First Creepy Stills from Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler'
Filed under: Drama, Sports, Images
.jpg)
Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is surely one of the fall's most enigmatic releases -- and one of the most eagerly awaited. Bad Taste got hold of the first production stills from the film, and it looks every bit as creepy and moody as you'd expect from the man behind Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain (which was awesome despite its generally negative reception).
The movie is about a retired professional wrestler, played by Mickey Rourke, who is trying to survive on the small-time independent wrestling circuit. It sounds campy, but I think it's more likely to be grim -- I've read some stories about that scene (anyone else read Swan Song by Robert McCammon?) and it sounds, if anything, awfully depressing. These photos confirm that, I think, as does the fact that Clint Mansell is once again writing the musical score.
The movie premieres in Venice next month, then Toronto shortly thereafter. It doesn't have a US distributor yet, but I'm guessing that won't last long. Check out a couple more photos (including one featuring Marisa Tomei as a stripper) in the gallery below, then see the rest over at Bad Taste.
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-11-2008 @ 10:25PM
Aaron said...
Part of this was filmed at a essentially independent company's show.
Ring of Honor wrestling the best indy wreslting around and the idea of a man past his prime coming back to the indy scene is very real in wrestling such wrestlers as Tracy Smothers continue to work small town shows for 100-200 people even though they get little pay.
I've seen wrestlers that at one time were main eventing WCW and even WWE compete in a goat pen at a fair.
This men have a passion for the business that is missed by today's generation of wreslting fans.
From the looks of ROurke in the above picture he seems to resemble former ECW/WWE wrestler Sabu who thanks to years of hardcore wrestlign can hardly walk any more but continues to try and get booked for shows.
Another possibility for basis is TErry FUnk who still works some indepent shows despite being nearly 65.
Reply
8-12-2008 @ 1:00AM
MInk said...
Totally agree, the Fountain was brilliant. This looks like it will make me cringe. In a good way.
Reply
8-12-2008 @ 1:12AM
Franklin said...
Yes....I've read 'Swan Song'. Multiple times. All of McCammon's books actually. Funny that you should have mentioned it in your article, I thought of Josh "Black Frankenstein" and his so-called life on the circuit whilst reading line 1 of paragraph 2.
Heh...registered just to say that.
Reply