I thought I'd start a separate thread for spoilers, and also I'm sure there will be lots of discussion when this movie gets a wider release and it seen by more people.
I saw the movie a second time, and I love it even more.
I gotta say that Rourke delivers a tremendous performance. It feels so real and natural, and despite his flaws, he makes you really care for him and want to see him succeed with his daughter and with Pam. There is that final shot of him on the top ropes getting ready to execute his finishing move, and it's amazing how many emotions are running through him based on his facial expression.
I think the script is a lot better than it may appear to many people. It's great how they use the "fakeness" of pro wrestling and contrast that with the "reality" of the outside world, and in Randy's life the two worlds are the opposite of what they should be. And I really liked the parallels of the stripper and the wrestler.
Evan Rachel Wood continues to be the best actress of her generation. I heard how some have complained she didn't have much significance in the movie, but I thought her character was very important as it's the only thing from Randy's real life from his past. We are only shown as much as Randy knows her about.
The ending couldn't be more perfect. Did he die or not seems to be the question. But he just knew that the outside world only brought him hurt, and he decides to continue what he loves doing and where he is treated well by the fans and where he has friends and a family in a way with the wrestlers, even if it means he will die doing so. And you see that great shot of his face, showing emotional and physical pain and at the same time a sense of happiness, and he takes the final leap into the air as if he's going to heaven, and then ... In wrestling, the finishing move is performed and the match is over, so it couldn't have been better to end the movie with that.
~T
I saw the movie a second time, and I love it even more.
I gotta say that Rourke delivers a tremendous performance. It feels so real and natural, and despite his flaws, he makes you really care for him and want to see him succeed with his daughter and with Pam. There is that final shot of him on the top ropes getting ready to execute his finishing move, and it's amazing how many emotions are running through him based on his facial expression.
I think the script is a lot better than it may appear to many people. It's great how they use the "fakeness" of pro wrestling and contrast that with the "reality" of the outside world, and in Randy's life the two worlds are the opposite of what they should be. And I really liked the parallels of the stripper and the wrestler.
Evan Rachel Wood continues to be the best actress of her generation. I heard how some have complained she didn't have much significance in the movie, but I thought her character was very important as it's the only thing from Randy's real life from his past. We are only shown as much as Randy knows her about.
The ending couldn't be more perfect. Did he die or not seems to be the question. But he just knew that the outside world only brought him hurt, and he decides to continue what he loves doing and where he is treated well by the fans and where he has friends and a family in a way with the wrestlers, even if it means he will die doing so. And you see that great shot of his face, showing emotional and physical pain and at the same time a sense of happiness, and he takes the final leap into the air as if he's going to heaven, and then ... In wrestling, the finishing move is performed and the match is over, so it couldn't have been better to end the movie with that.
~T
