The Wrestler (2008)
Drama, Sport |
The Wrestler is a American sports drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Robert Siegel. The film stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood. Production began in January 2008 and Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired rights to distribute the film in the U.S.; it was released in a limited capacity on December 17, 2008, and was released nationwide on January 23, 2009.
Rourke plays an aging professional wrestler who, despite his failing health and waning fame, continues to wrestle in an attempt to cling to the success of his 1980s heyday. He also tries to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter and to find romance with a woman who works as a stripper.
Robin Ramzinski, better known by his ring name Randy “The Ram” Robinson, is a professional wrestler who became a celebrity in the 1980s. Now past his prime, Randy wrestles on weekends for independent promotions in New Jersey while working part-time at a supermarket under Wayne, a demeaning manager who mocks Randy’s wrestling background. As a regular at a strip club, Randy befriends a stripper named Cassidy, who is, like Randy, too old for her job. After winning a local match, Randy agrees to a proposed 20th-anniversary rematch with his most notable opponent, “The Ayatollah”, which could bring him back to stardom.
Randy intensifies his training, which includes steroid injections. After wrestling in a hardcore match, Randy suffers a heart attack backstage and undergoes coronary artery bypass surgery. His doctor tells him that he nearly died and has to stop the steroids. Feeling that he is unable to wrestle in his present condition, Randy decides to retire and begins working a full-time shift at the supermarket’s deli counter.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Robert Siegel
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander
►Cast:
| Mickey Rourke | … | Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson |
| Marisa Tomei | … | Cassidy |
| Evan Rachel Wood | … | Stephanie |
| Mark Margolis | … | Lenny |
| Todd Barry | … | Wayne |
| Wass Stevens | … | Nick Volpe |
| Judah Friedlander | … | Scott Brumberg |
| Ernest Miller | … | The Ayatollah |
| Dylan Keith Summers | … | Necro Butcher (as Dylan Summers) |
| Tommy Farra | … | Tommy Rotten |
| Mike Miller | … | Lex Lethal |
| Marcia Jean Kurtz | … | Admissions Desk Woman |
| John D’Leo | … | Adam |
| Ajay Naidu | … | Medic |
| Gregg Bello | … | JAPW Promoter Larry Cohen |
| Scott Siegel | … | Greg |
| Maurizio Ferrigno | … | Spotter |
| Donnetta Lavinia Grays | … | Jen |
| Andrea Langi | … | Alyssa |
| Armin Amiri | … | Dr. Moayedizadeh |
| Vale Anoai | … | Pharmacist (as Lynn Tovale Anoa’i) |
| Ryan Lynn | … | Strip Club Best Man |
| Michael Drayer | … | Strip Club Bachelor |
| Alyssa Bresnahan | … | Cheeques Bartender |
| Jeff Chena | … | Hotel Bartender |
| Vernon Campbell | … | Big Chris (as Vernon W. Campbell) |
| Felice Choi | … | Beautician |
| Bernadette Penotti | … | Tanning Salon Owner |
| Johnny Valiant | … | The Legend Johnny Valiant |
| Ron Killings | … | Ron ‘The Truth’ Killings |
| Giovanni Roselli | … | Romeo Roselli |
| Robert Siegel | … | Autograph Fan #1 |
| Scott Franklin | … | Autograph Fan #2 |
| Sylvia Kauders | … | Hudson Acres Lady at Deli Counter |
| Alissa Reisler | … | Young Housewife at Deli Counter |
| Willy Rosner | … | Touchdown Man at Deli Counter |
| Rebecca Darke | … | German Potato Salad Lady at Deli Counter |
| E.J. Carroll | … | Teamster at Deli Counter |
| Abraham Aronofsky | … | Annoyed Man at Deli Counter |
| Charlotte Aronofsky | … | Annoyed Woman at Deli Counter |
| T.J. Kedzierski | … | Jameson (as T.J. Kedzieerski) |
| Jen Cohn | … | Get a Room Lady |
| Tyrone Scott | … | WXW Announcer (as Maven Bentley) |
| Douglas Crosby | … | WXW Referee |
| Larry Mercer | … | CZW Announcer (as Larry Legend) |
| Nick Tygielski | … | CZW Referee (as Nick Papagerio) |
| Kevin Kelly | … | ROH Announcer (as Kevin Foote) |
| Jon Trosky | … | ROH Referee |
| Andrew Anderson | … | Wrestler |
| Daniel Solwold | … | Wrestler (as Austin Aries) |
| Brian Heffron | … | Wrestler (as Blue Meanie) |
| Nicky Benz | … | Wrestler |
| Brolly | … | Wrestler |
| Lamar Braxton Porter | … | Wrestler |
| Claudio Castagnoli | … | Wrestler (as Claudio Castignoli) |
| Cobian | … | Wrestler |
| Doc Daniels | … | Wrestler |
| Bobby Dempsey | … | Wrestler |
| Billy Dream | … | Wrestler |
| Rob Strauss | … | Wrestler (as Rob Eckos) |
| Nate Hatred | … | Wrestler |
| Kit Cope | … | Wrestler (as Havoc) |
| David John Markland | … | Wrestler (as DJ Hyde) |
| Danny Gimondo | … | Wrestler (as Inferno) |
| Jess Liaudin | … | Wrestler (as Joker) |
| Judas | … | Wrestler |
| Kid U.S.A. | … | Wrestler |
| Lloyd Anoai | … | Wrestler (as LA Smooth) |
| Toa Maivia | … | Wrestler (as Toa Mairie) |
| Kevin Matthew Mcdonald | … | Wrestler (as Kevin Matthews) |
| Charles Renner | … | Wrestler (as Devon Moore) |
| Pete Nixon | … | Wrestler |
| Paul E. Normous | … | Wrestler |
| Dimitrios Papadoniou | … | Wrestler (as Papadon) |
| Darnell Kittiell | … | Wrestler (as Sabian) |
| Jay Santana | … | Wrestler |
| Sugga | … | Wrestler |
| Alex Whybrow | … | Wrestler (as Larry Sweeney) |
| Mark Pantalone | … | Wrestler (as Whacks) |
| Olivia Baseman | … | Alyssa’s Roommate |
| Sakinah Bingham | … | Ring Girl |
| Peter Bond | … | Pete Nixon |
| Laura Lee Cebrick | … | Striper |
| Peter Conboy | … | Fans at Table |
| Mike Coughlin | … | Promoter |
| Brandon DiCamillo | … | Audience Member |
| Bennett Dunn | … | Ringside Fan |
| Anna-Karin Eskilsson | … | Girl in Supermarket |
| Jonathan Feria-Moreno | … | Wrestling Fan |
| Evan Ginzburg | … | Fan at Convention |
| Richard Graves | … | Fan |
| Joe Huu | … | Strip Club Patron |
| Michael Anthony Joy | … | Wrestling Fan |
| David Juskow | … | Ring Announcer |
| Cory Kastle | … | Wrestler |
| Piper Kenny | … | DJ |
| Henry Kwan | … | Strip Club Patron |
| Marca Leigh | … | Wrestling Fan |
| Jill Lord | … | Autograph Mom |
| Michael Marino | … | Medic #2 |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia