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Must Go!
Written December 21, 2008
Amazing

by MIkeNYC99

This movie finally proves to me how useless Fandago is in terms of reading the 'fan rating' scale as to weather or not you need to see a movie. If anyone rates this less than 'go' then they simply are one of three things: A) under the age of 17 and buy their clothes at the mall and TOTALLY love Twilight, B) On drugs or C) Illiterate and unschooled in truly great cinema and have only seen 80's comedies and nothing prior.

Mickey Rourke is so bare and bold and the movie so daring and honest and real, it left me speechless - it has been YEARS since I've seen such an emotionally honest film. I don't know what Rourke has gone through in his life, but this is a man who wears his tortured soul inside out. His face is startling and his deep, pained eyes are so amazing. He will be nominated for Best Actor and at this point, from what I've seen (minus Revolutionary Road, which is pretty damn amazing), he deserves to win.

Fantastic movie and a home run on all counts. See it. Now.
- 23 out of 24 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written February 4, 2009
Heartbreaking

by Dai_bach

I have to say I had some reservations about seeing this movie at first, I was expecting a Rocky-Style pump up the action movie, with spandex. Instead, you are pulled into a story of a man who knows he has nothing to offer this world (or his family), but his old, worn-down, broken body. Mickey Rouke's performane is nothing-short of brilliant, and Marisa Tomei beautifully (seriously, she looks great!) balances out the rest of the story's inevitable outcome. It takes a minute or two to get past the Director's almost documentary-style of filming but it does help pull you in to the story without being distracting. This will be a classic for may years to come.
- 10 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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Oh No!
Written January 26, 2009
The Wrestler

by lhorsley

What a piece of garbage. I don't even want my adult kids watching it. Bordered on porn and this is what gets the awards, sad state of affairs. Should have just walked out, my mistake.
- 17 out of 27 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written February 10, 2009
Randy The Ram

by Daydream

Being a fan of Darren Aronofsky and his previous directed films, The Fountain and Reqium for a Dream, I decided to give The Wrestler a chance. Critics raved Rourke's performance and he lived up to their praises, but the movie itself fell short. Randy "The Ram" Robinson is a lonely man, past his prime, still holding onto his dream of wrestling. When his body tells him its time to quit, he goes through a midlife crisis and in desperation tries to reunite with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). The Ram belongs in the ring because once outside the world tears him down and nobody is waiting for him. I had a hard time paying attention to this movie because my interest wasnt in it. I would say pass this one up. (C-)
- 8 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written February 19, 2009
worth the blood and guts

by Claude40

The performances are quite wonderful, making the movie worthwhile. Too bloody by half for my comfort level. What makes this film special is the comeback performance of an aging actor, playing a comback performance as a wrestler. There's poetry to it.
- 6 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written March 1, 2009
Intense but well worth seeing

by cinsbythesea

We finally got to see this movie today. Mickey Rourke was incredible in the movie - he created a character that was inherently kind but a man who was also his own worst enemy. Some scenes you wanted to hug him - such as when he was serving customers in the deli and having something nice to say to each of them - and in other scenes where he would set up screwing up his life in yet another way you wanted to throttle him. He's created a very memorable character in Randy the Ram- one that stays with you well after you leave the theater. Marissa Tomei- gutsy decision for her to play this role and she did it, as usual, very very well. Her portrayal of Cassidy was one of a streetwise yet vulnerable woman. She shines in this film. Evan Rachel Wood was also wonderful in her limited role. It was a difficult film at times to watch- the wrestling scenes were very intense - but through it all you keep watching because you've come to care for Randy the Ram. Well worth seeing.
- 6 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 17, 2009
Only Aronofsky

by Clementine

Fantastic. An absolute masterpiece.

The whole film was shot by holding the cameras rather than mounting them on a stand because Aronfsky said he wanted the film to have more of a documentary feel.

And Rourke's performance was phenomenal! I was not expecting a performance of that caliber. Remarkable!

It is one of those that you are watching and sometimes wonder why it's so special... Then the end hits you, only as Aronofsky can do, and you are left breathless. Extraordinarily powerful.

And some may say that they were left not knowing how the movie ended.... To those people I say, yes you do-- you just don't want it to be true.
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 22, 2009
for the both the wrestling fan and non-fan alike

by mahay29

This movie is good for the both the wrestling fan and non-fan alike. Wrestling fans are indulged into the world of which they wish they had a larger window and non fans will finally understand that YES, wrestling is staged.....but the word FAKE is relative in the world of wrestling. Little is left to the imagination in the ring leaving us with a sense of having the magician's illusion revealed......not so much fun, is it? We finally understand that pain and sacrifice that goes into the presentation of our present day super-human mythical gods, and what happens to those gods when they are washed up and have nothing left.
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written February 12, 2009
The Wrestler

by CameronMae

I think the danger of making a movie with an actor like Mickey Rourke and a director like Aronofsky is that people are going to expect a masterpiece. My husband is a big fan of both men and was expecting just that. The movie isn't amazing, but it is good. Rourke's performance was definitely oscar worthy but I didn't feel Tomei's was or that she was even in the movie enough for a nomination. The story as a whole was ok, but a little anti-climactic. All that said, I would go for Rourke's performance alone.
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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No
Written January 26, 2009
The Wrestler

by burnwagon

Great acting and Tomei looked really good, but other than that there were not many redeeming qualities about this movie. It was just depressing from start to finish. It may qualify as an excellent character piece, but it hardly rewards you for giving it your Saturday night. Probably better for a rainy night alone in the house.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written February 13, 2009
The Wrestler

by quilting joe

I liked this movie. Mickey Rourke deserves his Oscar nomination. Marissa Tomei looks great but I don't know that she deserves the Oscar. My main criticism of the movie would be the over use of the hand held camera. It makes movies hard to watch when that is used too much. In this movie, it made for a lot of shots from behind of people walking. Boring!
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written February 14, 2009
The Wrestler

by reddogg6969

A fine depiction of an over the hill wrestler, and the life of others on the outskirts of life. Micky Rourke's performance is from the heart and oscar-worthy.

Paul McCreary
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written March 23, 2009
the wrestler

by ananga

much worked story but always relevant, the acting is solid throughout. Allegorically it's a profound statement about the suffering caused and the devotion required by the ego to constantly maintain the personality story line. The subtext i think is that non evolutionary humans will always be shunted into no win situations
- 8 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 20, 2009
Mickey Rourke impresses!

by jackvl77

After hearing all the reviews, I was interested to see just how good Mickey Rourke was in this movie. I have to say, it was greater than I could have expected. Combined with the documentary style camerawork, the incredibly realistic portrayal of Randy The Ram left me pretty well speechless. Rourke was a perfect match for this character who fights against his nature by trying to separate himself from pro wrestling and live a normal, real life. But as you watch the film and experience his troubles, you realize he is out of place everywhere except the wrestling ring. He is loved by fans but ignored by the rest of the world. He makes the final decision to return to ring even after a heart attack has threatened his life. It's hearbreaking to watch him finally turn his back on the world and escape back into the fantasy of pro wrestling and it's equally heartbreaking to see Rourke pour all his own personal demons into the Ram. I highly recommend this film.
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 24, 2009
Best film of the year, hands down.

by suexian

Rourke's raw, emotional performance is one of the most powerful I've ever seen, and Aronofsky's direction captures a realism which is seldom found in Hollywood films. This film is magic, and it brought me to tears.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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