The Wrestler

An aging pro wrestler (Mickey Rourke), still at the top of his game in the ring, is forced to retire or risk another cardiac arrest. But life out in the real world—where he must face his mistakes as a father, the vulnerability of reaching for the love of a maturing stripper (Marisa Tomei), being demeaned by dead-end day jobs and his fear we all share of being left alone—proves more painful than any match blows incurred to conjure cheers from the crowd. Have a box of tissues handy throughout, and a Dramamine, as Darren Aronofsky directed it to look like a shaking documentary. The credits song written for the movie by Bruce Springsteen was a perfect touch; Randy “The Ram” is the same average Joe that Bruce always croons about, this time in tights.