The Wrestler

(Before I write this, I just want to go on record and say this isn't because I am a pro wrestling fan, this my view has a critic on REEL REVUE).

Who would have thought, one of the movies with the most buzz last year was a movie about professional wrestling and the star, Mickey Rourke, an actor in his hey day was recognized for his roles in 9 1/2 Weeks and Diner and his more current roles in Sin City and Domino, well that's the case with Darren Aranofsky's "The Wrestler."

In "The Wrestler", Rourke plays semi-retired wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson who makes his living wrestling on the independent circuit and part time at a local grocery store, while dealing with life outside the ring with his estranged daughter played by Evan Rachel Wood or finding love with an exotic dancer played by Marisa Tomei.

When Robinson decides to retire for good, so he can begin to put his life back together, Robinson is given an offer of a one-night only rematch with his long-time rival The Ayatollah played by former professional wrestler Ernest "The Cat" Miller.

I thought Rourke was great in Sin City and Domino, but his performance in the Wrestler was amazing, it just blew me away.

The chemistry between Rourke and Tomei was solid and I enjoyed the performances of Wood and Tomei, who is nominated for Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards.

After seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt was my pick for Best Actor at the Oscar's at first, but after seeing his performance Rourke to me is the front runner, besides he has already won the best actor at the BAFTA's, which are England's equivalent to the Oscars and the Golden Globe Awards.

I got to say, going into this movie, I was a little judgmental on how well Rourke would handle himself during the wrestling scenes, and I got to say he was amazing, he took every spot like it was a real match.

Rourke looked great in the wrestling scenes, and I loved how he influenced his character after legendary wrestler "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, WHOOOOOOO!

I also enjoyed that the fans get to view what life is like in professional wrestling backstage, and how wrestlers talk about what they're going to do during their matches and what they can do to get the crowd hyped.

It also proves against a rumor, that wrestlers bleed by the use of blood capsules, as you see in the film that is not true.

One scene that stood out in the film, was in his heartwarming scene with Wood as he apologizes to her for not being in her life, "I'm a old broken down piece of meat that deserves to be alone, I just don't want you to hate me." I got to admit I nearly teared up, it was that good.

What's crazy is that Nicolas Cage could have played this role, but Rourke fit the bill. I got to say the ending was a little questionable, but I think that was the plan.

I loved this film so much, that now here is my revised list for the Best Movies of 2008:

1. The Dark Knight

2. The Wrestler

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

4. Gran Torino

5. Iron Man

6. Wall-E

7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

8. Tropic Thunder

9. Burn After Reading

10. Quantum of Solace

Next Time on the Reel Revue, my review for Taken starring Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen.