ROTTEN TOMATOES: Nicolas Cage Is The Wrestler?

Nicolas Cage Is The Wrestler?

From a bear suit to Day-Glo spandex and lace-up boots?

by Jeff Giles | October 12, 2007

We know Nicolas Cage can act. But can he take a folding chair to the back of the head?

In the most wonderful piece of casting news since the magical phrase "Hasselhoff Anaconda sequels" was uttered, The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Cage is in talks to star in The Wrestler, described as an "indie drama" from screenwriter Robert Siegel. The synopsis, from the article, is as follows:

The film, now in development at Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa Pictures, centers on Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again.

In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

Protozoa's involvement suggests that Aronofsky could be in line to direct, a possibility the Reporter said "could not be confirmed at press time."

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-20 of 29 posts) | Reply

jacog writes:
on Oct 12 2007 05:53 AM

Okaaaay... so I read "Nicholas Cage" and groaned... then I read "Darren Aronofsky" and regained some interest. Could swing either way.

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Si-Fi writes:
on Oct 12 2007 05:59 AM

So is it a comedy? because im not sure how serious you could take Nic Cage in tights, oh and he's not exactly built like a wrestler either.

Oh well whatever.

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Gimy writes:
on Oct 12 2007 06:08 AM

"so we know nic cage can act"...8mm is the only thing that comes to mind when i hear ACTING and nic cage. more often, i think of that hilariously bad trailer for National Treasure 2 and urgh...Ghost Rider. dude's last movies i've seen of him feel like i chugged a bottle of vinegar...very bitter taste in my mouth still...and its been months

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dreday writes:
on Oct 12 2007 06:30 AM

Oh, great a Rocky V remake.

(Reply to this)

bustahwolf writes:
on Oct 12 2007 07:14 AM

In reply to this comment (#1185031)
AGH, I can't wrap the idea around my head!

The plot synopsis screams "black comedy", but Aranofsky always does films that he takes very seriously. How am I supposed to interpret this??

(Reply to this)

southwick writes:
on Oct 12 2007 07:23 AM

In reply to this comment (#1185033)
Adaptation, Weatherman, Raising Arizona..all good Cage films.
There are more.

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Gimy writes:
on Oct 12 2007 07:47 AM

weatherman wasn't a good movie dude, sorry. i laughed at some parts though, most notablely the camel toe joke. he isn't a christian bale or a hoffman or somebody who can play any character and you see THAT character, not an actor. to me...shaq has more range. doesn't mean i hate his movies...just means i don't consider him a great actor

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cmonsteve writes:
on Oct 12 2007 08:09 AM

i used to think that nic cage did crap like "con air" just so he could do quirky indies, but "adaptation" was the last thing he was in that wasn't garbage. here's hoping that he can cut that idiotic hair, team up with a good director and bring some credibility back to his career.

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blank blank writes:
on Oct 12 2007 09:10 AM

con air was great. so was face off. and the rock. that was nic cage at his most crowd pleasing. he's good when he wants to be, like in adaptation, or lord of war, but he also sells out all the time, like with Next.

i dont know how i feel about this movie. i'll wait to see a trailer or something

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cabezone writes:
on Oct 12 2007 09:14 AM

Actually Cage has as good a build or better than many of the 80's wrestlers. You youngins are too used to the roided out modern standard of bland wrestelers.

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unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Oct 12 2007 09:46 AM

Sounds pretty damn interesting to me. And Cage is the man. Hopefully Aronofsky does direct it.

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Oct 12 2007 10:08 AM

When Cage does smaller films, he shines. It's just all that comic book action junk that never works for him. This might be OK.

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Young Turk writes:
on Oct 12 2007 10:35 AM

His nemesis...the Ayatollah...

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blinkybrown writes:
on Oct 12 2007 11:00 AM

Cage's early work was good...plus I liked Weatherman (it was a drama with some dark comedy elements, so you weren't supposed to think it was hilarious.) And he did great in Adaptation, Leaving Las Vegas, and Lord of War. It's just the fact that he also does crap films like Next and Ghost Rider that gives him a bad reputation. Plus, what's with the hair? Both him and Tom Hanks need to accept the fact they're aging.

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fight__club writes:
on Oct 12 2007 12:35 PM

the Ayatollah... of rock and rolla

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damvbat writes:
on Oct 12 2007 02:21 PM

wrestling is fake

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CitizenFlynn writes:
on Oct 12 2007 02:26 PM

I started laughing out loud when I heard about this movie. Sure, he gave great performances in Wild at Heart, Birdy, Adaptation, Leaving Las Vegas, etc., and I have insatiable love for Con Air and Face/Off, but let's have a rundown of why this cannot and will not work:

1. Combining "pro wrestling" and "indie drama" in the same sentence is like a peanut butter and blowfish sandwich: a horrible idea, a fatal flaw (in life or film), and two things that should stay on their own.

2. Darren Aronofsky is too smart to have his name remotely close to this.

3. "The Wrestler" is depressingly generic as a title. "The Ram" would be a MUCH better title, but not necessarily redeemable.

4. If Darren Aronofsky and Nicolas Cage was John Carpenter and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper instead, this would be a damn intriguing idea.

5. I can see it now: (Cage is stuck in a submission move by opponent) "BEATING ME WON'T KILL THE GODDAMNED RAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" (opponent lets up, gets on the top rope, elbow-drops Cage, Cage begins having another heart attack) "NOT MY HEART!!!!!! NOT MY HEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTT!!"

I'd rather watch Ready to Rumble again than think about this idea, but there's a 1-in-2,000 chance it could work. For now, I'll just continue to hope Paul Greengrass makes a United 93-style movie about the Montreal screwjob.

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jpbresnihan writes:
on Oct 12 2007 03:13 PM

Bringing Out The Dead?.... Anyone?

Cage rocks.

and i

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arendr writes:
on Oct 12 2007 05:58 PM

I love how his wrestling nemesis is named "The Ayatollah".

And since Aranofsky is making it I'm suddenly interested.

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Leonhart writes:
on Oct 12 2007 07:13 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_mW8mBzmHo&mode=related&search

'nuff said

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