Comments on: Aronofsky Leaves it All On the Mat with The Wrestler

By: leonkennedy

leonkennedy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

i always love your reviews actually, you have amazingly similar taste to what i enjoy

curious what your other top two are

By: Mikey

Mikey — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Just curious, but what kept it from getting an "A+"?

By: Cole_Abaius

Cole_Abaius — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

My other two so far are The Dark Knight and Synecdoche, NY – although I haven't seen Milk or Benjamin Button or Slumdog Millionaire yet.

By: JMoney

JMoney — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Ok, I didn't read the above review because I havn't seen the movie and I don't want anything given away. But I have a question that maybe filmschoolrejects can answer. Why, if this is such an acclaimed movie and supposedly so good, aren't they showing it in more theatres. I really want to see this, but they aren't showing it in a theatre anywhere close to wear I live. How does the distribution process work? why hasn't someone picked up the rights and put this in a shit-ton of theatres, it's really pissing me off that I have to wait for the dvd, i know I could download for free, but I like to compensate filmmakers/actors that I enjoy, they can't go on tour like musicians to make money. anyway, my point being, this is the film of the year but hardly anyone gets to see it in theatres, is this just the hollywood system failing us yet again, or what?

By: Seann

Seann — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

JMoney,

I live in SE Appalachia Ohio. We have the same problem here. If we want to see a critically acclaimed film such as The Wrestler, Slumdog, Synecdoche or other non-wide release films we're kinda SOL. The really cool thing is that the Athena Cinema in Athens has been purchased by Ohio University and will focus solely on Indie films. So that will help save a trip to Columbus, or Cleveland to watch a film.

By: Rob_Hunter

Rob_Hunter — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Marisa Tomei plays a dollar bill?

By: loquaciousmuse

loquaciousmuse — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Thanks for writing this! I absolutely loved this movie and it was cool to read a review that explained the different aspects that made it so amazing. I hope Rourke gets the Oscar!

By: Cole_Abaius

Cole_Abaius — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Damned misplaced modifiers. If you were literate, I'd take your point under consideration.

By: RobertFure

RobertFure — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

The film is not yet in wide release. It will be in more theaters in January. Films need to be released before 12/31 for Oscar consideration.

By: RobertFure

RobertFure — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

I kind of hate you again, Cole. I just watched "The Wrestler" and while it's a good film, it's not in my top films and I disagree with just about every point you make. Without spoiling anything:
1. The camera work is the same as on "Pi." Aronofsky has yet to show me he's learned anything from making movies.
2. There are at least 3 occasions (one of them is the scene you describe, of him taking the long walk to the deli) where the message of the film is wielded like a folding chair to the face of the audience. I mean, seriously, "Don't Know What You Got Til Its Gone" is the song that introduces us to the Ram.
3. For a 95 minute film, the pacing felt slow at times.

For me, you left out the best part – "The Wrestler" by Bruce Springsteen, which should be, at least, nominated for Best Song. All that being said, Rourke is good (though playing a character he is intimately familiar with) and the movie is really good. The reason I'm being hard on it is that it's not Best Film of the Year good, not to me. I'm firmly in the camp of disliking just about everything Aronofsky has done. (I enjoyed Requiem of a Dream) I'm not sure what should win Best Picture of the Year yet, but it's definitely not The Wrestler.

By: Wesmess

Wesmess — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

F**king brilliant movie, great review. Happy Holidays.

By: leonkennedy

leonkennedy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Robert fure,

if you are not aware of Aronofsky's style then you need to go re-watch Requiem for a Dream and the fountain
but your first comment, you said he hasn't progressed as a film maker, and you are amazingly mistaken. He has signature things that he likes to do in his previous movies, the reason being he did not do those signature things (slow panning while everything moves fast, close ups of peoples eyes and pupils dialiting,) ETC the reason he didn't do it and kept to the hand held look like Pi. was simple

he would have taken away from the actors with that, and aronofsky realized he needed to step back his creativity with this movie and just let the actors shine more than the directing, though the directing is amazingly well done you are too blind by the fact you hate his work to probably realize this.

all in all i respect your opinion, but totally disagree

By: 790

790 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:29:08 +0000

Finally saw this film last night and its as good as Cole says.
Rourke will definilty win an Oscar for this amazing performance.

By: Romeo_Garcia

Romeo_Garcia — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:11:39 +0000

I always said that mickey rourke is a very good actor,i know i know is somekind of weird too,and his talent is one of hollywood waste in the last past 10 years,like jeff bridges and patrick swayze too,but i glad to see that somebody like director aronfsky pick up this good actor and take for a very complicated film and trust him his acting,,,i a very good time mickey.,,,

By: 790

790 — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:05:51 +0000

I can’t wait any longer to see this. !!!!!
Damn it!!!
ArrdgggHhhhh !!