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  NoDQ.com > Columns > On the Mat, w/ Matt Henry Review of "The Wrestler"
Posted by Matt Henry on 12/29/2008 at 04:07 PM

Hello my friends. Welcome to another edition of "On The Mat", with Matt Henry. Just last night I had the chance to sit down and watch the critically acclaimed new film, "The Wrestler". The movie was written and directed by Darren Aronofsky and starred Mickey Rourke as the veteran 80's wrestling star Randy "The Ram" Robinson.

From start to finish this film will tug at your heart strings. Particularly if you are a fan of guys like Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, or Greg Valentine. Randy Robinson is a dead ringer for just about any guy who made it big in the 80's and fell into the drug lifestyle and was unable to save any money for the future. The story itself is a bit gritty. It gives you a rather sad look into the underbelly of professional wrestling, yet still shows the compassion and respect that some rookie promoters have for the legends of yesterday.

Rourke plays the part of Randy Robinson. Robinson's character was a huge star in the 80's, similar to our real life Hulk Hogan. Main eventing shows all over the world and selling out Madison Square Garden, in his signature feud with "The Ayatollah" (a character very similar to the Iron Sheik") This character is played by a familiar face in former WCW star Earnest "The Cat" Miller. Miller does a nice job in his brief role in the film, but he's no Mickey Rourke.

As the film begins it is set in present day with Robinson looking back on his career. Robinson still works every weekend on the independent circuit, working matches as well as doing personal appearances to pay the bills. During the week Randy Robinson works full time at a grocery store. He makes his home in a beat up old mobile home or even sleeping in his van. As the movie progresses Robinson suffers a severe heart attack and is told that he must quit wrestling for good. This is where the struggle begins.

Robinson does his best to step away from the limelight, but as with any professional wrestler, you simply can't just walk away. Randy tries to pour himself into the heart of an exotic dancer named Cassidy, played by Marissa Tomei. When that initially fails she talks Randy into trying to reconnect with his daughter. His attempt is somewhat successful at first, but falls flat when he once again is too drunk and high to keep a promise to his teenage child. When he finally realizes what he has done and tries to make it right it is too late. She tells her brokenhearted father to leave and never contact her again.

At the mid way point of the film Randy Robinson has lost it all. His career, his child, and the woman he loves. The only thing left for him to hang onto is his day job at the grocery store. Randy immerses himself deeply into his menial job to try to avoid the pain of all his losses. He decides to swallow his pride and begin working with the customers out front as apposed to his old job of working in the stock room hidden from the public eye. Robinson does this for as long as he can, but when he is finally recognized by a former fan and called out as being "The Ram" working as a meat cutter, Randy snaps and makes a scene quitting his job and the only thing real and tangible he has left.

When he feels he has nothing left to live for Randy decides he must make one more leap for glory. He takes a promoter up on his offer for a huge rematch against his greatest foe of the 80's "The Ayatollah". Just as Randy is loading up his van and heading off to the arena Cassidy makes her way to Randy's mobile home to apologize for refusing his advances. Randy explains to her that he understands that she doesn't want some broken down old wrestler and hands her the poster for what will be his last showdown. He invites he to come watch as he pulls away.

At the arena Randy makes the rounds saying his hellos and shaking hands. Just as his opponent is being introduced Cassidy arrives at the building with just enough time to beg Randy one more time to skip this match. He tells her that it is too late and this is the only life he knows as he walks through that curtain one more time to the adulation of his adoring fans. Randy enters the ring and takes the mic to cut his final heartfelt promo. He thanks the fans for their years of dedication and support and reminds them all that without them there would be no "Ram". As he finishes his almost tearful goodbye "The Ayatollah" jumps him from behind and the match is on. Back and forth action until Randy begins to have chest pains. The ref tries to stop the match, but Randy keeps pulling forward. Eventually his opponent and friend of 20 plus years notices his struggle and begs Randy to "go home". He tells his friend, "I got this Randy." and "Come to me and I'll take us home" Randy is too proud to give up and listens to his fans cheering him on. They are begging for his finisher! A top rope splash he calls the "Ram Jet". Randy struggles through the crippling pain and mounts the top rope. He stands on that top rope for the final time and looks out over his audience. Everyone screaming his name. By this time we see a shot of Cassidy still standing behind the curtain. Unable to watch the man she finally realizes that she loves risk his life, she turns and walks away as Randy poses for the crowd and takes his leap to immortality. Randy's face turns to a grimace of pain as he soars through the air. The screen fades to black and the movie ends before Randy even lands. We are left to ponder on our own if Randy survived the match.

The film took you on a shot journey of the final weeks and months of a broken down professional wrestler. The pain they go through on a daily basis, both physical and emotional. It shows us a man well into his 50's still bleaching his hair and laying in tanning beds to look the part. It shows us a man still using steroids to keep his body looking good. A man still using cocaine and alcohol to mask the emotional pain of losing his family and his legacy. You can really see men like Jake Roberts when you watch the fictional character of Randy Robinson. It makes you want to find a way to help them before more end up the way so many of our heroes have.

All in all if you are a wrestling fan, you must see this film! Mickey Rourke is simply amazing and the story is extremely touching. Even if you are not a fan of professional wrestling you should see this movie. I will even goes so far as to say that it may even convert a non fan into a fan. It's a brave look at the dark side of the sport we love. The wrestling action itself is nothing too spectacular, but it does give you some samples of the carny talk and even shows how wrestlers do "blade jobs"

The acting in this movie was superb and the directing was spot on. The only reason Vince McMahon didn't like this film was because it was too brutally honest. It shows a side of the sport that Vince doesn't want us to see. Vince wants us to forget about these legends of the past and not worry about what their lives are like now. Please understand that it is my opinion that 99% of the problems former wrestlers encounter in their post wrestling lives are all brought on by their own choices and actions. I in no way blame Vince McMahon or the wrestling industry, nor should the troubled wrestlers. The fact remains that the problems exist and more should be done to preserve these heroes of our past. No one should end up the way so many of them have.

Once again I urge all of you to see this film. It will bring you to tears and inspire you at the very same time. I for one loved it and will watch it again and again. Kudos to both the director and the man who brought the character of Randy Robinson to life, Mikey Rourke. Go see this movie folks! You will not regret it.

Well friends, I'm afraid that's all I have for today. Before I close I would like to send a special congrats out to Jeff Hardy for finally earning the right to be the top dog. It's about time that the most popular guy in the company is recognized for his abilities and accomplishments. Congrats Jeff Hardy!

I hope you all had a nice holiday and have a safe and Happy New Years. Take care of yourselves and be good to each other. Thank you for going "On The Mat" with Matt Henry! I wish you all a wonderful 2009!

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