Reception for ‘The Wrestler’

It was a thrill to attend a small reception in honor of the new film, “The Wrestler,” and get a chance to talk with director Darren Aronofsky and co-star Marisa Tomei. The title role is played by Mickey Rourke, in a sensational comeback performance almost certain to get an Oscar nomination. I spoke with Aronofsky about the long development process for the film, as the script went through 25 drafts, and how this film differed from the intensity and scale of his most recent film, “The Fountain.” The intimate, documentary style of filming makes its drama even more heart-wrenching as we feel we are witnessing something very raw and very real. Tomei gives a brilliantly brave and exquisitely vulnerable performance that may earn her another nomination as well.