IMHO this was the best film of 2008 and to not even give Best Actor to Rourke is even worse or just as bad. I've seen this probably 12 times and I appreciate it more with every viewing. And I don't watch wrestling. An amazing view on so many topics, from fame, to love, to surviving as a poor working class person in modern American society. It never hang as untrue or unbelievable. One of the best films of this century.
shareAgree! It was a much better film than Slumdog Millionaire and Mickey Rourke's performance was better than Sean Penn's in Milk.
shareThis was the same year as Slumdog? I forgot all about that...I hated that movie and IMHO it is vastly overrated- sure don't hear it mentioned, like, EVER. I was so mad that Dark Knight didn't even get nominated; I didn't expect it to win, but just being nominated was the honor I thought DK deserved. Sorry to go off onto a whole other movie, but like I said, I hadn't even thought about that stupid movie for years until just now.
Agree fully about the Wrestler. Great movie and story, even better performance by Rourke. And I am/was a wrestling fan. He seemed to knock that performance out tha park. IDK if MR is an actual fan or how much research he did for the part, but it was just spot on. It's a role and performance that you can't even imagine anyone else delivering. Perfectly cast and damn near perfect performance.
Same year as Slumdog...Another poster said he felt the same way concerning Slumdog Winning that year and The Wresstler not even being nominated. And I totally agree with SM being vastly overrated. I just didn't think it was all that great. The studio probably lobbied hard for it, that's how the Academy works. You have to lobby for nomintions, etc....
I hear Rourke did do a lot of preparation, I believe with people like Roddy Piper. I'm not positive about that but I know a lot of wrestlers had their input and Rourke took the role very seriously, obviously. I do know Piper cried when the movie ended and had nothing but massive praise of the film.
I think if it went with a happier ending it would have gotten more awards, etc...shame, as yes it wasn't happy but it was REALISTIC. Look how many wrestlers have died in their 40s-60s in the last five years or so...
The was massive lobbying for SM. It was an OK film, but hardly Best Picture material.
I was a big wrestling fan in the 80s. My friends and I were obsessed with wrestling. It seemed on Saturday you could watch non-stop. Where I lived you could watch WWF, NWA (Jim Crocket), AWA, World Class and for a time Florida.
This film nails the hardship of a wrestler, which I was fully unaware of as a kid. That they are on the road all the time, they are in constant pain and get addicted to drugs, their careers are short and when their careers are over they are often left broke and working minimum wage jobs.
I agree about the ending, which I thought was brilliant. While there is still debate on whether his character lived or died, I always viewed it as a metaphor. I believe he lived in the literal sense, however that was his last match so his character died. The Ram character is all he lived for, he left a woman he loved who asked him to leave with him, his daughter once again hated him, he was broke and unemployed and risked his life for one lat match. Since he could no longer wrestle and "The Ram" character was dead, for all intensive purposes he died that night.
I couldn't have said it better if I tried regarding the ending of the film....I don't think Randy died, but The Ram did. So for all purposes he died too...what happened to Randy after the match is a very bleak life. I guess he blew his chance with Marissa T.'s character, or you could say it was the other way around. I loved the way the movie linked their both of the characters together...their both past their prime, basically a piece of meat used by others, at a crossroads of their lives. Her performance was also amazing. Such a shame the film and the actors didn't get the recognition it deserves...
shareHappy to find someone who agrees with me on the ending!
Marisa Tomei was incredible in this film. You are right, they both were both "meat" used by others and well past their prime. But what was interesting is how Marisa knew to save and accepted the responsibilities of being parent. She knew her career would be short and that she had to plan a future, while the Ram was the polar opposite.
Common "theory" is he died in the ring...literally. And I have no problem with that opinion as in reality no opinion is wrong, per se. But, I do believe the Ram died, so you might as well say Randy died, too, as that's all he had left in his life was his alter persona as The Ram.
He looks up during the match and sees she's left and looks disappointed. But what was he supposed to do? He was literally entering the ring when she walked up...maybe she just couldn't watch the match. Maybe she was waiting for him and he left the Ram character forever, just as she left her other persona behind, and they both moved forward with their new lives. Who knows?
Yeah, I have no issue with people who think Randy Robinson literally died. However, I thought it was a metaphor when I first saw the film and still think so today.
As for Marisa Tomei, I do believe she left him when he decided to wrestle. I agree he really has no choice and was ready to go to the ring when she approached him. However, i always took it as she left him she he looks up and she is no longer watching.
I don't think that he died. I think that made matters even worse.
But, anyway, I agree completely that both the movie and Rourke were robbed. The best film of the year by ´far. Both moving and intelligent. *beep* wanna-be-academy and their stupid politics.
'Ne cherchez plus mon coeur, les bêtes l'ont mangé.' Baudelaire
Compared to Slumdog Millionaire....well, there is no comparison. I mean, IMHO you had two actors that should have been nominated for best actor and actress, and a smart and believable story....and no nomination for Best Picture? Gimme a break. And I, not a bog wrestling fan. But it shows to me how a great story can make anything compelling. And also great score and song by Springsteen. I just don't get it....
shareThis had nothing to do with being a wrestling fan. That was such a universal story. I guess, it lacked the kitsch factor.
'Ne cherchez plus mon coeur, les bêtes l'ont mangé.' Baudelaire
Even though it's not about wrestling, I think that the main character is/was a wrestler might have hurt it...now, if he was a boxer things might have been different. And IMHO The Wrestler is better than even the original Rocky. The former being so much closer to reality.
shareRocky sucks big time, gets nowhere close.
'Ne cherchez plus mon coeur, les bêtes l'ont mangé.' Baudelaire
Honestly, I never understood the love for Rocky. I've always considered it kinda cheesy..lol..
shareReally? The original Rocky? The original wasn't cheesy at all. Rocky has a lot of heart but loses in the end. Sometimes even happens in real life where guys fight with everything they've got and it's just not enough to win.
The first one was kind of feel good, though, because Rocky was kind of a real character: down and out of his luck boxer who wasn't very smart. They used him to help other boxers make it big and he never got a title shot until Apollo gave it to him in order to help bolster his own profile.
It's extremely inspirational despite the fact that Rocky is a lovable loser. It's more of an everyman story that a lot of hard-working, blue collar, down-to-earth, honest people can relate to, hence why it's so popular.
I agree totally. I loved it so much it was my favourite film of all time at one point. The masterclass of acting aside, it was a very well made film where Aronofsky pushed everyone to their limits and created a very memorable masterpiece. It shows how a movie can be amazing even if it's a simple drama with a very low budget. Aronofsky is a great storyteller. The only reason Rourke didn't win was because he hasn't treated Hollywood with much respect over the years, and he also didn't play a real life gay politician like Sean Penn did.
sharejust watched this for the first time and couldn't believe mickey didn't win the oscar. his performance is absolutely amazing tbh.
shareRourke himself said that he didn't think he would win because he has "burned too many bridges in Hollywood". And he is right. But those prks shouldn't hold the stuff against him, and should base the award on his on screen performace and that's it. He crushed Penn that year. Penn is phenomenal but I don't see anyone else killing that role the way mickey did. tom cruise? Travolta? lol how bout Daniel craig? no way. mickey owned it
shareTotal robbery. Sean Penn one it just for playing a gay guy. Rourke deserved the best actor that year hands down.
share