The Wrestler

I was awaiting the Ottawa premiere of this movie, and it finally came. Mickey Rourke shines in his big comeback role. He certainly deserved winning the Golden Globe and getting the Oscar nomination for his amazing tour de force. You can't help but feel for his character. The movie itself is not bad, but it's not great either. It does get quite redundent at times, and drags in others. The two other actors worth mentioning are Marisa Tomei as a stripper, as well as Evan Rachel Wood as Rourke's estrained daughter. Not too sure that Tomei deserves the nominations she is getting in the supporting actress category. This is very much a small budget movie, and there is nothing wrong with that. It's a nice tale of a washed up has been who has trouble accepting his fate. Rourke shines, but the movie itself could have been much better in my opinion. I am glad it was not nominated for an Oscar for best picture or best director or even best screenplay. I believe there are far more deserving movies that were also overlooked. 6/10, not because of Rourke (who is incredible) but because the movie itself without Rourke would be weak.