In Aronofsky’s last film, Rourke plays a real loser, a man stuck in the ’80s. Most critics praise the movie for its “sense of humanity”, so it reminds me of 2 japanese movies depicting real losers, but without a sordid point of view:
First, Zatoichi series. Ichi is a blind masseur, meaning he’s nothing in the society. He’s a wanderer who knows how to defend himself. And his biggest wish is to be considered as a man by everybody. But he fails each time he tries. That’s the tragic part of Zatoichi. How his humanity is always crushed by reality, because after all he’s only seen as a blind masseur, or as a killer. But never as a man.
Then, Graveyard of honor which is way more nihilistic. It’s about a man who always dreamt of becoming a noble yakuza, but when he’s finally one, he finds out how corrupted and evil minded are the yakuza. As his dream is dead, he starts self-destructing. Again, his humanity, his hope, are crushed by reality: the modern society doesn’t play by traditional rules – man is a wolf to man. That’s why the the graveyard is the only place you can find honor or humanity.
The sense of humanity comes from a tragic side where somehow men are their own enemies. They want something, they try, but they fail. And ‘The Wrestler‘ doesn’t even try to want something, he’s already finished. That’s what strikes me about this film, how Aronofsky keeps showing us nothing but a loser. Where’s the man? That’s sad!
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Looks like someone is bored and spiteful of a great film for which it’s hype was from the get go got it some major Hollywood awards. I think you’re
comparisons are pretentious.