The Wrestler

Seeing actors make a Hollywood comeback is always impressive (Robert Downey, Jr., Marlon Brando). One of the most recent and stunning is Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler.

Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke) is a wrestler who was an icon in the 1980's that has burned out. After a charity match, he suffers a heart attack. He's told the stress of wrestling could kill him, so he retires. But he musts resist temptation of returning to the ring.

Remember the Oscar race when Rourke was up for Best Actor? He was one of the main frontrunners, but his main competition was Sean Penn. You gotta admit it was hard to predict which of the two would win (Penn ended up winning). Both gave great performances, but I can't chose which one is better.

It's funny once you think of it. Back in the 1980's, Rourke was dubbed "the next Brando". The next decade he would have his career dwindle and have his personal life be more exposed, much like Brando. Then the decade after that, Rourke would make the biggest comeback since Brando in The Godfather.

Along with Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood give great performances. Darren Aronofsky directs the grittiest sports movie since Raging Bull. The movie is raw and edgy, but not for the squeamish (well, what do you expect from the director of Requiem for a Dream?). Hands down, one of the best movies of the last decade.

My Rating: *****