The Wrestler (***1/2)

I saw this one a second time over the weekend (having first seen it at the Chicago Film Fest in October), and though it held up quite nicely, I don't think I'll feel the need to see it again.  Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei's Oscar nominations are well-deserved.  Rourke is probably going to win - he gives a towering performance and is the main reason to see the movie.  The script is pretty by-the-numbers, but Darren Aronofsky, in a change of pace for him, directs in an unobtrusive, low-key manner, keeping the focus (rightly so) on the actors.  The Wrestler is one of the better movies of 2008 (thanks to Rourke), and definitely one worth catching before the Oscar telecast on February 22nd.  Its ***1/2 star rating stands.

-John