Mickey Rourke's Here To Stay

The Wrestler

I've talked about The Wrestler here before but I wanted to expand on why I'm so passionate about this film. I've been a fan of Mickey Rourke's for over 20 years.

From Body Heat, Rumble Fish, Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village, oh man, Angel Heart --what can I say, to Barfly, a Bukowski story. "To all my frennns", character Henry says in the film. My husband and I still imitate our favorite scenes from Barfly. Mickey's portrayal was phenomenal or he'd lived through that crazy life before.

So a few years of unforgettable work from Mickey finally leads him to Sin City. The buzz about him is good now but people are still skeptical. When you tell Hollywood to collectively kiss your ass then come back and ask them for work you'll have to prove yourself all over again. If you even get the chance.

Mickey was about to get that chance with The Wrestler. Five long years of raising money to get this independent, labor of love made. Friend Bruce Springsteen wrote and gave them the song that closes the movie. (Why was it not nominated?)

In The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke creates a galvanizing, honest and tender portrait that easily puts it among the great, iconic screen performances and he certainly deserves the Best Actor win.

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Rooting For Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke
Actor Mickey Rourke just won a Golden Globe for his work on the film The Wrestler and will probably win an Oscar as well. Everyone seems to be rooting for the resurrection of Mickey. Perhaps no one harder than I and others that can relate to his story of destruction and resurrection. The movie is remarkable.

Christopher Walken, who has known Rourke since their days at the Actors Studio in the mid-'70s, recently caught up with him in New York. (photo from interview)
Whether it was hubris or humility that drove Rourke to walk away from acting 17 years ago and resume the boxing career he began as a teenage welterweight out of Miami, only to return a decade and several concussions later with his hat in hand and little goodwill on his side, the fact remains that the film industry, despite its lack of anything resembling conventional wisdom, can sometimes show flashes of unwitting intelligence and allow a second act. Because actors like Mickey Rourke don't come along once in a generation, let alone twice.

So here's round two, or is it 10, with the championship contender humbled, through the ringer, looking for one more chance, asking for another shot. And because it's cheaper to buy low than to buy high. And because sequels are good business. And because everybody loves a good redemption story. (via)

Sometimes when a man's alone, all you got are your dogs and they meant the world to me.
--Mickey Rourke, during his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

If I didn't already love Mickey Rourke before, I have tons of love for him now. Fellas, this is how you successfully balance your manly side with your feminine side. And he's a PETA supporter.

(Watch The Wrestler online)

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Mickey Rourke's soul is in Miami. It's his home. "l really do love Miami," said Rourke cradling Loki, an 11-year-old miniature whippet and Chihuahua mix, his constant companion over the last years. "Miami -- you can relax here."



After years of therapy, Rourke said he is close to banishing most of the negative forces that crippled his life and career.



Gone are the hoodlum friends, dysfunctional relationships and bad boy antics that made him a pariah in Hollywood.



And gone are the bad films that went straight to video. And next year, audiences will see Rourke in what he hopes will be his defining, breakthrough role.



He has the lead in Robert Rodriguez's Sin City, playing Marv, a moody, disfigured, persecuted, misunderstood thug who loses the love of his life.



I always have liked Mickey Rourke. I'd sure like to see him get a Travolta boost from this film.



more »

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Orlando's Hard Rock Cafe's Vault is a museum. Collectibles include a snakeskin coat from Keith Richards; a purple suit from Jimi Hendrix; John Bonham's (Led Zeppelin) drums, and Bob Dylan's typewritten lyric sheets for "I Want You," "Absolutely Sweet Marie" and "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," songs from his landmark Blonde on Blonde album, in the Vault. There's also a wall-sized quilt depicting Frank Zappa as a playing card constructed from ladies' underwear thrown on stage during some long-ago tour. [link] [see gallery]



{local}

Web site picks top 100 places to live. Top 10 communities, which received the most nominations, were, in order: Venice, Fla.; Paragould, Ark.; Edmond, Okla.; Bonita Springs, Fla.; Asheville, N.C.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Bartlesville, Okla.; Carlsbad, N.M.; Huntington Woods, Mich.; and Madison, Wis. [link]



{film news}

How could a film that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and Benicio Del Toro get any cooler? How about by adding Johnny Depp? AND Christopher Walken? AND Steve Buscemi?! That's not cool enough for ya? How about if Quentin Tarantino directs a portion of it? Well that's precisely what's happening with Robert Rodriguez and his SIN CITY. [link]



As you were. Nothing more to see here.

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Remember 'Twister' the old game of limb bending fame? It's now been developed to play online using just your fingers and a keyboard. I wasn't very successful at it, though.



I've heard of beanie babies, but I'd never seen 'boner babies' before now. The ad says, "These anatomically absurd dolls stand nearly 9 inches tall, and are ALWAYS happy to see you!"

Don't be mistaken, My name isn't Flipper

Just wait till ya see, What I got in my "Zipper"!



You can view a few clips from the new Dylan movie, 'Masked And Anonymous', here; also contains more info on the movie. Must have Quicktime. It also stars Luke Wilson, Mickey Rourke, John Goodman, Cheech Marin, Jessica Lange, Val Kilmer, Penelope Cruz, and others. What a gathering of good people this is.



Some Ebay webloggers have their own blog now.



Flashback

I gave you a brand new Ford

and you just said I want a Cadillac

I bought you a ten dollar dinner

You said Thanks for the snack

I let you live in my penthouse

You said it was just a shack

I gave you seven children

and now you wanna give 'em back

~B B King, "How Blue Can You Get?"



Quote Of The Day

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anaïs Nin

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