I watched three movies by directors famed for their previous films: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by David Fincher (Fight Club), The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) and Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), among which only the first I really enjoyed.
The Wrestler (B+) was a good movie. Too bad that I hate themes involve great physical pain. Gun fire and explosions, those I can take; punches in the the stomach, smashing heads, and pain that looks real, however, are always too painful for me to watch.
During the first 1.5 hour of it, I kept having the urge to let it be the first movie that I stand up and walk out of. I’m glad that I didn’t because the last 5 minutes made my suffering somehow seems (more or less) worthwhile. It didn’t make it less painful, but at least it made sense to me at the end.
Even though I hate almost every bit of it, I think they did a great job telling the story. I was brought along a journey of a has-been wrestler, who was long out of his prime but still well respected. I hate him for being easily affected by situations, and making all the wrong decisions that lead to bad outcomes. It seems that he was heading for self-destruction because of a broken heart when he chose to go back. But then all of a sudden it became clear that, after trying to make things different, he (made me?) realized that he lives to wrestle. Wrestling defines him and the ring is where he belongs.
The final scene was beautiful and that Bruce Springsteen song at the end was so right.
As for Slumdog Millionaire, I just don’t think it’s not all it’s hyped up to be.