Mickey Rourke's true-to-life portrayal is tipped for an Oscar and raises the game at lacklustre festival They saved the best for last. Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler won the 65th Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion last night. It premiered only one day before, giving what critics agreed was an otherwise lacklustre Venice a powerful sting in the tail. Mickey Rourke, swaggering in oversize shirt and tie, with straggly blond locks draped over his face, went on stage to watch Aronofsky - whose previous film, The Fountain, flopped at Venice - receive the award. Rourke stars as a wrestler 20 years past his prime, girding himself for one last comeback, then after a heart attack trying to come to terms with the mess he has made of his life. The story was close to the bone for Rourke, who was once a professional boxer and whose off-set excesses have condemned him to professional oblivion for the past 15 years. "I have splinters in my ass from sitting on the bench so long," he told the BBC.
They saved the best for last. Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler won the 65th Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion last night. It premiered only one day before, giving what critics agreed was an otherwise lacklustre Venice a powerful sting in the tail.
Mickey Rourke, swaggering in oversize shirt and tie, with straggly blond locks draped over his face, went on stage to watch Aronofsky - whose previous film, The Fountain, flopped at Venice - receive the award. Rourke stars as a wrestler 20 years past his prime, girding himself for one last comeback, then after a heart attack trying to come to terms with the mess he has made of his life.
The story was close to the bone for Rourke, who was once a professional boxer and whose off-set excesses have condemned him to professional oblivion for the past 15 years. "I have splinters in my ass from sitting on the bench so long," he told the BBC.
By Chet Hayes September 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this This morning I called Westmoreland's office: Them: Good morning, Congressman Westmoreland's office. Me: Good morning, I would like to make a public comment. Them: Yes, sir, what is your comment? Me: I would like to compliment Congressman Westmoreland on his comments yesterday about Barack Obama. We need more people like him to call a spade a spade. You crackers in Georgia must be very proud. Them: [long pause] Sir, there's no need to be insulting. Me: I'm sorry, but how did I insult you? Them: There is no need to call me a cracker. Me: I've never heard that term used in a derogatory sense. It is important to note that the dictionary definition of "cracker" is "a thin, crisp biscuit." That's what we meant by cracker when we used it in the city where I grew up. Them: Well, that's not how you meant it. Me: Oh, so what you're saying is that you don't like being called names. Now you know how it feels. Them: [another long pause] Sir, I have to take another call.
September 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
This morning I called Westmoreland's office:
Them: Good morning, Congressman Westmoreland's office.
Me: Good morning, I would like to make a public comment.
Them: Yes, sir, what is your comment?
Me: I would like to compliment Congressman Westmoreland on his comments yesterday about Barack Obama. We need more people like him to call a spade a spade. You crackers in Georgia must be very proud.
Them: [long pause] Sir, there's no need to be insulting.
Me: I'm sorry, but how did I insult you?
Them: There is no need to call me a cracker.
Me: I've never heard that term used in a derogatory sense. It is important to note that the dictionary definition of "cracker" is "a thin, crisp biscuit." That's what we meant by cracker when we used it in the city where I grew up.
Them: Well, that's not how you meant it.
Me: Oh, so what you're saying is that you don't like being called names. Now you know how it feels.
Them: [another long pause] Sir, I have to take another call.
