Discussion
Los Angeles said:
It's advertised on television commercials as "Mickey Rourke's Great Comeback" which it is but ought to be embarrassing to any professional actor, not only because it draws the wrong attention to his reputation, but also because it ignores the film's content and all who created it.
I treated it with a degree of cynicism: You want to make a sports saga about a washed up wrestler's comeback? Employ a washed up actor. The script, banal in places, mechanical in others, was conceived for him.
There's no doubting Rourke's performamce is total, body and soul, visceral to the point I had to turn my gaze away in moments when a stapler is used on flesh, yet I squirmed at the cliches, the maudlin heart-on-sleeve sentimentality - look it's me, Mickey, I want to be loved again.
However, the film's obsession with the mortification of the flesh is given some spirituality in the role of Rourke's abandonded, hostile daughter played by Marisa Tomei, a big-hearted pole dancer. It's not really successful as a sub-plot but for me it added a dimension the rest missed.
In the end I surmised the film was all about ... showbiz.
Worth seeing but add a lot of salt to your popcorn.
LA
The soundtrack fI treated it with a degree of cynicism: You want to make a sports saga about a washed up wrestler's comeback? Employ a washed up actor. The script, banal in places, mechanical in others, was conceived for him.
There's no doubting Rourke's performamce is total, body and soul, visceral to the point I had to turn my gaze away in moments when a stapler is used on flesh, yet I squirmed at the cliches, the maudlin heart-on-sleeve sentimentality - look it's me, Mickey, I want to be loved again.
However, the film's obsession with the mortification of the flesh is given some spirituality in the role of Rourke's abandonded, hostile daughter played by Marisa Tomei, a big-hearted pole dancer. It's not really successful as a sub-plot but for me it added a dimension the rest missed.
In the end I surmised the film was all about ... showbiz.
Worth seeing but add a lot of salt to your popcorn.
LA
kin' ROCKED though. And some of the wrestling moves KICKED ASS(read as antedote to the quoted 'film buff' take on the film
)Los Angeles said:
Spiritual_Beggar said:
He wasn't really a 'Washed up' actor though was he. He just left acting to pursue a career in Boxing. It was his choice. But I get the point you're trying to make
Hi SB. According to interviews he is giving he was shunned by his profession for his behaviour and pronouncements, was forced back to boxing out of bankruptcy, got his face mashed, underwent plastic surgery, and came out looking like a battered turnip.
His past recklessness involved his dislike of the profession, speaking out too often, and his support of the IRA when filming in Ireland that was the last straw for the Hollywood career makers and breakers. Remember, if you can get ostracised for leaping up and down on a sofa in a chat show, (Cruise) telling reporters acting is infantile not a man's pursuit, invariably means sudden death. I note his fee for The Wrestler is "non-declared," meaning he accepted below minimum to get back into the profession.
He's still a fine actor ... what lies ahead for him is questionable. More support roles as a second banana?
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