The Wrestler and its affect on wrestling

[Headfirst For Hardcore]

So the movie "The Wrestler" with Mickey Rourke has been getting some pretty damn good reviews from those that have seen it at film festivals. Some are even saying it's Oscar worthy. This is important for wrestling fans, because unlike Nacho Libre, it's a serious movie about the ups and downs of living on the indy scene. A mainstream audience will be able to see what it's like on the indies, and it could be a good thing for wrestling in general popularity wise.

So, what kind of impact will this movie have on the entire world of wrestling?

 

[Soulpower]

Its going to be the final nail in kayfabe's coffin. It'll let people know that wrestling is not "fake" but scripted. We might see the wrestlers getting a bit more respect from the mainstream after seeing an example of the pain the atheletes go through, but that's about it.

 

[Airfixx]

Didn't know about this....


I guess it's effect on our beloved 'sport' will depend on how good a portrayal it is... I assume the talk of potential oscar nomination will have been born of the usual criteria (Acting performances or lots of behind the camera stuff) rather than the accuracy with which it portrays wrestling purely because those nominating for such awards prob don't know shit about wrestling to start with (regardless of how much they may think they know).

Sounds interesting though... I'm hoping it isn't ya typical Hollywood uber-movie to start with.... May even turn out to be good then.

Also I hope Rourke doesn't play the main wrestler character.... He's w-a-a-a-y too old for that shit.

 

[Soulpower]

Also I hope Rourke doesn't play the main wrestler character

He does... And as HFH said, he's been getting a lot of Oscar buzz for his performance.

 

[Airfixx]

...But he looks like he's about 70, FFS! ...Ok, maybe about 50 with the appaling plastic surgery job, but still; this is sounding terrible already!

[Cue deep voiced voice-over guy]

"He's a former wrestler about to give it one more shot, against all odds in a young mans business....." blah blah...

Sounds like Rocky 6 (or whatever the latest one was) but with a wrestling backdrop. Surely the life story of a wrestler is best tracked from wrestling school and their attempts to try to break into, and then sustain a living in the business...

Lemme guess he's a single parent too?

In short, I think any view of the wrestling world will come a distant 2nd to all the schmaltzy, gunning for an oscar acting set-peices (see that movie that Will Smith made about the guy living with his son on the street for the shit I'm talkin' bout.).


Shame, sounded cool for a minute and I could see casting a guy like Rourke as a washed-up manager or promoter working out really nicely.


Oh well... BURN, HOLLYWOOD, BURN.

 

[El Joo Magnifico]

Does anyone have a copy of this? Necro Butcher is one of my favorite wrestlers.

 

[chessarmy]

I have yet to see this movie, I've seen a few clips of it on youtube and it looks pretty cool. It could be a great way for both wrestling fans, and non wrestling fans to really understand what the business is all about and all the sacrifices that wrestlers make. I tried to look for this movie on lots of torrent sites but I guess it isn't available yet. Hopefully I'll be able to download it in a few months

 

[El Joo Magnifico]

Someone wanna do me a favor and tell me when it comes out on DVD?

 

[Airfixx]

Give it a chance... It's not even in the cinema yet!!!

 

[Headfirst For Hardcore]

BUMP because this is the only thread I saw about the movie, and because I posted it.

The movie's going to be shown everywhere on 1/16/09. They had a big article in Sports Illustrated last week, saying that it's the "Best Sports Movie of the Year". So yeah, this looks like it'll be pretty good. I don't know if it will appeal to the blood thirsty wrestling fan with the non-wrestling stuff, but for the rest of the world, I think big things could happen.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

I have to agree with what Soulpower said long time ago. It exposes the business, and no, not only the fact that it's fake, but all the little things happening behind the scenes.

It is a good movie, however it will do anything for wrestling industry. If anything, we will get more bitching about how wrestlers over work and go through a lot of pain.

 

[Montana]

No effect what so ever. I'm a little surprised no one has said that yet.


As far as being real/keyfabe, i'd say MAYBE 2% think its real. If that, and generally the ones that think its real, are very young in age, thus the wrestler wouldn't have affect on them. I believe its rated R. So basically it will be tellin just showing non-casual fans a behind the scenes look at the struggle. Some might gain respect, but i doubt they will become fans of wrestling due to this movie.

 

[gatesoftanhauser]

I don't see that big of an impact. Maybe a little one in terms of press and popularity, but I don't think all of a sudden a bunch of people will just start showing up to indy matches.

 

[Headfirst For Hardcore]

but does anyone think this will help Ring of Honor? ROH is portrayed as the "big league" promotion in the movie, which should help them get a little more attention. Even if that means someone just googling ROH, that would help in some way hopefully.

 

[gatesoftanhauser]

ROH is? Really? I would have thought for sure they would have mentioned a "company based in Stamford, Connecticut" as the "Big league"