It's hard to believe that this man was once considered to be one of the sexiest men alive. Back at the height of his cinematic career, in his "9 1/2 Weeks" days in 1986, Mickey Rourke was seen as Hollywood royalty. His breakout film, "Body Heat" (1981), spotlighted his sexy edge in what some dubbed as his, "scene stealing" performance as an arsonist in the film. Experts pondered the possibility of the dawn of the next James Dean or Robert Di Niro and for a brief time Rourke had Hollywood "by the balls". But his bad behavior behind the scenes; he soon became demanding and confrontational, coupled with his self-destructive tendencies (read here: drugs), sent his once rising Hollywood star into a declining tail-spin.Rourke spent the better part of the last two decades in a handful of menial roles, never quite able to recapture his Hollywood glory. He returned to his roots as a boxer in the early 90's because, he says, "I had to go back to boxing because I was self-destructing. I had no respect for myself being an actor. So I went back to a profession which really humbled me."
Rourke suffered numerous serious facial injuries while in the ring, and a neurologist convinced him, or rather, forced him to retire. His once chiseled, handsome, actor face became horribly changed and his chance at a comeback in film dangled perilously in question.
In 2005 he had a minor career resuscitation in the 2005 movie "Sin City", and today possesses a Golden Globe Award winning performance as a washed-up, retired pro wrestler in "The Wrestler". Hollywood is buzzing about Mickey and Oscar.
I love a great comeback story and after last night, I made "The Wrestler" one of my top, must-see, movie choices. I must admit, I am more than intrigued by the humbling of this dude who has proven to be quite the enigma.
So I ask you today-Is Mickey badass or what?? Take my poll and let me know-and if you have seen "The Wrestler", I give you permission to write a full review (a la thumbs up or down) in the comments section of this post.
Could this at one time washed up, has-been actor bring home the Oscar?? I, for one, can't wait to find out.
