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Interview: Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke on The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky filming The Wrestler

The Wrestler is a new film about an ageing wrestler – Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) – past his prime, who struggles to make ends meet doing shows on the weekends in New Jersey.

The story follows him as he works in a deli, strikes up a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) and seeks a reconciliation with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

I spoke with the director Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke back in October when the film played at the London Film Festival.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Darren_Aronofsky_and_Mickey_Rourke_on_The_Wrestler.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

The Wrestler is out at UK cinemas on Friday 16th January

Download this interview as an MP3 file
Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke at the IMDb
> Read reviews of The Wrestler at Metacritic
Official UK site

[Image: Niko Tavernise / Optimum Releasing © 2008]

2 replies on “Interview: Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke on The Wrestler”

Great interview Ambrose. You certainly are well researched especially with regard to shooting style. I thought one of your questions so profound and spot on, the one to which Aronofsky answers: “You always want to try to keep reinventing yourself Trying to hold on to what we once were is a big mistake.” Seems his words could just as well be about the actor, Mickey Rourke. I saw an interview with him las night and my eyes were transfixed on one humble, forthcoming, articulate and very attractive Mickey Rourke. All of us had wondered what had happened to the somewhat arrogant, very sexy star of: Diner; Nine 1/2 Weeks; Angel Heart; Barfly and Black Orchid. In the past years he seemed to have become an easy target for the press as a “has been.” At last he had a chance to explain. He held back nothing. Mickey sat there looking every bit the bad boy in a big shiny new leather jacket and hip orange-tinted shades, but he was every bit the cool gentleman. His words, his confession of where he had been emotionally due to losing someone he loved a deeply, allowing a career to fade and ultimately himself lassoed all of me. It was a powerful, heartrending story of his own death in a way and how through sleeping on a couch, the love of Chihuahuas and the kindness of true friends such as Stallone, Sean Penn Springsteen. He was reborn. Mickey has a valuable message to everyone, though he did not describe it as such, he discussed facing the other monsters in the world, not drugs or alcohol, the other demons we all have in us. And he went on to describe the challenges he faced in staring down the opportunity to work at the top of his game again with Darren Aronofsky a no-nonsense director. Mickey’s story of loss, struggle, rebirth, friendship, Chihuahuas and hope was inspiring. It brought tears to my eyes. Hip Hip Hooray for Mickey! Awesome interview. Awesome Man. Thank you for giving us a bit of info from Aronofsky and why he chose Mickey and really believed in him. Super. Hope someone gets an Oscar here!

Mickey and Darren were robbed -the British at least gave Mickey their Oscar, as it should be.

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