10 Best Sports Movies Of The 21st Century
4. The Wrestler
Released: 2008
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
The Wrestler sees Mickey Rourke plays the role of Randy ‘The
Ram’ Robinson, an ageing wrestler struggling to grasp life outside of the ring.
Despite on-going health issues, his attempts to reconnect with his daughter and
a new love interest, Robinson can’t forget the glory days of the 1980’s and
after an offer of a rematch with former rival The Ayatollah, The Ram is left
with the toughest of decisions.
Rourke delivers a career best performance and many believe Rourke, not Sean Penn, should have walked away with the ‘Best Actor’ award at the 2009 Oscars. His emotional, sympathetic performance of a man lost in reality is spell-binding and still a remarkable watch.
And crucially, this isn't just a film for wrestling fans: The Wrestler is about far more than Wrestling, imagine being asked to let go of the one thing you love and the only thing you’ve ever known.
Regardless of whether you enjoy wrestling or not, director Darren Aronofsky well and truly lays the smackdown with this one.