The Wrestler

Great performances and direction but so-so script

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This film came in on waves on hype and it was perhaps inevitable that it would not live up to it especially when reviews like the flicks one compare it to "Raging Bull". Rourke does indeed gives a truly fantastic, well-rounded performance, the rest of the cast is excellent also, and Aronovsky, eschewing his usual self-consciously arty moves, shoots the film with a great deal of veracity.

However the script is somewhat cliched and pedestrian in it's plotting. The scenes involving his daughter, who is more of a plot pivot than a flesh and blood character, and Tomei's character's 11th hour reciprocations of affection are clumsy and ring false, robbing the film of much emotional power. "The Wrestler" would have greatly benefited from an more exploratory, less constrianed to the standard three act stucture, approach like "Raging Bull". Indeed most of the effective scenes in the film were the ones not forwarding the plot eg the behind-the-scenes wresting stuff and Randy's first day on the deli counter.

Despite my negative feelings towards the script the film is still a very good one. Randy comes across as a flawed yet immensely likeable person, an 'Entertainer'. The film makes it clear that his love for performing is not borne out of love for himself but love for his audience and it is beautifully stated in the film and the brilliant closing song by Bruce Springsteen.