Comments on: StLIFF 2008: Waltz with Bashir http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/11/28/stliff-day-eleven/ Appreciation and Criticism of Cinema Through Heartland Eyes Fri, 18 May 2012 09:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/11/28/stliff-day-eleven/comment-page-1/#comment-3286 Andrew Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:56:24 +0000 http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/11/28/stliff-day-eleven/#comment-3286 If you're a fan of wrestling, Kevin, I think you'll appreciate it as a gritty homage to the institution and its personalities. I ran into a co-worker who is a big wrestling fan at the screening, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Apparently, nearly all the wrestlers in the film other than Rourke's character are real wrestlers, not actors, mostly from the late-night community center regional wrestling scene. So in short, highly recommended. I'm a big fan of Aronofsky, and this is every bit the interesting turn for him that the hype has suggested. It's only a digression in the stylistic sense, certainly not thematically. And if you need any more incentive, there's the Dirty Old Man factor: Marisa Tomei spends a good portion of the film without clothes on. If you’re a fan of wrestling, Kevin, I think you’ll appreciate it as a gritty homage to the institution and its personalities. I ran into a co-worker who is a big wrestling fan at the screening, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Apparently, nearly all the wrestlers in the film other than Rourke’s character are real wrestlers, not actors, mostly from the late-night community center regional wrestling scene.

So in short, highly recommended. I’m a big fan of Aronofsky, and this is every bit the interesting turn for him that the hype has suggested. It’s only a digression in the stylistic sense, certainly not thematically. And if you need any more incentive, there’s the Dirty Old Man factor: Marisa Tomei spends a good portion of the film without clothes on.

]]> By: Kevin J. Olson http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/11/28/stliff-day-eleven/comment-page-1/#comment-3284 Kevin J. Olson Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:10:26 +0000 http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/11/28/stliff-day-eleven/#comment-3284 Really looking forward to The Wrestler. As a fan of professional wrestling (I know, I know....but hey, we're all allowed some trash tv every now and then) I can somewhat guess at the unhappiness in the film in regards to someone way past their prime not being able to walk away from the addiction (the crowds, the 'sport', the male comradery) known as 'sports entertainment', despite the fact that they're really just used for tapping into older fans' nostalgia. In wrestling today there are tons of washed up wrestlers still working year-round to make a paycheck because they just can't let go of the business. It's a really sad form of addiction, and it doesn't surprise me, as you so wonderfully pointed out, that Aronofsky was the man for the job. I've been enjoying these updates from the film festival. Keep it up! Really looking forward to The Wrestler. As a fan of professional wrestling (I know, I know….but hey, we’re all allowed some trash tv every now and then) I can somewhat guess at the unhappiness in the film in regards to someone way past their prime not being able to walk away from the addiction (the crowds, the ’sport’, the male comradery) known as ’sports entertainment’, despite the fact that they’re really just used for tapping into older fans’ nostalgia.

In wrestling today there are tons of washed up wrestlers still working year-round to make a paycheck because they just can’t let go of the business. It’s a really sad form of addiction, and it doesn’t surprise me, as you so wonderfully pointed out, that Aronofsky was the man for the job.

I’ve been enjoying these updates from the film festival. Keep it up!

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