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DRAMA, SPORT
THE WRESTLER subtle tragedy in Darren Aronofsky’s accomplished
(15) 109min 0000 character study. After the arty pretension of Pi, Requiem ForA Dream and The Fountain, Aronofsky
‘What happened, did the price of tights go up?’ a has successfully toned down his high-minded ideas,
sneering store-manager taunts Randy ‘The Ram’ and coaxes a crowd-pleasing performance from an
Robinson (Mickey Rourke) when the impoverished ideally cast Rourke.
wrestling star comes looking for work. Fighting a losing Much like Randy, Rourke’s 1980’s heyday in films
battle with his own finances, Randy trades on vulgar such as Angel Heart or Rumblefish led to decades of
past glories by taking regular beatings on the shambling self-parody, but The Wrestler provides
independent wrestling circuit. Not averse to carving perfect comeback material. Down on his luck but never
wounds in his forehead with a razor to simulate a downer, Randy’s colourful, irrepressible chutzpah
serious head-trauma, The Ram hits rock bottom after a places him alongside Paul Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson
skin-shreddingencounter with a sadomasochist rival at the seedier end of cinema’s sporting heroes; as
wielding a staple gun, a glass door and a stepladder. Randy pinballs between his sullen daughter (Rachel
Weakened by a heart bypass operation, Randy ends up Evan Wood) and aging stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei),
tradinghis day-glo leggings for an apron-and-hairnet Rourke and Aronofsky imbue The Wrestler’s struggle
combo, working behind the corner of a local deli. with realism, fight, and a big vulnerable heart.
The traditional ‘boxer one punch away from death’ (Eddie Harrison formula provides a salty mix of brutal comedy and I (Eerrera. l . 7t; (mil See . DRAMA
SEVEN POUNDS (12A) 125min on
Will Smith is the most bankable star in America. last year the mediocre l/im Legend opened With a whopping 877 million in its first weekend. Hancock rar ig tills this summer to the tune of $62 million. ll()\.'~re\.rer'_ both tltese films operated ll‘. Strong blecklnrster genres ~ superhero mevre and /embie flick respectively. Seven Pounds is Smith doing the type of character role that he essayed in lhe Purse/t of Happyness (2006 drama that took 877 million in its first three days». so it's likely that audiences may even be convinced to see the l-‘rc-sh Prince l'l what is essentially a fairytale set in the world of taxatie'i.
Despite a promising pre- credit sequence Ill which Smith's character Hen Thomas declares he's going to commit suicide. Seven Pounds is a huge disappouitment. As an IRS inspector wrth a positive mission we see him berate a blind Woody Harrelsen. audit a sick Rosario Dawson and show puppy eyes at his girlfriend (Rebinne Lee). Director Gabrielle l‘he last Krss Muccine fails to make any of it engaging. Indeed. the reason for the protagonists actions is so ludicrous that the film's distributors asked critics not to reveal ‘the twist'. Unsurprisingly it's not worth knewrng. (Kaleem Aftab)
I General release from Fr'/ 7 (3 Jan.
ALSO RELEASED
i Bride Wars (PG) 90min
F 00. Bride/illa comedy pitting Anne Hathaway against Kate " Hudson from the makers of Ugly , Betty and Lipstick Jungle. I l'here's a few good Jokes and set pieces but this is ultimately a girl's flick that never quite makes it down the aisle. General release from FM 5) Jan.
My Bloody Valentine 3-D (18) 95min .0. Decent if unsurprisingly slick remake of
well regarded early 80s stalk and slash herrer. On a par with the recent Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of the Dead remakes. General release from FM [(5 Jan.
Chandni Chowk To China (12A) 110min COO Likeably silly action comedy about the cra/y adventures of a simpleton chef from Delhi as he travels from India to China. Ashkay Kumar stars. Selected release from Fri 16 Jan.
Clubbed (18) 94min 0 Abysmal Midlands-set ‘rites of passage' drama set in the world of club deermen er bouncers in the 1980s. Ineptly made. badly W lien and atrecieusly acted. Clubberl is a new low for British cinema. Based on a book by Geoff l'hempsen. TV regulars Mel Raido and Colin Salmon star. Selected release from Fri 16 Jan.
Boogie (12A) 102min 000 Irreverent and entertaining Romanian comedy about a young family man's attempts to recreate his hard partying past xix/her) he runs into some old school friends on a trip to the seaside. Selected release from Frr lb‘ Jan.
Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris (15) 100min 0.00 Fascinating documentary about the search for rand the life and times of) the long thought dead' legendary ia// vocalist Jackie Paris. GFT. Glasgow, ll/len 72-—Wed M Jan; li‘r/rnheuse, Edrnbrrr‘gh. Men 12 <2 lire 153’ Jan.
s 9;" .Jar‘. skirt" THE LIST 47