Rourke packs a powerful punch in this award-winning turn

Following years of physical wear and tear by wrestling, veteran bruiser Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is struggling to keep up with the pace of low-paid exhibition matches. After one gruelling bout, he suffers acute pain in his chest and is told that unless he rests up, his heart will give up entirely. Forced to live in the real world for a change, fading lord of the ring Randy, who ekes out a meagre living on the delicatessen counter of a supermarket, strives to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Rachel?Wood) and pursues a romance with dancer Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). However, the lure of the wrestling ring proves too great... The Wrestler is a mesmerising account of one man's painful quest to realise his dreams at any cost. Packing the sort of hefty emotional punch suggested by its title, Darren Aronofsky's hard-hitting drama knocks us out with its stellar cast, unfussy direction and heart-wrenching dialogue, scripted by Robert D Siegel. Rourke is the beating heart of the picture. He is simply spellbinding, coping magnificently with the obvious physical demands of the role, but he also manages to brilliantly capture the character's internal conflict. Scenes between Randy and his daughter are particularly moving, degenerating into more tears when the errant father lets down Stephanie for the umpteenth time. "There is no more fixing this. It's broke, permanently!" screams Wood, giving a riveting supporting performance to match Tomei's revelatory turn as a single mother, who might be the one person to believe in Randy's conviction. Fight sequences are orchestrated with brio and look horribly realistic. A bittersweet resolution lingers in the memory. DVD extras include a Making Of featurette, interview with Rourke Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the daily Emirates Business 24|7 newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here .