He struggles to pay the rent on his small trailer with what little money he makes wrestling and from his paying day job at a mom-&-pop supermarket. He sleeps in his van when his landlord locks him out, and spends most of his time and money at a local strip club. There he finds a kindred spirit in middle-aged Pam, a beautiful exotic dancer whose life in some ways parallels his own. As he longs for the glory days and wonders how he ended up growing old alone, he continues his ways until a heart attack causes him to reassess his situation.
He reaches out to Pam, sensing something other than a casual friendship has been established between them. She shies away from getting too close to him, and admits that she is ready to quit her job and start over with her nine year old son. She does however begin to feel deeply for Randy, and urges him to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie. After a rocky renewal of their familial relationship, Randy declares himself "retired" from wrestling, and tries to walk a straight line. But old habits die hard, and his self-destructive behavior leaves him utterly alone on the eve of the anniversary of his most famous match against fellow wrestler and old friend "The Ayatollah". He hobbles back into the ring for one last dance with his one true love and in front of the only family he has ever really known - a crowd full of bloodthirsty fans.
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| Rourke flying high once again as Randy "The Ram" Robinson. |
It is in this context that Mickey Rourke portrays Randy "The Ram" as a salt-of-the-earth screw-up. What makes the casting of Rourke especially affecting is its true life implications. Rourke himself enjoyed screen success in the 1980's - in films such as Angel Heart, Barfly, Nine 1/2 Weeks amongst others. He was at the time considered an actor's actor, and was often compared to Marlon Brando in regard to his style and suggested staying power. He also was initially a professional boxer who had quit in order to pursue acting. But following a string of disappointing projects (such as Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man), Rourke retired from acting and returned to boxing - and soon suffered a string of injuries that prompted plastic surgeons to reconstruct his battered face.
As the 1990's drew to a close and the new century began, Rourke returned to the screen in a series of small but interesting roles (Buffalo ‘66, Spun, Sin City), but remained largely a supporting actor until his critically acclaimed (and Oscar-nominated) turn as Randy in The Wrestler. So life and art sometimes manage to imitate each other, and with his recent success in Aronofsky's film, he looks to once again enjoy the spotlight.
Rourke is terrific in a semi-autobiographical role, but honorable mention must also go to the two female leads in this compelling film. Marisa Tomei was also nominated for an Academy Award as "Cassidy" / Pam, Randy's stripper of choice and would-be love interest. Her age and physical health also play a role in her line of work (although she looks as lovely as ever), and her second thoughts about her questionable career choices nicely mirrors Randy's own predicament. Also worth noting is Evan Rachel Wood as Randy's daughter, Stephanie. In just a few minutes of screen time, she fleshes out a much fuller character as the victim of her father's neglect and a difficult childhood. She brings an element of truth and reality to the film in a uniquely moving performance, and proves to her scarred, soul searching Wrestler dadthat some wounds can simply never heal.