At this point Mickey Rourke has gotten very, very good at working a room. He's been tirelessly tubthumping for The Wrestler ever since it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival way back in September, and he seemingly never grows tired of recounting the story of how he fell from grace in Hollywood, and now, 13 years later, he's back on top again.
But that doesn't mean you're getting canned answers or anything unoriginal when Rourke walks into the room. Midway through our roundtable discussion he took a break while a journalist fanned him, talking about how he had been out late the night before and how he could still hear the music in his ears. He also refused to jump up at the end and head off where the publicists were directing him-- which I guess we should take as a compliment? Either way, it leaves you convinced you're getting Rourke, unfiltered, no matter how many times he's answered the same questions.
Read below for excerpts from the interview, including the story of how he got Bruce Springsteen to record the title song for no money, getting his ass kicked by Evan Rachel Wood (acting-wise), and his real thoughts on the screenplay that may well earn him that long-elusive Oscar.
What did you think of the script when you first got it?
I didn't really care for the script. I wanted to work with Darren, and I kind of thought that whoever wrote the script hadn't spent as much time as I had around these people, and he wouldn't speak the way that this dude was speaking at the time. So Darren let me rewrite all of my part. Once we made that change I was OK with it. I wanted to work with Darren, but I didn't really want to make a wrestling movie. Coming from boxing, you think I don't want to do that shit. After I started getting hurt doing it, I started to realize these guys are really suffering. I kind of gained a respect for their sport. When you start looking at wrestling tapes from years ago, it transcended from fat guys in funny bathing suits to guys who are really talented, who put a lot of work into their bodies.
Where did you go to get yourself emotionally ready for the role?
Just personal stuff. When I was replaced [in the part] early on, I think I was the only one who was glad about it. I knew a guy like Darren would want me to really go there, to bring it. I didn't know if I wanted to work that hard with this fella, for free. I was really relieved when I was told I was replaced. [After I was back in] I think the smarter side of my brain said, 'You better get your ass in shape and do this movie for free, and work for this guy who has fought for you to be in this movie.' And thank God I did.
With all the accolades you're getting, do you feel like there's something different this time around?
I didn't behave myself the first time around. I didn't have any rules-- I wasn't accountable, I wasn't responsible, I wasn't a professional. After 13 years of being out of work, I understand what the game is now. When I got out of the Actors Studio, I thought it was all about acting. I didn't know it was about shaking hands and kissing ass a certain amount of the time.
How do you feel about the competition for Oscar?
I love competition. Bring it.
Is there any entertainment lately that's really impressed you?
I saw some entertainment last night that really impressed me. About 5'10. [Big, big laughs from the whole room]
Did you find playing the Ram therapeutic at all?
Unfortunately yes. I'm glad I made certain choices in my life that I had access to get information to make the changes that I had to make to continue on. He doesn't have that access, so that's why he's got to jump off that high rope one more time. He's not going to get a second chance.
How do you shake that off at the end of the day?
You really don't. I don't stay in character all the time-- I'm not one of those. But you lose pieces of yourself, and this one took a big chunk out of me.
How was working with Evan Rachel Wood?
Most of the heavy stuff was with [her], the whole stuff with abandoning her and her being a lesbian. I had almost the same conversation with her that I had with my real father, so I'm going, 'Wow, how do I do this one? I'm on the opposite end now.' It was a pleasure going to work with her. She kept getting better and better every take. Darren would come over, he'd got, 'She's blowing you away, you'd better get going.' She's the best actress I've ever worked with, hands down. She just brought it every fucking time.
What did you say to Bruce Springsteen to get him to write the song?
The only reason I wrote Bruce Springsteen a letter was because, after about six days, I knew something magical was happening on the movie. Stuff started happening with Evan, I made it personal with the speech at the end, and the way Darren was shooting the movie. I had a tremendous sense of pride and privilege to be associated with Darren and the people on the movie. That gave me the gumption to write it. [Springsteen] did me such an honor, such a favor. Darren listens to the fucking Beastie Boys, shit like that. So I took him to Giants Stadium to see the Boss. I don't think Darren had a clue what he was all about. We were getting ready to go in to meet him, and Darren was like, 'I'm nervous, I never get nervous.'
