The Wrestler

One of the best American films of 2008, The Wrestler is a brilliant, heartfelt, and unsentimental drama anchored by an incredible performance from Rourke as a washed-up athlete. Rourke's Randy relies on past glories, a part-time job at the grocery store, and massive doses of steroids to keep his bills paid and his career going. But his heart attack changes that, and Randy has to try to channel his charm and need for the spotlight into different areas of life, reaching out to Stephanie and Cassidy instead of playing to the crowd.

The Wrestler sounds intense, and it is, but it's also quite funny, thanks to the script by ex-Onion editor Rob Siegel. "I have two words to say to you, dude," a promoter pitches to Randy in anticipation of the approaching anniversary of his bout with theAyatollah: "Re. Match." Rourke is also charming, showing us a man who not only craves attention but also has a spark that makes people want to watch him, whether it's performing in the ring or dishing out cold cuts. Director Darren Aronofsky's previous films -- Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain -- were all gorgeously shot and impressively smart. But with The Wrestler, he's working in much more emotional territory than he's explored before -- and clearly marking a new phase of his career with a film that combines the style and feel of modern European dramas with very American cultural concerns. Tough, rough, and impressive, The Wrestler's wounds and bruises hide a mighty heart.