The Wrestler

[VoxAngelikus]

This movie is getting a lot of play. Mickey Rourke looks good in it, not, like, sexy good, but... yeah.

7cCNCU7zIiM

[Celtickliq]

Beyond the Mat > The Wrestler

[El Torpedo]

This looks awesome, when's it out? Tomei better be topless for most of it.

[patcooper]

i cant wait to see this. from the clips i have seen it looks great.
what's the release date for this one? someone told me Christmas.

[nuclearjew]

Beyond the Mat > The Wrestler
A real account about fictionalized sport > a fictionalized yet realistic account of a fictionalized sport?

[ADD]

I love wrestling, yet have no desire to see this. Kinda like I how I like Judas Priest but never bothered with that Rockstar movie with Marky Mark and the annoying cunt from Friends.

[nuclearjew]

http://forum.gorillamask.net/showpost.php?p=120702&postcount=43

Also, here's an excellent article about Mickey Rourke. (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20236933,00.html)

[patcooper]

well i saw this the other night and i didn't see what was so great about it. i mean yes it's a realistic look into a life an old washed up wrestler but that's all it was. Ok he wrestled in high school gyms and hung out with a stripper. BIG FUCKING DEAL. The character had zero personality and i didn't think rourkes acting was anything special either. I'm glad i didn't pay to see this one.

[NOTKyle]

well i saw this the other night and i didn't see what was so great about it. i mean yes it's a realistic look into a life an old washed up wrestler but that's all it was. Ok he wrestled in high school gyms and hung out with a stripper. BIG FUCKING DEAL. The character had zero personality and i didn't think rourkes acting was anything special either. I'm glad i didn't pay to see this one.

I've heard NOTHING but fantastic things about this movie and Rourke's acting. I wish it was playing anywhere near me.

[One Under]

Watched it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Rourke's acting was very good, not sure if it was Oscar worthy though.

[RedBEARD]

I'm active around the independent wrestling scene in South Carolina and pretty much everyone I've heard from who's also involved has had nothing but positive things to say about it. I haven't seen it yet but I'm looking forward to it.

[Jericho]

I'm active around the independent wrestling scene in South Carolina and pretty much everyone I've heard from who's also involved has had nothing but positive things to say about it. I haven't seen it yet but I'm looking forward to it.
I just finished watching it like 5 minutes ago. Outstanding Character study. Rourke was great. It made me go sad face thinking about way too many similar stories of wrestling tragedies

[RedBEARD]

I just finished watching it like 5 minutes ago. Outstanding Character study. Rourke was great. It made me go sad face thinking about way too many similar stories of wrestling tragediesMight I ask where you were able to view this theatrical masterpiece?

[Jericho]

Might I ask where you were able to view this theatrical masterpiece?
http://playonclick.com/Videos/showMovie.php?id=3490

That's where I got it from. I'm sure it's elsewhere, though

[patcooper]

Might I ask where you were able to view this theatrical masterpiece?

have you heard of bit torrents?

[vasili denisov]

http://forum.gorillamask.net/showpost.php?p=120702&postcount=43

Also, here's an excellent article about Mickey Rourke. (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20236933,00.html)
Here's another article (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/magazine/30rourke-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=rourke&st=cse&scp=1) on the guy, possibly one of the more interesting self-destructive people out there. It's by page five that you get the revealing details.

It makes clear that pretty much everything he says about being a serious boxer as a kid and growing up in a poor black neighbourhood is a lie.

[the creeps]

so for those of you that have seen this and are into wrestling. would you say this is close to the jake the snake roberts story ?

[Jericho]

No. Jake is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more embarrassing to the business and self destructive than Randy the Ram

[bodybuilder24]

I thought about downloading this, but didn't know if it would be worth my time. Has anyone seen it?

[patcooper]

I thought about downloading this, but didn't know if it would be worth my time. Has anyone seen it?

have you read any of this thread?

[Chinaski]

Might I ask where you were able to view this theatrical masterpiece?

http://forum.gorillamask.net/showthread.php?t=13160

[ShitBreak]

You guys are retards.

He meant on a big screen...you know, where people go to actually watch movies?

[patcooper]

You guys are retards.

He meant on a big screen...you know, where people go to actually watch movies?

well this answers that question then.


Find Out When THE WRESTLER
Opens Near You!


PLEASE NOTE: This is plan is subject to change.
NOW PLAYING


Buy Tickets Now! (http://www.fandango.com/thewrestler_78651/movietimes?date=)


Boston
Chicago
Los Angeles
New York
San Francisco
Washington, D.C.
Opening Friday, Jan. 9th

Buy tickets (http://www.fandango.com/thewrestler_78651/movietimes?date=) on this date!

Austin
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Denver
Detroit
Hartford/New Haven
Minneapolis
Philadelphia
Phoenix
San Diego
Seattle
Opening Friday, Jan. 16th

Buy tickets (http://www.fandango.com/thewrestler_78651/movietimes?date=) on this date!

Albany
Albuquerque
Ann Arbor
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boca Raton/West Palm Beach
Cincinnati
Columbus
Honolulu
Houston
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Madison
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Milwaukee
Northampton/Springfield
Orlando
Portland
Rochester
Sacramento
Salt Lake City/Boise
St. Louis
Opening Friday, Jan.23rd

Buy tickets (http://www.fandango.com/thewrestler_78651/movietimes?date=) on this date!

Anchorage
Asheville
Baton Rouge
Birmingham
Buffalo
Champaign/Decatur/Springfield
Charlotte
Charlottesville
Cleveland
Colorado Springs
Corpus Christi
Dayton
Des Moines
Ft. Myers
Gainesville
Grand Rapids
Harrisburg, PA
Ithaca
Jacksonville
Knoxville
Lansing
Lexington
Lousiville
Memphis
Nashville
New Orleans
Norfolk/Newport News
Oklahoma City
Omaha
Pittsburgh
Portland, ME
Providence
Raleigh/Durham
Reno
Richmond
San Antonio
Santa Fe
Sarasota
Spokane
Syracuse
Tallahassee
Tampa/St. Petersburg
Tucson
Tulsa
Last updated on 12/29

[mongo]

aidz>osumike>patcooper

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

Is this Mickey's most believable role since he played the meth cook in that meth movie?

[patcooper]

Is this Mickey's most believable role since he played the meth cook in that meth movie?


Spun. And yes but i think he was actually better in spun then in the wrestler.

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

Pat, you make me laugh, your rep comment was way funny. Of course I haven't seen the movie that is WHY I FUCKING ASKED THE QUESTION.

dipshit.

[nuclearjew]

Is this Mickey's most believable role since he played the meth cook in that meth movie?
Mickey is so good in the role that this movie is like a documentary where they told Mickey to go into wrestling then they just follow him with cameras for a few weeks. I need to see a movie three times before I declare it a classic, but on first viewing, it's a great movie. My favorite scene is when he's working at the deli. "Hey good lookin'!"

[Jericho]

Mickey is so good in the role that this movie is like a documentary where they told Mickey to go into wrestling then they just follow him with cameras for a few weeks. I need to see a movie three times before I declare it a classic, but on first viewing, it's a great movie. My favorite scene is when he's working at the deli. "Hey good lookin'!"
That was sweet. And I love Todd Barry as his dickhole manager.

"All I got is weekends"

"That's fine"

"But isn't that when you sit on dudes faces"

[JT]

Good movie.

Not big on the ending but w/e.

[Chinaski]

You guys are retards.

He meant on a big screen...you know, where people go to actually watch movies?

What is this? Fandango.com? Check your local listings.

[nuclearjew]

Good movie.

Not big on the ending but w/e.
Would it be better if he gave a piledriver to an HGH needle?

[eleveneighteen]

Awesome movie. Rourke was the Ram, period. Great acting.

But can we please talk about what is important? Fucking hot actress naked in half her scenes. That's what makes a classic!

[RedBEARD]

so for those of you that have seen this and are into wrestling. would you say this is close to the jake the snake roberts story ?I would say it has similarities, but Jake's history is such a horror show that, unlike the Ram's, it doesn't have any immediate redeeming qualities especially seeing as how he's still going and still digging his hole even deeper.

All that said, I want to party like a fireman...

[etifupleez]

I think that this may be the best film of the year... Rourke was incredible.

[Papelgod]

That was sweet. And I love Todd Barry as his dickhole manager.

"All I got is weekends"

"That's fine"

"But isn't that when you sit on dudes faces"

The scene where he walked in on him watching porn was great too, as were all of the supermarket scenes.

Heartbreaking, but very good movie. I hope that douche Sean Penn doesn't beat out Rourke for the Oscar. Unfortunately, I can't see the Academy passing up:

A.) Ultra liberal Sean Penn
B.) Ultra liberal Sean Penn in a gay role about a politician in California
C.) Ultra liberal Sean Penn in a gay role about a politician in California while the Proposition 8 controversy is going strong.

[eleveneighteen]

He won the golden globe acting award last night, and boy did he look like a crazy bastard

[patcooper]

When hasn't he looked like a crazy bastard?

[El Torpedo]

Great film. I loved when he was really embracing and having fun with the crowd at the supermarket.

[eleveneighteen]

Great scene. Good character development showing us how he tried to keep a positive attitude.

So when he freaked out at the deli, was he really breaking or was he once again putting on a show since he had been exposed as The Ram by the customer?

[patcooper]

Great scene. Good character development showing us how he tried to keep a positive attitude.

So when he freaked out at the deli, was he really breaking or was he once again putting on a show since he had been exposed as The Ram by the customer?


Of course he was breaking. He basically said fuck everyone I AM THE RAM.

[eleveneighteen]

Don't think he ever broke or would freak out like that. He was putting on a show. Whenever people knew he was the Ram, the felt he needed to be that persona. Thus the knocking stuff off shelves, and purposely hurting himself in the slicer.

[patcooper]

Don't think he ever broke or would freak out like that. He was putting on a show. Whenever people knew he was the Ram, the felt he needed to be that persona. Thus the knocking stuff off shelves, and purposely hurting himself in the slicer.

But he didn't want to be recognized. he was embarrassed that this guy knew him as the ram the wrestling superstar from the 80's. And now he's working a deli counter. He cracked because he saw himself for what he was becoming. And that guy reminded him of what he was back then.

[moe_blunts]

very sopranos-esque ending. maybe David Chase will sue Darren Aronofsky

[El Torpedo]

I think the ambiguous ending worked a lot better here than in the Sopranos

[nuclearjew]

What was ambiguous about it? I thought it was pretty clear.

[zaphrodesiac]

It's so obvious Marissa Tomei was waiting on the mat to catch him.

[29a]

Good movie.

Not big on the ending but w/e.

How would you have prefered it ended?

If they show his death, then what? The parimedics rushing in, stunned crowd and nobody at his funeral?
He dies doing what he loves best surrounded by the people that make him who he is.

If he lives, then what?

It's pretty much the only way it could be ended.

[El Torpedo]

I wonder if his finishing move is called the Jammer

[nuclearjew]

Wrestler "Paul E. Normus" Passes Away At 33 - Updated
Jan 16, 2009 by Reggie Brooks
* Updated 1/19/2009 - 1:55 PM EST

http://www.pwnewsnow.com/cutenews/data/upimages/paulenormous_sm.jpg

Independent wrestler Paul "Paul E. Normus" Fuchs passed away Friday. He was 33 years old.

Fuchs died at his parents' home in Sloatsburg, NY.

Ramapo, New York police were called to the Fuchs residence located on Laurel Road around 5:20 a.m. after the wrestler was found "unresponsive" in the house.

As police and emergency personnel arrived, family members were performing CPR. However, their efforts would prove unsuccessful as Fuchs was pronounced dead at 6:18 a.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Police spokesperson Detective Lt. Brad Weidel said that police did not find anything suspicious and are handling the incident as a medically related death.

An autopsy on Fuchs was to be conducted by the Rockland County, NY Medical Examiner's Office.

Fuchs had a cameo in Darren Aronofsky's film "The Wrestler."

Fuchs was a native of New York and had trained in a number of wrestling schools. Growing up as a fan, wrestling was said to be his life long dream.

It must run in the family, as his grandmother is said to be a huge fan of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

Fuch's known to his family as a "Teddy Bear" -- a sensitive soul who studied art and physical therapy.

Despite working on the independent circuit for years and for numerous promotions, Fuchs was never offered a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Perhaps Fuchs is best known for his size -- being billed at 6'6 -- and muscularity.

He worked for such companies as Ring of Honor and 3PW, as well as a celebrity bodyguard and personal trainer.

[Jericho]

Sheeeeeit...this ain't even news in the wrestling thread

[nuclearjew]

I'm assuming this guy was a nobody?

[Jericho]

I'm assuming this guy was a nobody?
He was an independent wrestler for ROH(Ring Of Honor) as were most guys in the movie. You can see ROH plastered everywhere during most of the Ram's matches

[Celtickliq]

The composer to The Wrestler, Clint Mansell, just released an iTunes exclusive suite for the score. Work checking out for the Mansell/Wrestler fans out there.

[Jericho]

So apparently Mickey Rourke is going to be wrestling Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania. I wish to fucking Christ I was making that up

[Jack Bauer]

just seen that on yahoo news..lulz

[Jericho]

Rourke/Jericho on Larry King. I heart Jerichooooo!

XXS8wrBaiac

[wacker]

Jericho spoiled the ending.

[patcooper]

But it will end up being a silly gimmick match. Mickey said he would do a boxing match or a bare knuckle brawl.

[nuclearjew]

Sequel to The Wrestler?!? Check out the trailer. (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0d308ebcbb/the-uncler-w-uncle-sam-and-alyssa-milano)

[nuclearjew]

Fuckin pussies.
Iran angered over films 'The Wrestler' and '300'

TEHRAN, Iran – An adviser to Iran's president on Sunday demanded an apology from a team of visiting Hollywood actors and movie industry officials, including Annette Bening, saying films such as "300" and "The Wrestler" were "insulting" to Iranians.

Without an apology, members of Iran's film industry should refuse to meet with representatives from the nine-member team, said Javad Shamaqdari, the art and cinema adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"In my viewpoint, it is a failure to have an official meeting with one who is insulting," Shamaqdari told The Associated Press.

The film "300," portrays the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., in which a force of 300 Spartans held off a massive Persian army at a mountain pass in Greece for three days. It angered many Iranians for the way Persians are depicted as decadent, sexually flamboyant and evil in contrast to the noble Greeks.

Iranians also criticized "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke as a rundown professional wrestler who is preparing for a rematch with his old nemesis, "The Ayatollah." During a fight scene, "The Ayatollah" tries to choke Rourke with an Iranian flag before Rourke pulls the flagpole away, breaks it and throws it into the cheering crowd.

Neither movie was shown in Iran.

While American actors such as Sean Penn have traveled to Iran, it is rare for such a large group to visit. In February, Iran denied visas to a U.S. women's badminton team that had been invited to compete in a tournament in Iran.

The group includes the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sid Ganis; actors Bening, and Alfre Woodard; producer William Horberg; AMPAS Special Events Programmer and Exhibitions Curator Ellen Harrington; and Tom Pollock, the former Universal Pictures chairman.

According to the Web site of Iran's Cinema Association, the group arrived Friday in Iran. They met a group of Iranian artists on Saturday, and will be holding educational seminars in directing, screenwriting, acting, producing, marketing and film distribution.

Shamaqdari says Iranians will warmly host the visiting Americans "but it will not stop Iranians from demanding an apology."

The visits come as President Barack Obama has indicated a new willingness to open up relations with Iran.

Relations between the two countries have been strained over concerns in the West that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapons program, something Tehran denies. The U.S. has also alleged that overwhelmingly Shiite Iran supports Shiite militias in Iraq, which Iran says is not true.

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the hostage-taking at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

[Jericho]

Jesus. The Iron Sheik was a way worse portrayl. where were they then?

[BeeRand]

Jesus. The Iron Sheik was a way worse portrayl. where were they then?

They didn't have TV then. Was that racist? I apologize.

[ShitBreak]

Finally saw the movie. I think as a mark, I kind of understood it more than say, someone who has never watched wrestling...but I thought it was damn good.

[BeeRand]

Professional wrestling was simply a backdrop. I don't think knowledge of wrestling would add anything to one's understanding of the film.

[ShitBreak]

pro wrestling was not just a backdrop. That whole movie was entrenched in it, and I bet Redbeard, Jericho, or the other wrestling guys on here who follow the indy circuits MUCH more than I do will agree with me.

[BeeRand]

The story wasn't about professional wrestling. It could have been about football, baseball, hockey, whatever. It's the story of a man chewed up by the system and spit out the other side. It's also a commentary on the American public and our indifference. Yes, there was professional wrestling in the film and yes the main character was a professional wrestler. But those things had nothing to do with the point of the film.

[Jericho]

Professional wrestling was simply a backdrop. I don't think knowledge of wrestling would add anything to one's understanding of the film.
You'd be incredibly wrong

[ShitBreak]

Exactly.

[BeeRand]

If you were watching this movie and were concentrating on whether it was a regular piledriver or a tombstone piledriver, you missed the point.

[Jericho]

If you were watching this movie and were concentrating on whether it was a regular piledriver or a tombstone piledriver, you missed the point.
Not the in ring action, you dolt. The fucking independent scene and how it works

[BeeRand]

Once again, that's not what the film was about.

The Wrestler is a character study. It's about a man faced with limited options in life. He's alone and twenty years past his peak. Much like Hemingway's "Old man and the Sea", it's one man's last hurrah. His last chance at glory. This is echoed in the character played my Marisa Tomei.

Like I said before, this movie could have been The Football Player or The Hockey Player and been the same film. The professional wrestling was not that important. And knowing how the independent wrestling circuit works doesn't increase ones understanding of the film (in any meaningful way). Roger Ebert's review was not hindered by the fact that he's not a pro-wrestling expert any more than his review of Rudy was hindered by the fact that he's not a football expert.

[Jericho]

Once again, that's not what the film was about.

The Wrestler is a character study. It's about a man faced with limited options in life. He's alone and twenty years past his peak. Much like Hemingway's "Old man and the Sea", it's one man's last hurrah. His last chance at glory. This is echoed in the character played my Marisa Tomei.

Like I said before, this movie could have been The Football Player or The Hockey Player and been the same film. The professional wrestling was not that important. And knowing how the independent wrestling circuit works doesn't increase ones understanding of the film (in any meaningful way). Roger Ebert's review was not hindered by the fact that he's not a pro-wrestling expert any more than his review of Rudy was hindered by the fact that he's not a football expert.
I understand, howeer having a vast knwledge of the independent wrestling world vastly increases your viewing enjoyment. I was just really into the fact that he "Got it right" and subtle little things that Mike or I picked up on were really neat and probably lost on others

[BeeRand]

That I will concede 100%. I can absolutely understand how knowledge of wrestling increases one's enjoyment of this film.