MOVIES: Mickey Rourke Goes to the Mat in 'The Wrestler'

Like a folding chair to the back of the head, Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler, comes out of nowhere and packs a wallop. Serving as the closing film for the 46th New York Film Festival this weekend, it concludes the Film Society's annual parade of the best international cinema with a bang. The man responsible for delivering that cinematic body slam is Mickey Rourke, an actor who garnered considerable praise in the '80s for his performances in 9 ½ Weeks and Diner but then with his personal struggles and a stint as professional boxer went back under the Hollywood radar. In the film he plays aging New Jersey professional wrestler Randy the Ram whose fading tan, aching body and grown out dye job is nearly as sad as his estranged relationship with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and his stripper girlfriend Cassidy (Marisa Tomei).

The thing that makes the movie, and in turn Rourke's performance, so compelling is how he and his character don't hold anything back. Randy throws himself entirely into the wrestling ring, even if that means picking glass and razor wire out of his skin afterwards. Rourke told a packed press conference audience that he spent "a pretty extensive rehearsal time" with a number of professional wrestlers (who also served as extras) learning their moves. Even though his fight scenes are heavily choreographed "like a ballet" Rourke really was getting hurt on camera, just like the professionals. "I'm no spring chicken," the 56-year-old reminded the audience. "I was so glad when this movie was over. I was just tired all of the time."

 [The Wrestler gets a theatrical release starting December 19.]

—Karen Wilson

Photo Credit: Wild Bunch