Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Many filmgoers haven't been excited about a Mickey Rourke movie in at least 10 years -- maybe longer. So while The Wrestler might be a tough pill to consider swallowing, we bought into the hype, and boy, was it worth it.

Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke) was once a god in the wrestling world. Think Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage and The Rock rolled into one. Well, he certainly didn't have the same retirement plan as some of those guys, because 20 years later, he spends his weekends trying to pin guys half his age for less than half the paycheck. In fact, to make ends meet, he works part-time in a supermarket.

Overall, The Ram seems like a good guy to everyone -- except his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), of course. He's a good employee and plays with neighborhood kids, but he also tans, he sometimes uses a fake leg to ward off opponents, he shoots steroids and a variety of other pharmaceuticals, and he gets the occasional lap dance from an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei). Overall, The Ram may still have the pecs, but the rest of his body and his world seem to be crumbling around him.

The Wrestler is a sad, sad story. It's also a really good one, with noteworthy performances from Wood and Oscar nominee Tomei.

Need to know more? Check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of The Wrestler.

The Picture

While the WWE may seem like a lot of flash and fancy costumes, this Wrestler is fairly gritty. The colors are drab and there's more than a bit of grain present, which is probably intentional. Still, the 2.35:1 delivers some great detail, which is sometimes stomach turning. Expect to see every hair flip, staple gun attack, and line on Rourke's face with a whole lot of detail.

The Sound

C'mon feel the noize! This film is filled with more hair bands than your iPod, and rocks the house accordingly. Dialogue is crisp and clear throughout the entire film, but the music should shake your surrounds and walls. Also, if you've never been to an actual wrestling match, strap yourself in and shield yourself from the sweat; the sound in this DTS-HD Master Audio reproduction is about as realistic as it gets.

The Extras

Fox sort of skimped on the special features, but what's included is pretty stellar. The 45-minute making-of doc is pretty interesting, because it delves into the film's topic -- part of which was chosen due to pro licensing issues. Also, wrestling fans will love the 25-minute round table, where classic figures such as Rowdy Roddy Piper and Lex Luger give their thoughts on the movie and the lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

Once the final body slam was delivered, The Wrestler left me wondering whether or not Rourke really deserved that Oscar nomination -- or did I just watch a 90-minute metaphor of the actor's actual career path? Either way, the performance is incredible and so is the movie. It may not make it into your regular rotation, but this is one that deserves a slot in any Blu-ray collection.

Where to Buy:

• The Wrestler on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
• Director: Darren Aronofsky
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 2
• Rating: R
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: April 21, 2009
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• List Price: $39.99
• Extras:
  • Within the Ring
  • Wrestler Round Table
  • The Wrestler Music Video - Written and Performed by Bruce Springsteen
  • Digital Copy