Randy “Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is an aging wrestler, whose past fame helps him pick up much younger women but not to pay his rent. He barely manages to make ends meet by doing small wrestling shows and working at a supermarket.
When Randy learns that his health condition may force him to end his wrestling career, he tries to pursue other life interests, like making up with his adult daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), whom he abandoned many years ago, and developing a relationship with a middle-aged stripper (Marisa Tomei).
However, life outside the ring is too strange for him. Besides, Ram gets a chance to revive his stardom with a rematch against the Ayatollah, his ring nemesis from the 1980s.
Like many great film projects, “Wrestler” had a difficult start. Director Darren Aronofsky, known for cult films like “Pi” and “Requiem for a Dream,” had trouble getting the film off the ground. From the very beginning, the main part was meant for Mickey Rourke, who had done no serious acting for almost 15 years and, as a result, no one wanted to invest in him. This forced Aronofsky to enroll Nicolas Cage in the project instead. At the end, however, he made “Wrestler” with Rourke for a mere $7 million, which is paying off handsomely. The film has already grossed over $25 million in the United States alone.
Why Mickey Rourke was perfect for the wrestler’s part is quite clear. Considering his life story, the role was almost autobiographical for the actor. The main difference between him and the main character is that Rourke had an acting career to come back to after his days in the boxing ring were over.
In fact, Rourke took up boxing long before acting. He won his first boxing match at 12, while he played some of his best roles in films (“Rumble Fish,” “Nine 1/2 Weeks” and “Angel Heart”) while in his 30s. In 1991, Rourke returned to professional boxing, but retired four years later after suffering serious injuries that led to reconstructive plastic surgery. The surgery distorted Rourke’s sex symbol looks and made him almost unrecognizable. He spent subsequent years drinking, and only occasionally appeared in movies.
“Wrestler” was completed just days before the opening of the Venice Festival 2008 and received The Golden Lion, its top award. Many more prizes followed, including the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Rourke as Best Actor, as well as an Oscar nomination in the same category. Promoted as “the return of Mickey Rourke,” the film proved to be exactly that. Even covered in scar tissue, Rourke delivers an impressive performance. Pain and loneliness are written all over his face and just as convincing as the spectacular wrestling matches that he delivers onscreen. The scene in which he steps behind the meat-and-salads counter in the supermarket and deals with annoying grandmas is just delightful.
Kyiv (19 Chervonoarmiyska, 234-3380). From April 16 at 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. In English with Ukrainian subtitles
