Last movie you watched......

Rourke was terrific. I am big fans of Tomei and Wood but think they came up way short, especially Wood.

 

I've thought a bit about The Wrestler, and yeah, Rourke was fantastic, and the real wrestlers featured were great as well - but the story and plot was a little hackneyed, very similar to the bank robber who just wanted one last job, or even the movie Hooper where Burt Reynolds wants one more big payday.
I just don't think the film needed to make the character as obviously pathetic as he was. But Aronofsky isn't known for being subtle.

 

I disagree to a certain extent, Dan. Had they had Ram fighting Ayatollah at MSG in some big PPV event, I would have thought it was too much. Since the match was at what looked like a banquet hall in Wilmington, it made it somewhat more believable.

I was more fascinated by the character portrayal, especially with Rourke. I couldn't believe I found myself sympathizing with him. He was by all accounts, a drug addict, a habitual steroid user, a frequenter of strip clubs, an alcoholic, a terrible father. But there were such little subtle soft sides ... playing with the kids in the trailer park.

All he had was his identity as the Ram. And every time he tried to assimilate himself into regular society, it backfired. I believe he honestly tried to become something better, but it just didn't come easy for him. The line at the end to Cassidy/Pam, "they can only hurt me out there," really struck me as a perfect summation to the entire movie.

I'll agree with those who didn't like Wood's parts. I think i was pretty swept up in the moment. She was excellent on the boardwalk. Other than that, she was inconsistent. How could she claim apathy, that she didn't love or hate him, and then throw a tantrum at him where she's breaking things everywhere? Flaw in the writing, I suppose.

 

Because she wasn't apathetic toward him. She was trying to protect herself from him hurting her again. If somebody hates you, they have feelings for you. You've got a shot at being part of their life. If they feel nothing, you are, well, to borrow from myself, Dead. To. Them!

 

I really like 'em both. But check out Connelly in "Career Opportunities" and any dissing of her likely will disappear.
Funny thing I have noticed over the years: some of these actresses look their absolute smoking best in dumbass movies they do seemingly for the cash between the big-time roles. i.e.: Elisabeth Shue in the babysitter movie, Basinger in "My Stepmother was an Alien," Connelly in "Career Opportunities," Heigl in "Knocked Up." There are other examples that don't come to mind right now.

 

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Funny yet oh so painful. In a personal way.

:'(

 

Sorry to hear that. I was a fan of the flick.

 

Checked out "Shadow of the Vampire," a fictional take on the making of "Nosferatu." Stars John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe, who gave one hell of a performance.

 

Dafoe and Malkovich in the same movie? Sounds like an ooze fest of creepiness.

 

But he was pathetic in an interesting way, which was what exactly made it NOT the hackneyed "one last shot" movie. Randy was not some sad sack who had been shit upon. He did it to himself -- and does it to himself currently in the movie timeline, when he fucks up and leaves his daughter hanging. It's not a portrait of a guy who WAS a screwup, it's a portrait of a guy who IS a screwup despite what he means to do. That's real life.

No, Arnofsky isn't subtle, but he hits home in a way that's a lot more honest than most films.

Except for "The Fountain," obviously. Nobody knows what the fuck that was about.

 

I love that movie and the DVD is one of the best I own. The special features are just as funny as the movie. The commentary (something I watch on very few DVDs) was really good, though the cast talks over one another a bit too often.

And I just found out the other day my friend works at Turtle Bay Resort, the place it is set in. When I visit her next month I can't wait to see what looks like the movie and what doesn't (yes, I'm a nerd for filming locations).

 

"I just went from 6 to midnight."