MICKEY Rourke became the toast of Venice when his latest film, The Wrestler, earned some of the most glowing reviews from this year’s festival – and his career.

The film, directed by directed by Darren Aronofsky of Requiem For A Dream fame, finds Rourke playing aging wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, who struggles to come to terms with the end of his career after being told by doctors that another bout in the ring is likely to kill him.

Co-starring Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood, the film reportedly packed three Venice screenings when it was shown on Friday, September 5 (2008), prompting speculation among festival participants that Rourke could be a contender for Venice’s best actor prize.

Certainly, the actor himself is pleased with it, telling reporters at a press conference that he truly believes it will be the movie to turn things around for him.

Rourke, who has also been a boxer during an up-and-down career in and out of the movies, plays a scarred, muscly fighter with long blond tresses in The Wrestler but maintains that his background in boxing did him no favours when it came to preparing for his latest role.

Indeed, he performed an intensive three month period of training to get into shape for the film’s gruelling wrestling sequences and gained a newfound respect for the sport in the process.

Speaking candidly at Venice, he revealed: “I didn’t have a lot of respect for wrestling. I thought it was just entertainment. But then I found out these guys take 10 years to learn how to land on the floor without hurting themselves.

“I just landed like a brick. My neck went, my back went and I spent more time in the doctor’s office than I ever did in six years of boxing.”

Rourke also revealed how director Aronofsky was similarly straight and bruising when it came to casting him in the part.

“He sat there and said, ‘You’re a great actor but you messed up your career and no one wants to hire you.’ However, I have a film I want to do with you. But you have to listen to me, you must never disrespect me, you can’t go out every night – and I can’t pay you either’.”

Sensing this was another chance to put his acting career back on track, Rourke leapt at the chance and now appears to be reaping the rewards of his dedication to the project.

Of the many glowing reviews to emerge from Venice, Variety stated that The Wrestler is “a galvanising, humorous, deeply moving portrait that instantly takes its place among the great, iconic screen performances”.

Rourke is no stranger to great roles, having broken through with acclaimed performances in films such as Diner, Rumble Fish and Angel Heart – not to mention the steamy film Nine And A Half Weeks.

But his career went off the rails amid reports that he found it difficult to handle the fame and he’s only recently comeback to the spotlight with eye-catching performances in films like Man On Fire, Domino and – most notably – Sin City.

Next up for the actor is the role of Peter in an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ The Informers, directed by Gregor Jordan, and the reprisal of his Marv character for the keenly-anticipated Sin City sequel.

• Delicious
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• Stumbleupon