Great review from John Orquiola, making a lot of points I had in mind while doing my quickie review...
http://www.backofthehead.com/entertainment/2009-01-01.thewrestler.html
I especially liked his observation about how Randy puts forth a pro wrestling mentality to mundane things like playing Nintendo with a kid. So very true.
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`Tags: Cinema, Interweb plugs, The Wrestler
An awesome piece of filmmaking. The story is so brilliant, tragic, and yet horrifc at the same time, because you just know there are a few (if not more) guys out there that we all enjoyed growing up in Randy’s same situation.
Nicholas Cage would/could have NEVER captured the character the way Mickey Rourke did. I’m not sure if I have ever seen an actor play a character so perfectly. If someone didn’t know better, you would believe that Rourke was really a down-and-out, past his prime wrestler, trying to hold on for one last (big) payday.
The lack of Oscar nominations is rediculous, especially for Best Original Song (and I am by no means a huge Springsteen fan).
Two Thumbs Up
****
*****
100% Rotten Tomatos Rating
Highest Recommendation
Whatever positive accolade you want to bless upon this movie, it is well deserved.
I can honestly say, unabashedly, that I can not stand Bruce Springsteen. I find him to be pompous and over indulgent. With that said, his song for this movie is so spot on that it is a joke that it did not get nominated. The fact that TDK went pretty much ignored in the major categories is also a joke.
On the movie, f’n perfect! I want a Randy “the Ram” action figure now!!
The Oscar for Best Supporting Actress should go to “woman who walked in on Randy having sex in the bathroom.”