Posts Tagged ‘The Wrestler’

More book praise

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Just wanted to draw attention to another piece of fan mail about Dungeon of Death...

Hello Scott
I am not expecting you to reply back to this as I understand how busy you must be, but I just wanted to praise you on your latest book, Chris Benoit Dungeon of Death.
Ive been a wrestling fan since 2001 and Ive never really thought too much about what goes on behind the scenes or what goes on in the wrestlers lives behind the curtain.
So having never read a book for entertainment purposes in my life, I decided to get into reading and what better subject than Pro Wrestling. Having heard stories from wrestlers and seeing the Rourke movie, The Wrestler, I sort of had a rough idea of how these guys live. Your book was so addicting. Seriously. I am not a fast reader but it was so good that I finished it within a day of starting.
I was amazed to read about the shocking story of the Von Erichs and I was saddened to read about Owen and Bret Hart. I don't know what to think about the whole Benoit situation. But at least now I have some good facts to go by.
I have learnt a great deal from your words and I will be sure to check out your other books as quick as I can.

 

The scary thing with The Wrestler is that it seems brutally honest and open from the perspective of non-fans, but it's actually pretty toned down compared to what really goes on. 

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More on the Wrestler

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

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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The Wrestler

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Wow.  Finally opened here in Saskatoon, and Mickey Rourke is so very deserving of the acting accolades being given to him.  Yeah, the wrestling stuff isn't a huge shock if you already know about the staple guns and blades and such (although don't they usually leave the staples out of the gun?), but man what a tragic story on so many levels.  It just feels so sadly true to the business, and the parallels with Cassidy (Yowza, Marissa has aged quite well!) and her fall from the peak of her profession are well done as well.  And hey, there's even another level, as the 80s hair metal that permeates the soundtrack (the awesomest soundtrack ever, I might add) is made up of bands who are still trying to milk their own former glory and doing the same drugs and ringrats that Randy was.  I think, for me, the best piece of acting was the brief period when Randy was working the deli counter and seemed to be so legitimately happy doing such a mundane job, and I think that was even worse for him than his fall from grace in wrestling was.

Just a brilliant piece of cinema.  Highest recommendation.

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