Product Description

Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel WoodDirectors: Darren Aronofsky

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #305 in DVD
• Brand: Blu-ray Drama
• Released on: 2009-06-01
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 109 minutes

Synopsis
Darren Aronofsky directs this searing drama about a past-his-prime wrestler who tries to regain his earlier fame. Mickey Rourke (ANGEL HEART, SIN CITY) continues a career revival of his own as the fighter, while Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (IN THE BEDROOM, MY COUSIN VINNY) and Evan Rachel Wood (THIRTEEN, DOWN IN THE VALLEY) co-star. Rourke is Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, a one-time superstar of professional wrestling who's down on his luck, estranged from his teenage daughter (Wood) and clinging onto the remains of his career by appearing in brutally violent bouts that barely pay him enough to make the rent on his trailer park home. It soon becomes clear that his broken body is incapable of following through the determination of his plucky spirit and when he succumbs to a heart attack he finds himself at a crossroads where he must decide whether or not to continue his futile pursuit of celebrity or make amends with those that he has alienated.

After his somewhat ambitious flirtation with the science fiction genre in THE FOUNTAIN, director Aronofsky returns to Earth and back to the emotional human drama of his earlier REQUIEM FOR A DREAM. Having fallen from grace in his own professional life, Rourke delivers a towering performance as Robinson; a man whose career trajectory is so close to the actor's own, the film is given a staggering level of poignancy.

Customer Reviews

Warning: Forced/unskippable trailers & commercials completely ruins this great movie
**This review is for this particular "Region B" _locked_ release, not the movie in general**

I will not go into details about the movie itself, other than to say that it is highly recommended. Rourke's (and Tomei's) performances, coupled with Aronofsky's filmmaking makes this a gritty, heartfelt & authentic piece of work. It is probably Mickey Rourke's best since 1987's "Angel Heart" (directed by Alan Parker)--which brought out some truly amazing performances as well. Obviously, "The Wrestler" is a much more personal flick as it parallels Mickey's own strides in life throughout almost a similar amount of time which is covered in this movie.


On to the criticism about this U.K region B release from "Optimum Entertainment" (or "Optimum Screwheads", if you will) --

When I *buy* a specific release I do want to watch that release *only*--not get flooded by irrelevant previews or commercials which cannot be bypassed (even with "top menu") before getting to the main feature.

It seems the UK is much more prone to these despicable practices as it is AFAIK the only release which I haven't been able to bypass unwanted attempts at pitching another sale (or, indeed, several other sales--including a subscription to SKY HD.)

Most Blu-Ray's (at least North American releases) even go right into the feature automatically without any fuss whatsoever, let alone flood the customer and forcing he or she to sit through (or feverishly fast-forward) these "important messages".

To the morons at Optimum (and elsewhere) responsible for this detestable practice: treat your customers with some respect. I place orders for discs several times a week, and I will not stand for this at all. Return label has already been printed.

I encourage everyone to else to do the same and return such inferior products to the retailer.

Still, I can't believe they get away with this in the first place.

(At least it didn't have several unskippable anti-piracy ads the likes of "Your wouldn't steal a car"... etc. Talk about ultimate idiocy, as only law-abiding customers ever see these messages...")

So, in short, I recommend this movie very highly. However, do whatever you can to pick up any other version than this specific U.K release (even if that involves getting a region-free player!)

It'll be worth it.

Semi Full Review!!!!
HMMMMMmmmmmm, Not the classic critics made it out to be. Please don't get me wrong it was good, just not great!!! The story of a down on his luck pro wrestler shows the gritty side of the business & as a huge wrestling fan, I know all too well the impact it has on some of the stars & I feel that Rourke's portrayel was excellent, however if you really want to see an amazing insight of pro wrestling I urge you to seek out 2 BRILLIANT documentries - Beyond the mat & Wrestling with Shadows.

I feel the wrestler was a tad 2 slow and could have been better paced, but the acting was excellent from both leads.

Blu ray PQ is not the greatest I have ever seen, however, it was supposed to have the feel of a gritty story so was more an artistic choice than anything else, AQ was ok, dialogue was a lot more natural than the DVD version and the wrestling scenes came to life when needed!!!

A good film.....................just not great!!!!!

"...How Do Feel About Staples...Staple Guns..."
As you've no doubt worked out from the so-so reviews "The Wrestler" is getting in the real world, I too am puzzled at the sea of 4 and 5 star recommendations festooning the cover of this Blu Ray release, which I stupidly paid out eighteen sterling for.

It's a good film - it is - and Mickey Rourke's performance is towering (Marisa Tomei too) - but it's not a great movie - when you feel it could have been. And worse - as a Blu Ray release, its utter rubbish, because the picture might as well be documentary videotape. It's filmed that way of course to get down and dirty with the content matter - but the blocking and the general washed out feel of the print doesn't make you think I'm glad I bought this on Blu Ray - more I should have saved money and bought it on DVD instead - or better still - rented it.

Alongside some grotesque violence in one particularly nasty bout - there are other gems worth seeking out - the wonderful face-to-face talk he has with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) - tender and believable - and the scene where he looks around the table of broken wrestlers yawning and hurting as they sign autographs at a convention to make some money - colostomy bags and wheelchairs abounding - both are moments of filming genius. But then the story ends badly - and almost inconclusively - leaving you wondering why they didn't rise to the potential shown earlier in the script. Like they didn't know what to do...

Shame really - there was a great film in here somewhere trying desperately to get out, but it just doesn't quite make it.

But as a Blu Ray release, "The Wrestler" is too expensive and too blurry to be of any use. The DVD or a Rental is advised.