Review: The Wrestler (2008)

I'm not a hater. Mickey Rourke has had it tough, and there's nothing Hollywood loves more than a comeback, and The Wrestler is more than a worthy entry for movie of the year; not to mention, Rourke's performance is strong, nor does Marisa Tomei disappoint in her cliché role as a stripper with a good heart.

"But come on! It's a movie about Wrestling!" some people might say, and they would be right, but it's a film about so much more than that. This is a film about redemption and the sordid elements of a life lived to pursue a dream. Rourke's performance is spot-on and very touching.

The ultra-violence of the sport at times becomes laughable and it's horrifying that we can laugh at it, but the fact that it's all an illusion, however dangerous, makes it somehow less disturbing, even comedic. When Rourke steps backstage after his masterful performance, covered in blood, embedded by glass, thumbtacked back and all, he's met with applause and cheers from his co-performers and we're shown the ugly truth: that a man has damaged his life (and continues to do so) to create an illusion for us to enjoy. It's ultimately very sad and I left the movie feeling depressed.

There was a strong Christian subtext that bothered me. Rourke's character is compared to Jesus, undergoing bloody punishment like the Christ in The Passion. The end almost slides into blatant obviousness that comes just short of getting all church-preachy, off the top rope, hands extended all messianically. Hell, is that even a word?

Despite the obvious subtext, the movie is great. I just don't know if it's Movie of the Year good. I suspect The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will steal the win, simply because it's safer and more sanitized, much like Forrest Gump beat out Pulp Fiction. But time will vindicate this movie, for it's an instant classic reminiscent of Raging Bull. And while I don't forgive Rourke's douchebaggery from the 80's when he was all wife-beating and being a giant asshole, I give his performance kudos. And Marisa's role as a washed out stripper is a mirror to Rourke's, and in many ways almost sadder. Honestly, I don't know how Aronofsky pulled this one off without elliciting the audience's tears. This film is beautiful and harsh all at once, like a dollar bill stapled to someone's forehead for nothing more than comic effect.

Sifted: 9/10


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Now playing: Black Milk - Losing Out (feat. Royce Da 5'9")
via FoxyTunes

Rampage Jackson is full-on insane.

This CBS interview of Rampage Jackson is hard to watch. His explanation for his recent arrest: he was "betrayed" by a friend/family member/employee and proceeded to lose his mind. Too much Red Bull and videos of The Secret pushed him over the deep edge. Roll in some runaway Christianity and you've got a recipe for a lifetime in the mental ward.

Secret Celebrity Scientologists

Cracked.com has a list of secret celebrity Scientologists. You will be surprised.

[The Top 10 Secret Celebrity Scientologists]

Greek Mythology Genealogy

Here's a link to a family tree of the Greek Gods. Nice.

[Greek Gods]

The First Annoying Vegan

Too funny.

[GeekCulture.com: The First Annoying Vegan]

Game: Left Behind (PC)

I'm not really interested in Left Behind: Eternal Forces.

I never read the books. I heard they were dreadful, and I have an English degree, so I've read many of the classics. I simply have no patience for bad writing of any kind. And I prefer my games smothered in sinful, outrageous, craziness. So I don't think Left Behind is the game for me.

But they have a decent review over on Ars Technica, if you're interested. Apparently, the game is just okay.

Now I'll sit back and watch, perplexed while this earns more money than any other game in history.

[Left Behind Review on Ars Technica]

The Baby Jesus Gets Kidnapped

I just love these stories, where an unsuspecting owner loses some odd lawn ornament, only to find it weeks or months later with pics of where its gone on vacation.
<--- Visiting the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.

[Baby Jesus Tours New York]

Damn You All To Hell!

Damn someone to eternal damnation in the flames of hell.

[You Are Damned Website].

A Good Day For Muslim Women

Islam Outlaws Female Genital Mutilation

Fascinating Link Between Bush and Satanism

Over on Metafilter, someone has posted some damning information that may link GW to one of history's most notorious occultists, Aleister Crowley. This explains everything.

De-God Your Money

Here's an idea you can use to make your money godless. Considering how money is the root of all evil, why is God's name even on it to begin with?

The Largest Picture in the World

Over at Slashdot, they're running a post about the largest picture in the world, an 8.6 Giga Pixel photo of the "Parete Gaudenziana" a 16th century fresco. It's stunning to look at. You can actually zoom in to see the chips in the paint where it's starting to decay. For reasons that are obvious, I can't post the entire picture here. The image I have captured happens to be my favorite part of the piece -- the betrayal of Jesus. Not because of the content, but because it's the darkest, most bleak portion of the piece.

Check it out at the Haltadefinizione website. It loads pretty fast, provided you have Flash.