"Love. Pain. Glory"
Mickey Rourke has always been one of those actors you hardly notice in films or maybe you did but for his 'bad boy' image. Except for a few 'lead' roles, he would usually portray supporting parts as some villain out to get the main star. But he would essay these roles in such convincing manner that you tend to believe that he was indeed a bad person in real life. So I was really glad that he was given a meatier role for his comeback film. For someone whose career has spanned for decades now, it is about time he proved himself in a role that I believe was tailor made to fit his personality.
In this poignant film, he is Randy "The Ram" Robinson who is an aging professional wrestler. After he is suddenly forced to retire (for health reasons) from the wrestling world, Randy struggles to come to terms to a life outside the ring. With hardly any savings, no meaningful social relationships, it is a pretty lonely and sad existence.
I admit it was painful to watch, sometimes. This film really tugged at my heart strings. It was filled with really miserably sad scenes of a man's painful attempt at rebuilding his life. As well as desperately trying to reconnect with people who mattered to him like his estranged daughter and his 'love interest'.
But the film also gave interesting insights into the world of wrestling. Of course, we all know that most of the 'stunts' are rehearsed or scripted yet it doesn't mean the wrestlers don't get hurt. I actually cringed during those violent wrestling sequences.
Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were brilliant in their roles as they both convincingly perform down on their luck individuals past their prime. A film that is buoyed on with a soundtrack of mostly 80s tunes with the likes of Guns n Roses blaring out loud, it serves as an excellent comeback vehicle for Mickey Rourke.
No wonder it got noticed by critics, it is a simple film but quite soulful in its presentation of the harsh reality in the life of an aging wrestler.
In this poignant film, he is Randy "The Ram" Robinson who is an aging professional wrestler. After he is suddenly forced to retire (for health reasons) from the wrestling world, Randy struggles to come to terms to a life outside the ring. With hardly any savings, no meaningful social relationships, it is a pretty lonely and sad existence.
I admit it was painful to watch, sometimes. This film really tugged at my heart strings. It was filled with really miserably sad scenes of a man's painful attempt at rebuilding his life. As well as desperately trying to reconnect with people who mattered to him like his estranged daughter and his 'love interest'.
But the film also gave interesting insights into the world of wrestling. Of course, we all know that most of the 'stunts' are rehearsed or scripted yet it doesn't mean the wrestlers don't get hurt. I actually cringed during those violent wrestling sequences.
Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were brilliant in their roles as they both convincingly perform down on their luck individuals past their prime. A film that is buoyed on with a soundtrack of mostly 80s tunes with the likes of Guns n Roses blaring out loud, it serves as an excellent comeback vehicle for Mickey Rourke.
No wonder it got noticed by critics, it is a simple film but quite soulful in its presentation of the harsh reality in the life of an aging wrestler.
2 comments:
I've also heard this film was good, but very sad.
Rourke was also good in a film called Domino a few years back. :)
Wil that's the film with Keira Knightley who portrays a bounty hunter, right? I didn't know he was in the cast. Well I didn't watch it kasi. hehe
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