The Wrestler

(2008)

Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson ( is a washed up professional wrestler way past his prime. No wife, a daughter who doesn't want to know him and declining health. When a heart attack nearly kills him, Randy has to reavaluate his life and figure out what his priorities are.

If ever a film was specifically written for an actor or actress, The Wrestler is it. Randy Robinson "is" Mickey Rourke. It must have been a sense of deja vu for Rourke when reading the script. Fantastic soundtrack and cinematography. Rourke is heartbreaking. His beaten up and broken face shows a weathered and battered life. Marisa Tomei provides his female equivalent as an aging exotic dancer who just can't bring him into her life other than a customer at the club she dances at. Evan Rachel Wood is fantastic as Robinson's beaten down and mentally unstable daughter. They have amazing chemistry.

I havenot watched Milk yet, but i can categorically say Rourke should have won the Oscar. Political views and un pc acceptance speeches should not stand in the way of beautiful and perfect acting. The acadamy need to concentrate on what they are watching and not what goes on behind the scenes. Unless it is horrendously bad of course.

10/10