Review of The Wrestler (2008) by Jeff S — 04 Dec 2011

Quite simply put, Mickey Rourke was born to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson. Part Shawn Michaels, part "The Macho Man" Randy Savage, and part Dog the Bounty Hunter (wtf?), Rourke creates the perfect persona in "The Ram" that will grab you and hold you all the way through this film.

But The Wrestler's strengths go far beyond Rourke's stupefying performance; an amazing cast, a perfectly appropriate sound track, and a deceivingly solid plot that paints an all too often swept-under-the-carpet picture of the (not so) glorious afterlife of a professional athlete.

. they all bring this film together into a nice tight little package. However, far too often I would find myself thinking, "I know what's going to happen here.." or "Oh come on, I've seen this before!".

Ultimately The Wrestler's predictability holds it back from truly being a masterpiece, but the horrendously abrupt and unfinished ending officially puts the nail in the proverbial coffin. I'm sorry, but I need CLOSURE, and an open-ended closing like that with practically every loose end still.

. loose, just doesn't cut it for me. But don't let that take away from the brilliance that is "The Wrestler" or from Mickey Rourke's acting which, imho, was deserving of an Academy Award.