By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Roger Ebert, considered the top Hollywood movie critic, reviewed "The Wrestler" for a second time in yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times, and rated it four stars out of a possible four. He called it "one of the year's best films."

Ebert admits he watches wrestling on TV, is fascinated by it, and wants to know more about the behind-the-scenes planning that goes into the on-camera theatrics. Meanwhile, Mickey Rourke provides the stunning performance that could earn him some hardware.

"This is the performance of his lifetime, will win him a nomination, may win him the Oscar," Ebert says. "Like many great performances, it has an element of truth."

Ebert says director Darren Aronofsky taking the viewer deep behind the curtain to reveal the inner-workings of wrestling is "the most fascinating element" of the movie. "He does this so well, yet has never made a film even remotely like this before," Ebert said.

Finally, Rourke's performance hit a chord with Ebert. "I cared as deeply about Randy the Ram as any movie character I've seen this year. I cared about Mickey Rourke, too. The way this role and this film unfold, that almost amounts to the same thing. Rourke may not win the Oscar for best actor. But it would make me feel good to see him up there. It really would."

Link: Rogert Ebert review in Chicago Sun-Times.

RELATED STORY at PWTorch.com: Highlights of Mickey Rourke on the Late Show with David Letterman.

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