I think that the scene where Randy looks up from his table and notices his fellow broken down wrestlers who seem to be forgotten about is an underrated scene.
shareI agree - that scene speaks allot. Broken down people - broken dreams - the end of the road - i mean its so powerful. The guy with his head on the table right next to him was intense.
shareAgreed. People don't realize what professional wrestlers go through and what becomes of 'em.
share[deleted]
NOt bad but unrealistic. People love the conventions with the old timers.
shareAs a longtime wrestling fan it was overdone a bit. The guy passed out on the table was too much, but it's a minor point. The scene was effective as it was supposed to be.
shareTo people who think this scene is unrealistic or unheard of at Wrestling Conventions...
http://lonelyvirgil.net/
I've no need for a sig
....that's pretty sad.
Even more disturbing the person who made that site apparently to make fun of the guy. What's the point of kicking a man when he's down like that?
I've heard the guy is a jerk, not that he deserves what he's getting, but I think the owner of that site probably had run ins with him.
Though, yes, the site is sad.
Joseph Chastainme
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marks-the-series/806493646056177
I wouldn't exactly call that a picture that's worth a thousand words. It only shows at that moment nobody was at his table. It doesn't tell you whether or not the convention tanked or how many people showed up.
shareThat is one of the greatest scene I've seen . Kudos to Aronofsky.
Yes, that scene was gritty and heartbreaking. Brilliant filmmaking.
I am Salthead
I have no idea if this is reflective of the reality of these sorts of things--I suspect it is--but regardless, it's true to the spirit of this film.
It's funny though, what really sticks out in this scene and drives home how pathetic Randy's situation is, are the VHS tapes and Polaroid instant film cameras he has.
It's not reflective of reality. Conventions like that with old time superstars pack them in most of the time.
shareMOST, not all.
imdb.com/name/nm2056893/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1me
Agreed. It's an emotionally shattering scene. And although (as another poster pointed out) a lot of Legends Conventions bring in huge crowds of nostalgic fans, this scene is absolutely true-to-life.
Darren Aronofsky told Terry Gross in an NPR interview that the scene came directly out one of his research trips. He went to a legends' signing at a dingy VFW in Jersey. Capt. Lou Albano, Rocky Johnson (the Rock's father), Jimmy Snuka, King Kong Bundy and many others were there. And virtually nobody showed up for autographs or pictures. Aronofsky was heartbroken to see these guys in such sad shape. He told Gross he wanted to capture the stark reality of being over-the-hill, forgotten and clinging to a spotlight that burned out a LONG time ago. Gross agreed that the scene was a harsh depiction of what it's like to try to sell autographs to a public that doesn't much want them anymore.
There's a huge difference between the glitzy, well-promoted, super-duper conventions you see footage of on Youtube (with thousands of fans passing through for pictures and autographs), and the low-rent, poorly-promoted ones where a handful past-their-prime wrestlers try to sell autographs to a handful of people.
I've been to a few of those signings myself. And they played out just like the scene in the movie: A bunch of older legends, huge names in their day, sitting in a dusty, empty Legion. All of them in rough physical shape. Tables stacked with "gimmicks" -- faded t-shirts, VHS tapes, polaroid cameras -- all relics of a bygone era, just like the legends themselves. Merchandise that goes unsold.
The scene in the movie is so layered and detailed. Aronofsky didn't make any of it up. Even the little overweight boy who was getting autographs from the legends was true-to-life. There's ALWAYS a young kid at these old-timers shows who's a huge wrestling fan, but has no earthly idea who any of the legends are. And his Mom is paying for him to get pictures taken with legends he's not old enough to remember. All because he loves wrestling and loves wrestlers and thus wants wrestlers' autographs. Lol.
Aronosky captured the cold, bitter reality of life on the "legends" circuit with masterful precision.
This was a great post.
Very very well said.😃
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Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.
Very well said! I thought that scene was very powerful and telling. While I have never been to such a show, I have a friend who was once a pretty big deal in the industry and still shows up at some shows and said that scene was spot on.
What I liked about the scene was it showed the physical abuse their bodies have taken from the industry and how little they have to show for it at the end. So many people love to say it is "fake" when they know little about they pain and abuse their bodies go through.