The Wrestler (2008)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
The Expectation:
This one took me a bit to see because I just seemed to miss it in the small amount of time it was in my town's independent theater. So, after the Oscar hype and watching the trailer a few times, lets just say that my expectations were high. I knew what I was getting into. I expected great acting, a very human story, and fantastic filming. In short, I wanted it to be the great independent drama that I live for in my love for film.
The result:
And it was. Go see this film. Not only is the story good, and the acting great, but the pace is righ on. The pain that these characters embody is real and it is hard to not become heavily invested in their lives- even though you may know where the film is headed. And the filming is very fantastic. There is a very interesting connection between the two lead characters in a way that allows Aronofsky to make a statement about the perception our culture has of the lower class. Strippers and wrestlers are grouped through his unique filming and I found myself moved, by the end of the film, from cringing through the wrestling matches and lap dances, to an empathy I would not have thought myself capable of before watching the film. In a way, their human stories force you to believe in their pain, their fight, and their connection. They make you reconsider your own notions of wrestlers and strippers. Go out and watch this one. This film made me understand wrestling like I had not before- it was my Bagger Vance for wrestling.
Pay attention to:
The cinematography- dark and yet humbling tones.
The sequences where the two leads are filmed- walking shot from behind. Very cool.
Your progression- how does your reaction change throughout the film?
The nature of sacrifice- I had to think about this for a long while...
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Why?
My love of film propels this blog forward. I have very high expectations of film and I realize that expectations greatly inform the final opinion- so here I try to outline my own expectation before the review. My expectations are not only high but also suspect. I am, naturally, skeptical about most of the products shoved down the throats of the 'mass' public, the Hollywood blockbuster, the new chic indy film, the offensive chick flick, the boring documentary, etc. I am attuned to the formulas and very aware of the industry's bottom line. But of course, there are exceptions that can sometimes be brilliant! Thus, here is where I assert my opinions of the various films that I watch. I try (although often unsuccessfully) to take into account both the educational and entertaining nature of films. They should be both, and often one over the other at certain times, depending on various factors, including mood. And so I set out to watch more films than I should, banish my naturally pessimistic view of the world, and remain as objective as possible while still retaining high expectations of the industry, standards that mostly leave me disappointed, discouraged, and disgusted. And of course, all reviews are subjective, so tell me what you think of my opinions, I am intrigued by your review of my perspective.
So this is my disclaimer.
So this is my disclaimer.
Me
About Me
- Crystal
- I am Crystal, a name which often implies clarity, transparency, and light. Based in Ancient Greek, my name comes from a term, krustallos, which means congealed through freezing. Interestingly, crystals are formed through a process of crystallization, where liquids become ice; this requires a good amount of freezing. However, I am not as simple as that. My world is no where near transparent or clear. It is hazy, dark, cold, hard, and yes, incredibly blurry.
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