“The Wrestler” is a 2008 American sports drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Robert D. Siegel. The film stars Mickey Rourke as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a professional wrestler who, after years of stardom, is now struggling to make ends meet and deal with his personal demons.
The movie begins by showing Randy’s life as a wrestler in the 1980s, when he was at the peak of his career. But now, in his 50s, he has fallen from grace and is forced to work menial jobs to make ends meet. He also tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), but she wants nothing to do with him.
Despite his physical and emotional struggles, Randy refuses to give up on wrestling and continues to perform in local independent wrestling shows. He befriends a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), who he develops romantic feelings for.
As Randy prepares for a big rematch against his old nemesis, the Ayatollah, he suffers a heart attack and is warned by his doctor to retire from wrestling. However, Randy ignores his doctor’s advice and decides to go through with the match. During the match, he suffers another heart attack and collapses in the ring.
The film ends with Randy lying motionless in the hospital, with Cassidy by his side. It is left unclear whether Randy survives or not.
“The Wrestler” received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor (Mickey Rourke) and Best Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei). The film is considered a poignant and realistic portrayal of the struggles of a washed-up professional wrestler, and Rourke’s performance is widely regarded as one of the best of his career.
Cast
The main cast of “The Wrestler” includes:
- Mickey Rourke as Randy “The Ram” Robinson
- Marisa Tomei as Cassidy/Pam
- Evan Rachel Wood as Stephanie Robinson
- Mark Margolis as Lenny
- Todd Barry as Wayne
- Wass Stevens as Nick Volpe
- Judah Friedlander as Scott Brumberg
- Ernest Miller as The Ayatollah
- Dylan Keith Summers as Necro Butcher
There are also several other wrestlers and performers who appear in the film playing themselves, including Ron Killings (R-Truth), Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), and Rob Van Dam.
Production
“The Wrestler” was directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Robert D. Siegel. The film was produced by Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin, and Nicolas Chartier.
The production company behind the film was Wild Bunch, with funding from Protozoa Pictures and Saturn Films. The film was shot on a relatively low budget of around $6 million, using handheld cameras and natural light to create a gritty, documentary-like feel.
Mickey Rourke underwent extensive physical training to prepare for his role as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, including weightlifting and wrestling lessons. Marisa Tomei also underwent pole dancing training to prepare for her role as Cassidy, the stripper.
The film was shot on location in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and features several real independent wrestling events and wrestlers. The filmmakers aimed for authenticity in their portrayal of the wrestling world, and consulted with real wrestlers and promoters throughout the production process.
“The Wrestler” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2008 and went on to receive critical acclaim and multiple awards nominations. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $44 million worldwide.
Reviews
Here are a few excerpts from some reviews of “The Wrestler”:
- “Mickey Rourke gives the performance of his career in ‘The Wrestler,’ a richly affecting, toughly unsentimental tale of a former wrestling superstar facing his toughest opponent yet – age, illness and a changing world.” – Todd McCarthy, Variety
- “It’s a testament to the storytelling skills of director Darren Aronofsky and screenwriter Robert D. Siegel that the saga of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson is both a rich character study and an emotionally satisfying sports movie.” – Christy Lemire, Associated Press
- “Aronofsky’s latest effort is a powerful and moving character study that will leave audiences thoroughly entertained and emotionally drained.” – Jason Buchanan, AllMovie
- “A raw, haunting and intensely emotional film that marks a career high point for Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke.” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
- “Aronofsky directs with the same gritty, naturalistic style he used in ‘Requiem for a Dream,’ but here the focus is on the performances and he coaxes career-best turns out of both Rourke and Tomei.” – James White, Empire
Overall, the film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, as well as the film’s honest and realistic portrayal of the world of professional wrestling.
Where are they now?
Here is an update on where some of the key cast and crew members of “The Wrestler” are now:
- Mickey Rourke (Randy “The Ram” Robinson) continues to act and has appeared in numerous films and TV shows since “The Wrestler.” He has also returned to professional boxing, a sport he competed in prior to his acting career.
- Darren Aronofsky (director) has directed several other critically acclaimed films since “The Wrestler,” including “Black Swan” and “Mother!”
- Marisa Tomei (Cassidy/Pam) has continued to act in both film and television. She recently appeared in the TV series “Only Murders in the Building.”
- Robert D. Siegel (screenwriter) has gone on to write and direct several other films, including “Big Fan” and “Cruise.”
- Evan Rachel Wood (Stephanie Robinson) has continued to act in film and television. She is known for her roles in the TV series “Westworld” and the films “The Ides of March” and “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman.”
- Scott Franklin and Nicolas Chartier (producers) have continued to produce films, including “The Fighter” and “The Revenant.”
Overall, the cast and crew of “The Wrestler” have continued to have successful careers in the entertainment industry since the film’s release in 2008.
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about “The Wrestler”:
- Mickey Rourke was originally considered for the role of Butch Coolidge in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” but he turned it down. Tarantino later wrote the role of The Bride’s fiancé in “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” specifically for Rourke.
- Darren Aronofsky wanted to cast a real wrestler in the lead role, but he was unable to find someone who had the right acting ability. He eventually chose Mickey Rourke, who had previously been a boxer.
- The film’s climactic wrestling match between Randy “The Ram” Robinson and The Ayatollah was shot in front of a live audience at an actual independent wrestling event in Pennsylvania.
- Marisa Tomei’s character, Cassidy, was originally supposed to be in her 40s, but Aronofsky thought it would be more interesting if she was older than Randy “The Ram” Robinson. Tomei was 43 at the time of filming.
- The film’s budget was only $6 million, which is relatively low for a major motion picture. To save money, the filmmakers used natural light and shot on handheld cameras to create a documentary-style feel.
- Bruce Springsteen wrote the song “The Wrestler” specifically for the film, and it won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
- The film features several real-life wrestlers, including Ron Killings (R-Truth), Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), and Rob Van Dam, who all appear as themselves.
- Mickey Rourke underwent extensive physical training to prepare for his role, including weightlifting and wrestling lessons. He gained over 30 pounds of muscle for the role.
Box office
“The Wrestler” was a critical success and performed well at the box office, considering its relatively low budget. The film was released in the United States on December 17, 2008, and grossed $202,656 in its opening weekend, playing in just four theaters. The film went on to gross $26.2 million domestically and $17.9 million internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $44.1 million.
Although it did not have a wide release, “The Wrestler” was successful in its limited release and benefited from strong word-of-mouth and critical praise. The film was also nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Mickey Rourke and Best Supporting Actress for Marisa Tomei. Overall, the film was a commercial and critical success and helped to establish Mickey Rourke’s comeback as an actor.
