The Wrestler

This is one of those films where the main character is just obsessed with their craft, but this time around I’m actually quite familiar with that craft. It’s an absolutely devastating portrayal of the life of an aging, beat-down professional wrestler, & quite frankly, it’s extremely real. The quality of life for some legends of the business has been heavily affected due to their dedication to their in-ring work & the sacrifices they made on their bodies. The injuries, the painkillers, the drinking… It’s all too real. & it’s not just the sacrifices made on themselves, but on their lives outside of their work. Big time professional wrestlers work 48 weeks a year & spend next to no time at home. The film perfectly captures all of that. Mickey Rourke genuinely gave a performance of a lifetime. Crushed me emotionally on several occasions throughout. The scenes with his daughter were just soul-crushing. Marisa Tomei also deserves her flowers. Her character brought a heartwarming presence to the table, often when we needed it most. I’ve been a wrestling fan my whole life. I’ve seen this a few times but i’m now old enough to realise the weight of the film. You don’t need to be a fan to enjoy it, but it’s a massive bonus for the ones that are.