[Demko]

I saw the Oscar screener that's been going around online of The Wrestler, since it's still not opened in Tampa yet... and for the most part, I liked the movie. But as powerful as people are describing the emotion in this movie, I guess I just don't see it.

As a half-hearted wrestling fan these days, I could definitely see the value in the movie, as it brings to mind a lot of nostalgia from the old wrestling days, as well as the washed-up broken-down older wrestlers going around these days, trying to continue collecting a paycheck. I saw glimpses of and references to Jake the Snake, Hogan, Flair, Savage, Foley, Funk, the Iron Sheik... a lot of the big names were called to mind in this movie.

But a lot of the emotion in this movie seemed to be misplaced or awkwardly shown... I totally buy the 'relationship' between Randy and Cassidy. But for some reason, his relationship with his daughter was completely lost on me. I guess I have far too good a relationship with my parents to really understand this, but she seemed unreasonably and suddenly angry. There was no build-up to this... nothing to indicate that he was a neglectful parent up until this point. He actually seemed like a nice likeable guy to me. He hadn't really been painted as a bad guy up until this point in the movie.

Which leads me to my next issue. The coke/random sex scene. It seemed out of place, and completely out of character. Is this really just me? Again, I think that Aronofsky did just far too good a job at making me like this guy before all of these randomly horrible things started spinning out of control for him.

Am I just being completely obtuse about this movie?

Don't get me wrong... I liked this movie, on the whole... but I just don't get the hugely rave reviews that this movie is getting for Oscar nods and whatnot.

[bdbdbd]

I don't want to geek fight or get into a whole "my opinion vs your opinion" thing, but the daughter relationship was fairly perfect. He ignored her for most of her life then suddenly showed up when he was sick. She reluctantly gives him a second chance, they actually connect, and then he fucks up again and she lets him have it. Makes perfect sense to me.

As for the coke and sex, sometimes an old demon rears it's ugly head and you're too pathetic and weak to fight it off. She remembered him when he was famous and offered him free drugs, that's way too much temptation for someone in his position.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

Ram was looking for some kind of love - he couldn't get it from Cassidy or Stephanie and here comes this slam dunk for him. Made sense to me.

[DevSop]

Besides, who doesn't want to party like a fireman?

[denverpunk]

Jan 2, 2009 13:45:23 GMT -5 The Jewish Cunthead said:

Ram was looking for some kind of love - he couldn't get it from Cassidy or Stephanie and here comes this slam dunk for him. Made sense to me.

Ditto. Our man was desperate; the coke and easy sex wasn't built to last for more than a night, but it was more than he thought he had with his daughter or pseudo-girlfriend. Is it any wonder why he picked the ring over the girl at the end? It was too late for him.

BTW, I loved this movie, and I can't imagine liking it any less if I didn't enjoy pro wrestling. Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were both amazing.

[creepy]

Finally saw this tonight. It was a good enough movie, but it left me wondering basically what Demko was wondering. Why was this constantly referred to as one of the best movies of the year? I liked it, but I just kept wondering when I'd be blown away. I never was.

Her dad left. She hated him. He tried to win back her love. He did justlikethat. He screwed up one night. Black mean lady told him off. His daughter told him off. Bye, daughter. Wha?


6 out of 10. Nothing bad about it, but nothing that great, either. I guess I should have seen it when all of the hype oversold it. Tomorrow night, I'm seeing Slumdog Millionaire. We'll see how that goes.


And about his daughter...........I forgot I was watching a movie until that Evan Rachael Wood girl showed up and overacted. I then remembered it was a movie and wondered if she took acting lessons from Harrison Ford circa 1990 or after.

[Stu]

May 11, 2009 5:42:25 GMT -5 creepy said:

And about his daughter...........I forgot I was watching a movie until that Evan Rachael Wood girl showed up and overacted. I then remembered it was a movie and wondered if she took acting lessons from Harrison Ford circa 1990 or after.

Well, maybe Circa Last Crusade:

Evan Rachael Wood: It was just the two of us, dad. It was a lonely way to grow up. For you, too. If you had been an ordinary, average father like the other girs' dads, you'd have understood that.
Randy: Actually, I was a wonderful father.
Evan Rachael Wood: When?
Randy: Did I ever tell you to eat up? Go to bed? Wash your ears? Do your homework? No. I respected your privacy and I taught you self- reliance.
Evan Rachael Wood: What you taught me was that I was less important to you than people who paid to watch you 500 miles away in another state. And I learned it so well that we've hardly spoken for ten years.
Randy: You left just when you were becoming interesting.