Best of the Decade #1: The Wrestler (2008)
If you’ve been following Film Junk at all over the past couple of years, you probably saw this coming. We were all blown away by this movie last year for a variety of reasons, and now it’s time to make it official: by a collective vote, The Wrestler is our #1 Film of the Decade.
I’ve been thinking about how to justify such a title, especially after counting down through so many other great films this month. The Wrestler did not use any innovative new technology or groundbreaking techniques. It did not inspire a wave of copycat films (Crazy Heart notwithstanding). It did not win any Oscars. It was not particularly timely or relevant to specific events in the ’00s. In fact, it was mostly the opposite of all these things: a simple yet timeless character study with quiet emotional power, easily overlooked due to the strange title and subject matter.
However, we’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: The Wrestler is not really a film about wrestling — at least, not in the literal sense. Everyone loves a good underdog story, and just like Rocky back in 1976, this is a story that pretty much anyone can relate to. The key to the movie rests on Mickey Rourke’s battered shoulders. He really is The Wrestler, in both his fearless performance and the parallels between his own life and that of Randy “The Ram” Robinson. His own personal comeback story makes all of the trappings of a fictional drama fade away. Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood also deserve credit for hitting just the right notes in their supporting roles.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to the fact that this movie contains some of the most real emotion put to film by Hollywood in the past ten years, and in order to achieve this Darren Aronofsky knew that he had to strip everything else away. Some might argue that Aronofsky’s previous films from this decade, Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, are more deserving of the Best of Decade belt. However, the brilliance lies in the subtlety and restraint of this film. The raw, documentary style has a much greater impact than a stylized approach ever could. The fact that Aronofsky saw the potential in this story, hired Robert Siegel, former editor of The Onion, to write it, and guided it to becoming such a masterpiece, is nothing short of genius.
Whether or not you’re a fan of wrestling (and yes, some of us are), and whether or not you grew up in the ’80s (yes, some of us did), The Wrestler transcends all of its individual pieces to become something spectacular. A broken down piece of meat in green tights may or may not make an ideal symbol of this past decade, but there will always be people struggling to make ends meet and at some point we all must grapple with our own mortality. Although the movie can be seen as a bit of a downer, there is beauty and dignity in someone finding his place in the world and coming to terms with it. The Best Film of the Decade? You better believe it, brother.
Check out previous entries from our Top 20 Films of the ’00s.
Comments (59)
So essentially what you’re saying is if the Filmjunk crew was walking down the street going to pedophile intervention at Reed’s house when Bin Laden and his crew roll up in an old Chrysler Lebaron and kidnap your asses. They steal you away (Sean, Jay , Greg and Goon) to the Al Qaeda worldwide hideout under Nigrara Falls (bet Obama never thought to look there) were you are to be kept forever in a deep cold damp cave! It just so happens Kim Jong-il is in town for a “boys weekend†and he convinces old Bin to allow you guys ONE MOVIE FROM THE ENTIRE DECADE TO WATCH FROM HERE TO THE END OF YOUR DAYS and this is what you guys decided?!
Posted by rus in chicago on December 31st, 2009I’m baffled, I really thought it was going to be Braveheart.
Posted by Itchy-Finger on December 31st, 2009Interesting list, and the Wrestler is a good fit as #1 representing the site.
I have four out of your 20 Best Films in my list, but I haven’t watched all of your choices yet.
My favourites from the decade:
1 Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
2 Kill Bill Vol. 2
3 American Psycho
4 In Bruges
5 There Will Be Blood
6 The Life Aquatic
7 Inglourious Basterds
8 Into The Wild
9 Sunshine
10 Adventureland
11 Ratatouille
12 Remember The Titans
13 Garden State
14 Incident At Loch Ness
15 The Dark Knight
16 Training Day
17 Team America
18 The Prestige
19 Collateral
20 Death Proof
@Reed: Are you gonna post your own list? Would be interesting…
Posted by Sven on December 31st, 2009Would be in my top 5 probably so good pick.
Posted by RaphNL on December 31st, 2009“NE MOVIE FROM THE ENTIRE DECADE TO WATCH FROM HERE TO THE END OF YOUR DAYS and this is what you guys decided?!”
That’s kind of ridiculous to me. “Desert Island” type movies are a different list altogether from ‘best’. And a movie you have to watch while in captivity to keep your spirits up is something altogether as well
But FWIW, if I had to pick a movie from the 00s to watch at any time as a group with the other FJ guys and know I’d have a good time with, The Wrestler is a damn fine choice.
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009Besides, if we had to chose only one movie to watch on a loop till the end of our days, it would probably be porn.
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009I’ll expect a better effort from you guys come Dec. 31st 2019!!!!!!
(talk about coming to grips with your own mortality)
Posted by rus in chicago on December 31st, 2009Actually hold that – the Wrestler has comedy, drama, action and Marisa Tomei naked. I think one could dine on this movie alone for a good while.
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009gonna give us your top 10-20 now, rus? I expect to be able to laugh, cry, cheer and masturbate to it for the rest of my days. Preferably all at once
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009Great list Sven…Sunshine is a good choice. My list included Memento…which i think deserves some love.
The Wrestler is a fantastic movie…absolutely gripping. I finally saw it two weeks ago and i was blown away. Not my favorite for the decade, but I still love this list. Great job guys. I’m fully satisfied.
Posted by Mike on December 31st, 2009its been in the Top Twenty Post since Dec. 3rd:
20. The Aviator
19. Amélie
18. Napoleon Dynamite
17. District 9
16. The Royal Tenenbaums
15. Children of Men
14. Borat
13. In the Valley of Elah
12. Requiem for a Dream
11. In the Mood for Love
10. Little Children
09. Hustle & Flow
08. The House of Sand and Fog
07. Michael Clayton
06. Inglourious Basterds
05. Memento
04. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
03. There Will be Blood
02. The Dark Knight
01. The Lord of the Rings
I called your number one in the Dark Knight post on Dec. 16th
LOTR works as a desert island / prison choice: you get over 9 hours of action, romance, some comedy, a few (very few) elf women to rub one out to…
Posted by rus in chicago on December 31st, 2009Sven, I feel guilty about criticizing Film Junk’s choices without providing my own list for everyone to ridicule. As I’ve said before, I have a problem ranking films. Also films I thought were good tend to lose their specialness over time. I really should rewatch some films, but my stack of films that I haven’t watched yet keeps growing rather than shrinking. Maybe I’ll spend a day soon and try to come up with a list.
Also Sven, I noticed you have Sunshine on your list. Some people really enjoyed this film. For some reason, the film didn’t impact me. A month ago, I began rewatching it, but got bored all over again. Ha ha.
As for The Wrestler, the main problem I had with it was I thought that this underdog story was too conventional even though it may never have been done before with a wrestler. This might appeal to some people with the scenes one would expect unfolding naturally, but it was a negative in my book.
I’ve never been to a live wrestling event. (Well, I think I did see Edouard Carpentier fight live, but it’s a very vague memory. The only reason I remember is that I have an autographed photo of him. Is that worth anything? Ha ha.) Are the wrestlers that good at concealing things like razor blade bits in their bandages? Or are wrestling fans in on the whole thing and look at this as part of the stage show? (This isn’t a criticism of the movie. I’m just wondering.)
I’ll admit to one thing about this movie. I’ve never turned my eyes away from any horror movie, but I did turn away before Randy jams his hand in the meat slicer at the deli.
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 31st, 2009@Goon: I can’t stand (sit, or whatever) watching porn for longer than ten minutes at a time. (Um, no endurance or size jokes here, please.
) Even Star Trek porn!
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 31st, 2009“Marisa Tomei naked”
i was going to bitch about this being number one….now i’m going to go rent it.
way to go rus you have the best list i’ve seen. i’d also maybe find some room for big fish, donny darko, boondock saints, and…i don’t know my mind’s blank
and i’m really surprised because i would think these lists wouldn’t be just how good they were with just the acting and all that stuff, but the impact it had on pop culture. so i would even argue throw in some harry potter, hangover, paranormal activity, etc…..
but i guess that’s why it’s called best of the decade and not the most relevant.
Posted by Rick on December 31st, 2009thanks Rick, that is what I was looking for….I leave filmjunk now and return to the wild…
Posted by rus in chicago on December 31st, 2009Good pick…Good article Sean…
@Sunshine
Posted by xego on December 31st, 2009wasn’t anyone bothered by the fact that the film abandoned it’s strong elements to devolve into a dumb monster movie?
hip-toss, baby
Posted by Ledgewood on December 31st, 2009Love both Sunshine and especially 28 Days Later (would probably be in my top 10 of the decade), but they both suffer from weaker final acts, where the pace and mood is changed. Sunshine goes from intelligent and introverted to fast-paced slashfest and days from ominous, atmospheric post-apocalyptic goodness to hollywood(vitz?) action movie mode.
Posted by AlexG on December 31st, 2009I’m sorry I love you guys but this has to be the worst choice ever! I really liked the wrestler but it’s far from being the best film of the decade.
Posted by Marc on December 31st, 2009Boondock Saints is 1999, Rick
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009“@Sunshine
wasn’t anyone bothered by the fact that the film abandoned it’s strong elements to devolve into a dumb monster movie?”
Sunshine is one of those movies that was far more powerful on the big screen than on DVD. On screen the last half hour wasn’t fantastic but it didn’t bother me, on DVD it bugged me a lot more.
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009So what will be number “0″….
Which will be your worst movie you saw for the decade.
Mine hands down Transformers 2!
Proof that effects do not make a movie… I did not know that for sure till that turd.
Posted by Big Hungry on December 31st, 2009While I liked the wrestler it would be in my top 20 but not 10… still a good pick.
Posted by Big Hungry on December 31st, 2009Now I need to review the list and see if I need to catch one I missed.
“Boondock Saints is 1999, Rick”
…damn really. fuck it, it’s still a good movie. lol. i honestly don’t know how you guy’s do it though. so many movies have come out, and i’ve seen so many how do you narrow it down? besides the dark knight my mind is just two monkey’s grooming each other.
Posted by Rick on December 31st, 2009also, embarrassed to say, watching someone try and stand longer for ten minutes while they jack off to star trek porn HAHA
Posted by Rick on December 31st, 2009I find Boondock Saints fun in spite of glaring flaws all around. I didn’t have any interest in the sequel though, and probably have watched Overnight (doc about BS) more than BS in the last several years.
Posted by Goon on December 31st, 2009Actually if you want to see Maria Tomei naked a much better movie is “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” which was a great movie in its own right. My feeling on the Wrestler is this. I was like many other people blown away on first viewing and then again on viewing the Blu-ray. But for some reason, I don’t feel like re-watching it. It’s not a movie that bears up to a lot of re-watching. So really there are different kinds of movies for different kinds of lists. You can have a list of movies that are out and out the best. And also a list of your favorites. And the movies on one list might not be on the other. There are a lot of movies that I thought were good, but I’m not going to re-watch it if you were asking me what movie I’d re-watch it. So I think people have to separate out what is their favorite vs. the best. Maybe these movies dealt with uncomfortable or not every enjoyable subject matter, and while they handled the subject matter magnificently, I’m not going to sit through it again and again. Now, movies like 300, Sin City, the Lord of the Rings, Master & Commander, I could watch over and over. Maybe I’m getting older and don’t necessarily like watching really depressing or downbeat kinds of movies.
Posted by Maopheus on December 31st, 2009It was a very good movie, but best of the decade….I dunno.
Posted by Tommy on December 31st, 2009Well done. Can’t wait for the year end clips show!
Posted by Jersey Jason on December 31st, 2009Sunshine is just the most enjoyable Sci-Fi flick of the past ten years, and I don’t mind the change in pace or mood at all. Watching it in the theater was an amazing experience, and it looks insane on Bluray.
@Reed: The Sunshine podcast was the very first episode I listened to, and you were on it. It’s hard to imagine I came back after that thing, but your input definitely improved… you really need some getting used to.
@Sean: Are you gonna post your favourite albums of the decade or year as well?
Posted by Sven on December 31st, 2009The Wrestler is fantastic.
Posted by Captain N on December 31st, 2009Good job guys. Not my personal personal number one but the case can definitely be made. As much as I love Requiem, this is by far the stronger movie. Not as flashy but stripped down to the bare essentials and letting them shine on their own.
Sunshine is one of the best two or three scifi movies of the decade, probably behind only Children of Men and Minority Report.
Posted by Justice on December 31st, 2009This is the most predictable number choice of all time. Is this a good movie? Yes, best of the decade? No, I don’t think it would make my top 20. No Momento, no requiam for a dream. I can’t get behind this list.
Posted by The Man on December 31st, 2009Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!
As for my eyes, I also felt that this was a truly amazing film, and on the many levels you cited.
Thanks for your list!
Posted by Cufford on December 31st, 2009I think what is obvious here is that while no one denies that the Wrestler is a great movie, I think people are tentative to call it the no. 1. I think people to call any movie the no. 1 because there is no consensus no-doubt-about-it no. 1. Criticism of choosing the Wrestler as no. 1 is not a criticism of the movie’s quality itself. Maybe in the final analysis, the ’00’s will be regarded as a decade that had a lot of great technical advancement, but perhaps less creative advancement than there should have been.
Posted by Maopheus on December 31st, 2009Sven: Still contemplating a Top 10 albums list… I have a handful in mind, I just need to go back and find a few more.
BTW, Incident At Loch Ness is an interesting choice on your Top 20 list. Never thought I’d see that on anyone’s list, but it’s a great flick.
Posted by Sean on December 31st, 2009I’m shocked “Memento” is not on here, and a bit disappointed that this is #1. Although I liked the movie, it wouldn’t even make my personal top 20. To each their own
Here’s Ebert’s list:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/12/the_best_films_of_the_decade.html
Posted by Jim the Movie Freak on December 31st, 2009Bravo – I’m so glad this is number 1. Aronofsky is one of the greatest living filmmakers out there.
Posted by Nick Robertson on December 31st, 2009The Man: Go fuck yourself! (I say this often to The Man)
This movie was something special. Randy The Ram, should be called Randy The Raw. Another level this.
Posted by Henrik on December 31st, 2009Can’t please everybody. I learned that particular lesson from Reed.
Posted by Nick Robertson on January 1st, 2010“Whether or not you’re a fan of wrestling”
Seriously, if I was talking to somebody who watched The Wrestler, and I asked if they liked it, and they said no, and I asked them why, and they said “just not a fan of wrestling” I would smack them.
Posted by Henrik on January 1st, 2010right, because there are sooooooo many forms of live entertainment were the performers push the envelope of physical strain and self mutilation. And the fact historically the division between people that will invest in wrestling and those that won’t comes down to accepting the theatrics of the “sport”, therefore, flavoring the entire point of this character study. Right, the wrestling aspect has nothing to do with the story or appeal. I’m sure it came down to deciding between a wrestler and say, an street performer and Aronofsky just went with a wrestler with a coin flip. I’m sure he wasn’t at all influence by character studies of athletes that compete solo and what posses them to go on like Raging Bull and Rocky and those films didn’t draw interest from their sports background, right. And I’m sure Aronofsky didn’t see the opportunity to study a segment of society that has never been looked at in a character study, except for great docs. like Lipstick and Dynamite, right. Aronofsky surly wasn’t motivated to show the bizarre underworld of small time regional wrestling leagues, right. Please, get over yourself before you wreck yourself.
Posted by rus in chicago on January 1st, 2010I was looking into getting into a local circuit if the military didn’t happen.
Posted by Tommy on January 1st, 2010It’s not about wrestling.
Posted by Greg on January 1st, 2010I’m not sure who rus is arguing with
Posted by Goon on January 1st, 2010I would guess Henrik, but it really could be anybody. Or no one. Wrap your head around that.
Posted by Greg on January 1st, 2010The minute Mickey Rourkes face is on the screen, wrestling goes out the window.
Posted by Henrik on January 1st, 2010How can you not have memento
Posted by Teo on January 1st, 2010This film is a simple story of man that realizes late in his life that he took his friends and family for granted as his existence within a profession he loves comes to an end. The fact this story is set in the world of wrestling, showing areas of that sport not seen before, with high ethical dilemmas not seen in other professions makes it entertaining, or, more entertaining than common and mundane walks of life.
If you can’t see that you are fooling yourself.
Just as There Will be Blood is not about oil speculation, but telling a story in the time and place of 1900s California makes it immensely entertaining and rich.
The whole “the Wrestler isn’t about wrestling” is over used and throws the baby out with the bath water. It wouldn’t have been as interesting a film if Mickey was for example a rodeo rider or boxer, why, because that story has been told.
Posted by rus in chicago on January 1st, 2010I disagree. This movie is an honest performance. Nothing else matters, it is the rawness of the emotion on the face of the man that is the movie.
Posted by Henrik on January 1st, 2010The Wrestler is a good enough film, but what it is doing in the upper reaches of anyone’s movies of the decade list – let alone at #1 – is beyond my comprehension to be honest.
Posted by DavidM on January 1st, 2010fyi: my #1 would probably be Spirited Away or The Incredibles or some kiddie cartoon shit like that. So, you know…
Posted by DavidM on January 1st, 2010@Nick Robertson: Ha ha. Thx for linking with tongue firmly in cheek I’m sure that piece of wisdom to me. Surely, if God can’t please everyone, then no one can!
For those who care, I’m currently compiling my list of 10 favorite films of all time. And for those who think Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t get enough love, I think it may end up in my list. And no, The Wrestler will not be on my list.
Frankly, I think Mickey Rourke wasn’t acting at all. Just like Jean-Claude Van Damme wasn’t acting in JCVD. It’s a matter of perfect casting.
I think the film could have gained a larger audience with soap opera fans if it was called “The Deli Counter” or horror fans if it was called “The Meat Handler.”
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 1st, 2010“Frankly, I think Mickey Rourke wasn’t acting at all.”
You’re saying this as if it’s a negative of some sort.
Posted by Henrik on January 1st, 2010I think Henrik is right, The Wrestler will always be the film that got a great actor back in our lives and in a miraculous way allowed him to channel his pain in to art.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/story?id=6897261&page=1
Posted by rus in chicago on January 1st, 2010What? Do you guys even watch movies?
Posted by Trisomy21 on January 6th, 2010The Wrestler got robbed for its Oscar!! Thanks for redeeming it here on Film Junk!!
Posted by Bricktop on January 7th, 2010Really? Like… really? It’s fucking Oscar bait. Will you ever be combing through your movie collection and think; “Hm… I’m in the mood to be completely miserable for the next couple hours”. I think I can confidently say I will never have the urge to watch that movie ever again. Yeah, it was worth watching once, but a movie shouldn’t garner so much praise if no one is going to fucking watch it ever again. It’ll just sit there with people applauding it, showering it with praise, but when someone pipes up with “hey, why don’t we watch it since it’s so great and filled with emotion”. A movie’s ‘enjoyment’ shouldn’t expire after one viewing, or it’s failed as a movie, I think at least.
Whatever, abysmal pick.
Posted by Jeff on January 9th, 2010nobody who wants to make Oscar bait hires Mickey Rourke (at that time) to play a wrestler. It only turned out to be as such because people took to it, and it didnt win Oscars anyways. It couldnt even get Springsteen nominated.
Its like saying Alanis’ “Jagged Little Pill” was Grammy Bait in 1995 when she was a washed up teeny bopper making angry music that was not currently in favor. Sometimes things just turn out in the end, and then people go rewrite history around it.
Posted by Goon on January 9th, 2010Leave a Reply