The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke's highly touted comeback film for which he won a Golden Globe and landed an Oscar nomination, The Wrestler is no great shakes narrative-wise—more than a little clichéd and reminiscent of the old Requiem for a Heavyweight. But Rourke is commanding as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a former wrestling superstar reduced to grappling with tyros in minor exhibitions held in high-school gymnasiums and small-town arenas. Forced to abandon the sport after suffering a heart attack, Randy takes an unfulfilling job working behind a supermarket deli counter and also attempts a reconciliation with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) at the behest of a stripper semi-girlfriend (Oscar nominee Marisa Tomei). In marked contrast to his visually kinetic Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, director Darren Aronofsky adopts a cinéma vérité shooting style here with handheld cameras, available light, and real locations in an almost documentary-like treatment that not only enhances the film's sense of verisimilitude but also captures the main character's emotions as he wordlessly copes with a myriad of minor humiliations. Rourke's performance is the heart of the film, bringing unexpected depth to what could easily have been a one-dimensional character. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the 43-minute behind-the-scenes documentary “Within the Ring,” the music video for “The Wrestler” performed by Bruce Springsteen, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the 26-minute “Wrestler Round Table” featuring wrestling hall-of-famers including “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Lex Luger. Bottom line: a decent extras package for one of 2008's better films.] (E. Hulse)