The Wrestler

The more I think about this movie, the more devastated I feel. The movie broke my heart. But what a great story. What a great, complex character Randy was. I didn't see this movie prior to the movie award season, but now I can see what the hype was all about for Mickey Rourke. I thought he did an amazing job. I genuinely felt bad for his character; which I credit to excellent acting and writing.

There were some obviously devastating scenes -- like the final scene, for example (or the whole movie, for that matter). But I also found these moments to be heartbreaking, in a more subtle way:

*When he was working at the deli counter. Both scenes.

*When he was playing ninetendo with the little neighbor kid (playing his own wrestling video game). And how he wanted the kid to stay longer. And how he hadn't heard of these more recent games the kid was talking about.

*When he was shopping for his daughter. And when he presented her with the gifts. Like her reaction to the first present -- and his reaction to her reaction -- and then when he said "no, here's the real gift..."

I heard that Roddy Piper was so moved by the movie that he cried at the end. I'm right there with you, Roddy.