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Mickey Rourke movie wins top prize in Venice
US movie The Wrestler, in which Mickey Rourke sealed his comeback from the Hollywood wilderness with a stunning performance, won the Venice film festival's Golden Lion for best picture on Saturday.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:34 September 7, 2008
Venice: US movie The Wrestler, in which Mickey Rourke sealed his comeback from the Hollywood wilderness with a stunning performance, won the Venice film festival's Golden Lion for best picture on Saturday.
The movie, directed by Darren Aronofsky wowed critics and the public alike.
"Darren Aronofsky came here a couple of years ago and fell on his ass," Rourke told the packed Sala Grande theatre, referring to the director's critical flop The Fountain which premiered in Venice in 2006.
"I am glad he had the balls to come back. I don't think he wanted to come, I said, 'You've got to come'."
The Wrestler was one of 21 films in the main competition line-up, and the red carpet awards ceremony wound up 11 hectic days of screenings, interviews, press conferences and red carpet glamour.
Venice also unofficially kicks off the long run-in to the Oscars the following year, and Rourke is widely expected to be nominated in the best actor category.
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