Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.
Mickey Rourke delivers a career-defining, raw performance that anchors the entire film — genuinely exceptional and awards-caliber. The ending is quietly devastating, leaving Randy's fate ambiguous yet inevitable, which resonates long after viewing. The handheld, fly-on-the-wall cinematography by Maryse Alberti is effective and gritty but not especially distinctive. The plot follows a fairly well-worn redemption/decline arc — aging athlete, estranged daughter, missed chances — without reinventing the formula, keeping both Plot and Novelty at solidly above-average but not exceptional levels.