Aging wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin’ to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can’t resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.
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Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson: Mickey Rourke
• Stephanie: Evan Rachel Wood
• Cassidy: Marisa Tomei
• Lenny: Mark Margolis
• Wayne: Todd Barry
• Nick Volpe: Wass Stevens
• Scott Brumberg: Judah Friedlander
• Adam: John D’Leo
• The Ayatollah: Ernest Miller
• Necro Butcher: Dylan Keith Summers
• Tommy Rotten: Tommy Farra
• Lex Lethal: Mike Miller
• Admissions Desk Woman: Marcia Jean Kurtz
• Medic: Ajay Naidu
• JAPW Promoter Larry Cohen: Gregg Bello
• Greg: Scott Siegel
• Spotter: Maurizio Ferrigno
• Jen: Donnetta Lavinia Grays
• Alyssa: Andrea Langi
• Dr. Moayedizadeh: Armin Amiri
• Pharmacist: Lynn Tovale Anoa’i
• Strip Club Best Man: Ryan Lynn
• Strip Club Bachelor: Michael Drayer
• Cheeques Bartender: Alyssa Bresnahan
• Hotel Bartender: Jeff Chena
• Big Chris: Vernon Campbell
• Beautician: Felice Choi
• Tanning Salon Owner: Bernadette Penotti
• The Legend Johnny Valiant: Johnny Valiant
• Ron ‘The Truth’ Killings: Ron Killings
• Romeo Roselli: Giovanni Roselli
• Autograph Fan #1: Robert D. Siegel
• Autograph Fan #2: Scott Franklin
• Hudson Acres Lady at Deli Counter: Sylvia Kauders
• Young Housewife at Deli Counter: Alissa Reisler
• Touchdown Man at Deli Counter: Willy Rosner
• German Potato Salad Lady at Deli Counter: Rebecca Darke
• Teamster at Deli Counter: E.J. Carroll
• Annoyed Man at Deli Counter: Abraham Aronofsky
• Annoyed Woman at Deli Counter: Charlotte Aronofsky
• Jameson: TJ Kedzieerski
• Get a Room Lady: Jen Cohn
• Strip Club Patron: Henry Kwan
• WXW Announcer: Tyrone Scott
• WXW Referee: Douglas Crosby
• CZW Announcer: Larry Mercer
• CZW Referee: Nick Papagerio
• ROH Announcer: Kevin Foote
• ROH Referee: Jon Trosky
• Wrestler: Andrew Anderson
• Wrestler: Daniel Healy Solwold Jr.
• Wrestler: Brian Heffron
• Wrestler: Nicholas K. Berk
• Wrestler: Brolly
• Wrestler: Lamar Braxton Porter
• Wrestler: Claudio Castagnoli
• Wrestler: Cobian
• Wrestler: Doc Daniels
• Wrestler: Bobby Dempsey
• Wrestler: Billy Dream
• Wrestler: Rob Strauss
• Wrestler: Nate Hatred
• Wrestler: Kristopher Cope
• Wrestler: David John Markland
• Wrestler: Inferno
• Wrestler: Jess Liaudin
• Wrestler: Judas
• Wrestler: Kid U.S.A.
• Wrestler: Lloyd Anoa’i
• Wrestler: Toa Mairie
• Wrestler: Kevin Matthews
• Wrestler: Charles Renner
• Wrestler: Pete Nixon
• Wrestler: Paul E. Normous
• Wrestler: Papadon
• Wrestler: Darnell Kittrell
• Wrestler: Jay Santana
• Wrestler: Sugga
• Wrestler: Alex Whybrow
• Wrestler: Whacks
• Fan: Ryan Tygh
• Alyssa’s Roommate (uncredited): Olivia Baseman
• Audience Member: Brandon DiCamillo
• Ring Girl (uncredited): Sakinah Bingham
• Crazy Fan (uncredited): Matt Cannon
• Fans at Table (uncredited): Peter Conboy
• Fan at Convention (uncredited): Evan Ginzburg
• Girl in Supermarket (uncredited): Anna-Karin Eskilsson
• Wrestler (uncredited): Cory Kastle
• Wrestler (uncredited): Robert Oppel
• DJ (uncredited): Piper Kenny
• Medic #2 (uncredited): Michael Marino
• Wrestling Fan (uncredited): Rafaela Ochoa
• Wrestling Fan (uncredited): Bill Walters
• Vendor (uncredited): Eric Santamaria
• Dancer: Erika Smith
• Strip Club Patron (uncredited): Paul Thornton
• Deli Customer (uncredited): Ben Van Bergen
• Sumo Wrestler (uncredited): Emmanuel Yarborough
• …: Jamar Shipman
• …: James Manley
• …: John Corson
• …: Dustin Howard
• …: Steven Haworth
• Wrestler (uncredited): John Zandig

Film Crew:

• Casting: Mary Vernieu
• Dialogue Editor: Dan Korintus
• Original Music Composer: Clint Mansell
• Producer: Darren Aronofsky
• Executive Producer: Vincent Maraval
• Sound Designer: Brian Emrich
• Supervising Dialogue Editor: Tony Martinez
• Associate Producer: Ari Handel
• Production Design: Tim Grimes
• Director of Photography: Maryse Alberti
• Location Manager: Abi Jackson
• Rigging Gaffer: Timothy Healy
• Editor: Andrew Weisblum
• Production Accountant: Frank Murray
• Executive Producer: Jennifer Roth
• Foley: Jay Peck
• Thanks: Axl Rose
• Screenplay: Robert D. Siegel
• Co-Producer: Mark Heyman
• Stunt Coordinator: Douglas Crosby
• Executive Producer: Agnès Mentre
• Casting: Suzanne Crowley
• Set Decoration: Theo Sena
• Special Effects: Drew Jiritano
• Electrician: William Louthe
• Digital Intermediate: Barbara Jean Kearney
• Producer: Scott Franklin
• Still Photographer: Niko Tavernise
• Art Direction: Matthew Munn
• Costume Design: Amy Westcott
• Thanks: Anthony White
• Stunts Coordinator: Jon Trosky
• Thanks: Nikita Breznikov
• Art Department Coordinator: Selina van den Brink
• Costume Supervisor: Steffany Bernstein
• Key Makeup Artist: Marjorie Durand
• Prosthetic Supervisor: Chris Kelly
• Property Master: Jeff Butcher
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Dominick Tavella
• Key Makeup Artist: Judy Chin
• Boom Operator: Anguibe Guindo
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Andy Simonson
• Assistant Director: Brendan Walsh
• Set Costumer: Arlynn Abseck
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Roberto Cappannelli
• Gaffer: David Skutch
• Set Costumer: Nicci Schinman
• Script Supervisor: Anthony Pettine
• Post Production Supervisor: Colleen Bachman
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Dan Schrecker
• Key Hair Stylist: Diana Sikes
• Location Manager: Ryan Smith
• Thanks: Adrian Street
• Hair Department Head: Mandy Lyons
• Sound Effects Editor: Eliza Paley
• Music Supervisor: Jim Black
• Conceptual Design: Josue Clotaire Fleurimond
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Jacob Ribicoff
• Makeup Designer: Michael Marino
• Special Effects: Andrew Mortelliti
• Transportation Captain: Jim Buckman
• Foley Editor: Stuart Stanley
• Sound Effects Editor: Bill Sweeney
• Dolby Consultant: Eric Vierhaus
• Video Assist Operator: Philip Gleason
• Camera Operator: Peter Nolan
• Key Grip: Chris Skutch
• Rigging Grip: Graham Klatt

Movie Reviews:

• Wuchak: “The Wrestler” (2008)

  Twenty years past his glory days in the mid/late 80s, a wrestler (Mickey Rourke) struggles to make ends meet in New Jersey while wrestling on the weekends, taking illegal pain-meds, pursuing a dancer at the local strip club (Marisa Tomei) and trying to reestablish a relationship with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

  This is an engrossing, but gloomy drama about the grim reality of celebrities from practically any field who are long past their prime; it just happens to be a wrestler in this case. People mock how fake wrestling is, but those talented guys bend over backwards to entertain the audience with incredibly painful stunts. The film was shot in the winter in New Jersey and this augments the bleak pall.

  On the female front, Marisa is absolutely stunning as Cassidy (aka Pam) and Wood is convincing as the embittered daughter. Their relationships with the protagonist are a mixture of sweet, agonizing and moving.

  The soundtrack features several quality songs from the 80s: “Bang Your Head,” “Round and Round,” “Balls to the Wall,” “Animal Magnetism,” “Dangerous,” “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone),” “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and more.

  The movie reminded me of 80’s metal star Jon Mikl Thor and the excellent documentary “I Am Thor” (2015) and, to a lesser extent, “Anvil: The Story of Anvil” (2008). While neither of these is as melancholic as “The Wrestler,” and “I Am Thor” is sometimes laugh-out-loud amusing, they both effectively show the grey reality of former real-life celebs well past their halcyon days.

  The film runs 1 hour, 49 minutes.

  GRADE: A-