The Wrestler

Just saw Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler...

A heart breaking film filled with life's verisimilitude.  Aronofsky deserves major props for going the extra mile in achieving a truthful depiction of Randy The Ram's world and character.

There's also an interesting cinematic approach that Aronofsky takes.  Much of the camera work and mis-en-scene in this film is reflective of the social realism so pervasive now and so expertly rendered by such filmmakers as the Dardenne Brothers and Ramine Bahrani.    On the other hand, Aronofsky still uses quite a bit of music, and more cutting in general than one will find in the work of either of these two examples, who often let entire scenes play out in a single take and without any non-diegetic sound.  While Aronofsky may not have adopted quite as severe an aesthetic, for a filmmaker who's previous works were truly made in the edit, through masterful post manipulation, this film represents a major departure.   But how could it not?  The story and subject matter called for such an approach,  and Aranofsky clearly has the artistic maturity necessary to recognize the need to find the essence of a story and develop it, rather than graft and impose his signature imprint onto it.

If you have not, I strongly encourage you to see this film.  I'd like to hear what you think of it as well...