Before I can talk about The Wrestler, I need to say a few words about professional wrestling. When it comes to professional wrestling, there are three types of people. First, we have those who believe that wrestling is entirely real. These people are primarily children, though in rare cases (idiocy, I suppose), some adults do manage to fall into this category. The second type of people are those who "know" that professional wrestling is "fake." They are smart enough to know that professional wrestling's "rivalries" are scripted and that matches in the ring are orchestrated. However, they're a bit too quick to debunk the athletic prowess of many professional wrestlers, the courage and pain tolerance required of such a profession, and the general wear and tear (both physical and emotional) that a lifelong professional wrestler is put through. This second group of people, then, is the group that thinks it knows what pro wrestling is, but are too stubborn or ignorant to admit just how real it actually is. Enter the third group of people: those who know that matches are orchestrated and that in-ring "rivals" are more often than not great pals, but who also respect (or at least know) the extent to which pro-wrestling is "real;" they're not necessarily fans of the business (though some are), but they're capable of avoiding the misconception that the pain and anguish pro-wrestlers go through is somehow "unreal." My point is that there are far too many Type 2's in the world today. I'm not saying that Type 3's are a minority; I do think that many adults, if not most, understand what's real and what's not when it comes to wrestling. But, really, could the Type 2's stop dumbing down the entire professional industry with the oversimplified and untrue, but all too common, statement that "wrestling's fake?" Anyway, I got a little off track here, but The Wrestler is a movie that every Type 2 should see. I mean, it's not based on a true story or anything, but absolutely nothing in it is exaggerated in any way. Yeah, that's right... unless you're making millions in the WWE - and often, even if you are making millions in the WWE - it totally sucks to be a professional wrestler. Like, completely. Everything is sacrificed, from families to free time to basic cognitive function and longevity. And this movie really drives that point home. See it if you haven't, and especially if you're still not convinced that professional wrestlers deserve at least a little bit of respect. Darren Aronofsky directed it, which is weird, because it's such a normal and simple movie - none of that Pi nonsense or Requiem-level over-the-top grotesque shit. Perhaps the best part of the movie is its tone. There's little to no background music, and the scenery and backdrops are those of a dull blue-collar lifestyle. We're talking deli sections of grocery stores, seedy strip clubs, and trailer parks. I'm not saying this was an A+ movie by any stretch, and yet, for what it tried to be, it was very nearly flawless. I hope that makes sense; just because a movie isn't one of your all-time favorites, it doesn't mean that movie wasn't the very best it possibly could have been. Well, shit. I've rambled a ton now. Sorry about that. The bottom line is, you should check this movie out. It's straightforward and simple and totally bittersweet. What's not to love?
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