The Wrestler (2008)

81

Based on 36 critic reviews provided by

100	Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert This is Rourke doing astonishing physical acting.
100	Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman The Wrestler is like "Rocky" made by the Scorsese of "Mean Streets." It's the rare movie fairy tale that's also a bravura work of art.
100	San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle The movie has the simplicity and confidence of a Johnny Cash song.
100	Boston Globe Ty Burr The Wrestler is a character study, no more and no less, yet it's open-ended enough to function as many things.
88	Rolling Stone Peter Travers You watch The Wrestler (with a superb title song from Bruce Springsteen) in a state of pure exhilaration. A great actor in a great movie will do that to you.
88	Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea It's a haunting, scary, funny, sad portrayal from Rourke.
80	Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern Director, Darren Aronofsky, and the writer, Robert D. Siegel, have turned the story of this washed-up faux gladiator into a film of authentic beauty and commanding consequence.
80	New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman Both Rourke and Tomei bring a tender, lived-in honesty to their sad roles.
80	The Hollywood Reporter Bolstered by a career-best performance from Mickey Rourke and outstanding work by Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.
75	USA Today Claudia Puig The story has its clichéd and sentimental moments. It's no "Raging Bull," more like "Rocky" shot with a handheld camera. But Rourke's wounded tough guy is undeniably captivating.

Critic Reviews