The Wrestler (2008 film) an aging professional wrestler who, despite his failing health and waning fame, continues to wrestle in an attempt to cling to the success of his 1980s heyday. He also tries to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter and to find romance with a woman who works as a stripper. The film received universal critical acclaim and won the Golden Lion Award at the 65th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered. Film critic Roger Ebert called it one of the year's best films, while Rotten Tomatoes reported that 98% of critics gave the film positive reviews. The success of
Ventura Film Festival Ventura Film Festival The Ventura Film Festival is an international film festival held each year in Ventura, California. The Ventura Film Festival features Academy Award-winning films and has been attended by Academy Award-winning celebrities. In 2011 the Ventura Film Festival hosted the 50th Anniversary of "West Side Story" and the full cast of the film and gave a lifetime achievement awards to Academy Award winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris who starred in the film as Bernardo and Academy Award nominee/Golden Globe winner Russ Tamblyn who played the co-starring role of Riff in "West Side Story". The 50th Anniversary of "West