movies

Mickey Rourke Wrestles With a Comeback

by Celebuzz on Nov. 14, 2008 09:29 AM / Leave a Comment

Mickey Rourke is poised for a comeback in his role as a retired professional wrestler risking his health for one more shot in the ring in The Wrestler.

The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky, who is known for such thought-provoking films as the ultimate don't-ever-do-drugs-movie Requiem For A Dream and the existential time travel flick The Fountain.

Rourke's character tries to reconnect with his daughter in the film (played by Rourke pal and decidedly not his love interest in real life Evan Rachel Wood, 21), and faces off in the ring with an old nemesis despite being warned he could suffer a heart attack.

The film is receiving Oscar buzz, and won the Golden Lion, which is the top award at the Venice Film Festival.

This could be the comeback vehicle for Mickey Rourke, 52, who has led a troubled life and career since his acting heyday in the '80s in such films as Diner, Year of the Dragon and 9 1/2 Weeks.

Rourke recently revealed that he considered ending his life after planning on murdering the alleged rapist of his estranged wife Carre Otis.

Hollywood is obviously glad he changed his plans and stuck around. Now if he could just stop with the gay slurs, he'd be good to go on to bigger and better projects.

Quotables /

“Evan Rachel Wood denies rumors that she and her The Wrestler co-star Mickey Rourke are an item.”