The Wrestler

Before watching The Wrestler, I thought: I like wrestling and the guy from Iron Man 2 is in it, so why not give it a chance? After seeing it, I was honestly surprised. This movie is not mainly about sports at all. It goes much deeper than that. It tells a raw and emotional story about loneliness, aging, regret and the desperate need for connection. Wrestling is just the backdrop for something far more personal and heartbreaking. What truly makes this film so powerful is the incredible performance by Mickey Rourke. He doesn’t just play Randy “The Ram” Robinson, he becomes him. You can feel every bit of pain, every moment of hope and every disappointment. His acting feels so real and vulnerable that it’s impossible not to connect with the character. I expected a sports movie. What I got was an emotional character study that stayed with me long after the credits rolled. The Wrestler is a deep, honest and moving film that I definitely didn’t expect, but I’m very glad I gave it a chance.