The Wrestler trailer is finally released

A couple weeks back, I wrote about the possible resurgence of Mickey Rourke’s acting career in Darren Aronofky’s upcoming film, The Wrestler. At the time, a trailer hadn’t been released. Well, now the trailer is available on Apple’s movie trailer page and on YouTube.

And it looks amazing.

I love the line towards the end, when Rourke’s character Randy “The Ram” Robinson is addressing the crowd and says, “The only people who can tell me when I’m done doing my thing is you people right here.” It feels like Rourke is talking directly to the movie viewing public. Here’s one fan that hopes he keeps doing his thing for a long time to come. If this trailer is any indication, he’s still got a lot left in him.

Here’s it is, embedded for your pleasure.

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Mickey Rourke makes a comeback. Maybe.

Mickey Rourke in 'The Wrestler'

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I know I like Mickey Rourke.

He’s been out of the limelight for a while now, and I have a hard time coming up with a list of his films off the top of my head sometimes. And yet, I get excited when I see him on screen. He has some indefinable magic to all his performances. Or at least he used to.

And now, it seems, he’s making a comeback.

Entertainment Weekly has a fascinating article on Mickey Rourke this week.

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Asked if he dislikes talking about the past and the potentially brilliant career he squandered, Rourke shakes his head. ”No, because I f—ed up real bad. I knew nothing about business or politics. I didn’t even know they were in the equation! But it’s a game, and we all have to kiss a– in life. I didn’t know it then. A lot of the actors who are successful, you look around, these guys are college boys — Ben Affleck, Matt Damon. Me, I just thought you’re either great or you suck! I’m not saying I was great, but I knew I was on my way to being great.”

Most recently, Rourke put in probably the most fascinating performance in Sin City. Mostly, though, he’s popped up in small supporting (though usually powerful) roles like the one scene in Sean Penn’s 2001 film The Pledge, and in Robert Rodriquez’s Once Upon A Time in Mexico. It really says something, for example, when EW’s list of Rourke’s essential films highlights an 18 year gap between 1987’s Barfly and Angel Heart and Sin City in 2005.

Director Darren Aronofsky‘s new film, The Wrestler, in which Rourke has the starring role, won the top award at the Venice Film Festival a few months back. By all accounts, the film is a resurgence and, even better, a career role for Rourke.

After reading the article I’ve totally and completely bought into the hype. I can’t wait.

Even though a trailer hasn’t been released yet.

The Wrestler hits theaters December 19.

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Additional reading:
• Time Magazine: “Mickey Rourke’s Comeback”
• LA Times: “The Wrestler: Triumph for Mickey Rourke”
• Mickey Rourke interview with MTV.com
• New York Times: Then Things You Need to Know About ‘ The Wrestler’

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