Post by benmasters on Jan 11, 2009 19:41:24 GMT -5
It's really difficult for me to watch things like this because I ultimately ALWAYS get disappointed. I have YET to see a wrestling movie done right, or at least the way I think it should be done. The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke tries and where it succeeds is it IS a real LEGITIMATE movie. This movie has star power with Rourke and Marisa Tomei, who spends a lot of time nude if that's your cup of tea. For the record, I wasn't offended by this movie but I know some who would be. However, no true wrestling movie would work without the drugs (including steroids), the sex, the drinking, and the juicing. Yea, that used to make me cringe in movies too but Vince changed all of that. I like what this movie tries to be, but I do not buy Rourke as a worker, I don't think he captures the true essence probably because he's never worked. Having said that, Hogan never captured it in his movie No Holds Barred either, but his working is debatable at best I know. The dressing room scenes were probably what they wanted them to be, but there isn't much differentation between Rourke and the others. I wish they had cast some real workers that could act. These guys may have been wrestlers, but they were green when talking. Ernest the Cat Miller was good but Ron the Truth Killings couldn't even talk. Johnny Valiant makes a cameo and I recognized the Blue Meanie but the rest I didn't know. I wouldn't drive to Atlanta to see it, but I would see it. It should be on DVD soon. The Oscar power will keep it in the lime light. I preferred the original WRESTLER with Edward Asner, but my favorite parts of it were with the real boys like Rhodes and Murdock. That movie didn't get major play and for some reason, maybe the same, this one isn't getting what it should. I think it's a shame that more theatres aren't getting this film. They carried the disaster of a movie No Holds Barred but they won't carry this one. For my vote, I'd pick Jack Black's Nacho Libre over this one. While it's more about Mexican wrestling, at least it's funny. This movie didn't make me care about the character of Randy Robinson. Maybe that's because I never saw him in his prime. He reminded me of a lot of losers that I have met who have thrown their lives and careers away. Other movies like Vison Quest or Body Slam, might be a better choice for a wrestling movie. I like this movie, but I wanted to love it... and I just didn't.