'The Wrestler' Embraces the Lovable Loser in Both its Protagonist and its Music

I suppose it's fitting that a film about the world of professional wrestling also shamelessly champions another object of scorn for some pop culture snobs - '80s hard rock. Darren Aronofsky's brilliant film The Wrestler from late last year not only offers a plum role to one of the finest and most fascinating American actors of all time, the inimitable Mickey Rourke. It also creates one of the most heartfelt, authentic and brutally earnest portraits of a man serious about his entertainment in practically every possible way.

And that's where the music comes in. The soundtrack to The Wrestler certainly features some expected '80s classics from hair metal outfit Ratt, pop metal pioneers Quiet Riot, and the mostly unclassifiable hard rock legends Guns N' Roses. However, the film also unearths under-the-surface wonders in the Scorpions' "Animal Magnetism" and "Don't Walk Away," a lesser-known track from latter-day hair rockers Firehouse. In its careful yet spontaneous way, the soundtrack treats its music with as much respect and irony-free passion as the film does its title character Randy the Ram and his arena of choice. Beyond all the cinematic treasures on display here (and there are a great many), '80s music also receives a rather stunning tribute of its own.

• Sample or download The Wrestler soundtrack here.
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Album Cover Image Courtesy of Koch Records