]
Wrestler (Japan: English title) [en]
Zapasnik (Poland) [pl]

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 Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | 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:

During his boxing career, the song played over Mickey Rourke's entrances was "Sweet Child O' Mine", by the band Guns N' Roses; his character in this film uses this same song when entering the ring in his last fight.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In one scene at the deli, Randy pages his supervisor over the store's intercom. The problem is, the button he hits to do it is actually the button to put an incoming call on hold.

Quotes:

Nick Volpe: You know what I'm thinkin'? Two words... RE - MATCH.

Movie Connections:

References Pro Wrestling (1986) (VG)

Soundtrack:

(Bang Your Head) Metal Health

Amazing film that focuses on two often misjudged professions.

Mickey Rourke returns to the big screen in Darren Aronofsky's brilliant character study, The Wrestler. Mickey Rourke gained about 35 pounds of muscle to play Randy 'The Ram' Robinson and looks the part of an old beaten down wrestler. Aronofsky creates a cold atmosphere that leaves the audience feeling as old and depressed as Rourke's character. The Wrestler doesn't have the look or feel of any previous Aronofsky film, it is mainly hand-held and has a gritty look to it that gives it a documentary feel. This film sucked me in. I really felt for the main character. I felt his pain and anger throughout the film. I felt his desperation. When a film has you reflecting the emotions expressed on the screen then it has accomplished something. I also appreciated that the story focused on two professions that are frowned upon in society, that being professional wrestling and stripping. Both professions are linked in the film and has the audience realize how similar they are. We also see the hardship of carrying out such a profession. I really enjoyed this film and had the pleasure of meeting the director after the showing. I was most impressed with him and can't wait till this film gets released.