Donnetta Lavinia Grays Movies
His sense of identity fading into nothingness after the spotlights dim and he experiences a close brush with mortality, a retired wrestler begins to evaluate his life while considering the comeback that could very well kill him in director Darren Aronofsky's poignant portrait of an introspective former superstar in the twilight of his career. Back in his heyday, wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was an icon in the ring. His image immortalized in action figures and video games, he would headline arenas across the globe. Twenty years later, those glory days have passed, and Randy is forced to earn his keep by brawling before handfuls of fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. In the wake of a heart attack, the former icon attempts to earn a little extra cash while working in a deli and making an effort to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Yet, despite Randy's continued attempts at convincing local stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) to settle down with him in his humble trailer, the ring still calls to him. Later, when the prospect of a high-profile rematch with his longtime nemesis presents itself, Randy is forced to weigh his mortality against his desire to hear the crowd roar one last time. The Wrestler snagged two Oscar nominations, one for Best Actor (Rourke) and one for Best Supporting Actress (Tomei). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, (more)
- 2005
This episode is a tour de force for actor Reiley McClendon, cast in the dual role of as teenaged graffiti tagger Logan Stanton and his twin sister Lindsay. After a member of the Stone Cold Assassins street gang is murdered, the SVU detectives seek out the only witness to the killing--who likewise turns up dead. When suspicion falls upon Logan Stanton, his sister Lindsay loyally comes forth, confessing to the crime. It would seem that the two siblings are covering for each other...but this is only the tip of a particularly chilling iceberg involving rape, child molestation, and an abundance of horrible family secrets. Mary Stuart Masterson makes her final sixth-season appearance as psychiatrist Rebecca Hendrix. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
ER costar Ming-Na is cast as Li Mei Nu, an immigrant woman in search of her missing sister Jiao Wu. The authorities are also interested in catching up with Li Wu, who has apparently abandoned two of her daughters in a squalid apartment. As the SVU detectives pursue the case, it becomes clear that the missing woman was being persecuted by an alien-smuggling gang which uses its "customers" as sweatshop workers and sex slaves. Unfortunately, none of the gang's victims are willing to cooperate with the detectives--especially after Li Mei is savagely beaten on the orders of a corrupt customs attorney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
