Film Reviews: The Wrestler & The Boat That Rocked

I don't think you can get two any more different films, although now that I think about it the films do revolve around males and male angst (more so in The Wrestler's case of course).

 

The Wrestler: If you are experiencing any feelings of angst, loneliness or existential crisis-y-ness then be warned - this movie is pretty damn melancholy.  Mickey Rourke is fantastic as aging wrestling star Randy "The Ram" Robinson.  Randy's glory days ended with his infamous fight with Ayatollah at Madison Square Gardens on April 6, 1989. Fast forward to 2009 and Randy is still bleaching his hair, lifting weights and getting spray tans to perform show matches at absolute dives - minus the glasses and hearing aid he now requires.  

The insight into the world of WWF is fascinating - it's a little family (when you're at the show, anyhow - Randy has no contact with other wrestlers outside of "work" other than to visit his "pharmacist" who provides every steroid and pain-killer you could possible want - oh, and some blow if you really need).  There's quite a bit of man-love in the dressing room, what with all the hugs and compliments flying around the place, and of course the pre-show conversations about the moves they'll execute.  It's amazing how much care is taken between the opponents for what is obviously a very violent, dangerous living.  The Passion of the Christ fight is awful, however - and I was horrified to learn that Rourke did all of his own fights and stunts himself.  

Randy also works part-time at a local supermarket to support his lonely trailer-park lifestyle.   There is an attempt at a relationship with Marisa Tomei's stripper, which is particularly poignant in the film's final scene, where we see the Ram and Ayatollah meet for one last time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their sold-out fight in Madison Square Garden.  A life-changing event sees Randy seek out his long-lost daughter, played exceptionally by Evan Rachel Wood (although, hello! angst probably isn't too hard to fake when you're dating Marilyn Manson as she was at the time of filming).   Again, this relationship serves to illustrate the ultimate loneliness and hollow world that the Ram has come to inhabit at the end of what was once a stellar career. 

This is a great film in the way that Million Dollar Baby, Requiem For A Dream and Mystic River are great films - you never want to see them again.  The acting is exceptional (Rourke won a BAFTA and Golden Globe for his performance, and was nominated for an Oscar), the story perfectly restrained (the film is almost autobiographical of Rourke's own wrestling career), and I really feel it captures that awful discontent and, as one reviewer put it, the "howl of pain" that men can experience when they suddenly realise life hasn't become all they expected it to be.  The struggle in Randy's life is painful to watch, but at the same time, all too real.  4.5 stars.

A little bit of trivia - in Randy's final fight he is introduced to the stage to the sounds of Guns 'n' Roses' Sweet Child Of Mine which was Mickey Rourke's signature song during his own career.  Axl Rose donated the song to the makers of the film, as the budget didn't extend quite that far.  Axl Rose is thanked in the film credits, and in one of Rourke's acceptance speeches he actually thanks Axl Rose. God I love Guns 'n' Roses! There's a little bogan in all of us, I suppose! :o)

I can't believe this picture is on this blog either

The Boat That Rocked: Speaking of music... this film has one of the best soundtracks EVER! As I walked out of the cinema I thought I might buy the soundtrack, but then realised I have pretty much all of those songs already.

The Boat That Rocked is set on a rickety old boat which has settled in the North Sea outside of British territorial waters (wooh! international law! nerds are cool) so that the team of rock-lovers on board may broadcast their fabulous mash of 60s Brit-pop to secret listeners back home. Radio Rock is in constant peril from the British Government comprised of classical music loving Ministers hell-bent on closing Radio Rock down.  I mentioned male angst, didn't I? This comes in the form of the constantly smitten Simple Simon who is desperate for a real relationship (very difficult when your boat-mates are all male except the lone female - a lesbian to boot) and Carl, searching for his real dad (very Babe) and dying to pop the virgin cherry.

A nice cup of tea can solve anything

This is a classic romp, and for me the one era in which I desperately wish I could have lived in Britain (subsequent trips to London have not been as expected, and I suppose getting your tourist information from covers of The Beatles albums is probably inviting disappointment), hilariously acted by Bill Nighy (is it wrong to lust after him a little?), Rhys Ifans and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman.  There's not much of a storyline, but it's so much fun - the music is so great, the outfits glorious, the parties so much fun, and I just love all the cut-aways to the teens and young lovers bopping away secretly to this lovable bunch of pirates.  All those little transistor radios will have me scouring second hand shops for the next few months to come methinks. This is a must-see, and a perfect antidote for The Wrestler. 3.75 stars.