TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

'The Wrestler' Wins Top Spirit Honors

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2009

The sports comeback tale "The Wrestler" was picked as best picture Saturday at the Spirit Awards honoring independent film and won two other prizes, including best actor for Mickey Rourke.

A tuneup for the Academy Awards today, the Spirit Awards featured several winners also up for Oscars, including three of the four acting choices - Rourke, best-actress recipient Melissa Leo for "Frozen River" and supporting-actress pick Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

Rourke gave a prolonged, hilarious, expletive-laden acceptance speech, dedicating the award to Loki, his beloved Chihuahua that died six days earlier, and thanking everyone from his director, Darren Aronofsky, to the wrestling community. He mentioned that he had just talked with the Santa Monica, Calif., police department, which "gave me a bed to sleep in 10 years ago," when Rourke was in the midst of the bad-boy behavior that made him a Hollywood has-been until a comeback in recent years.

The film, which also took the cinematography award for Maryse Alberti, stars Rourke as a washed-up former wrestling star with a last shot at glory in the ring. The crowd gave Rourke a standing ovation and he received hugs and backslaps as he headed to the stage.

Right after Rourke's speech, Tom McCarthy won the best-director award for the immigrant drama "The Visitor."

"I feel like we should just stop the show after Mickey, because who could follow that, really?" McCarthy said.

James Franco won best supporting actor as a lover of slain gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's "Milk," which also received the award for best first screenplay for Dustin Lance Black.

Woody Allen won the screenplay honor for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," his romance that follows the affairs of two American women in Spain.

Presented by the cinema group Film Independent, the Spirit Awards honor movies that cost less than $20 million to make.

Myers, Hilton Are Razzies' Worst

Mike Myers' "The Love Guru" has found some disciples among Razzies voters who pick Hollywood's lowest achievements.

And Paris Hilton is getting her own Razzies moment with three awards all on her own at a ceremony that spoofs the Academy Awards on the eve of the Oscars.

"The Love Guru" won three Razzies on Saturday for worst picture, actor (Myers in the title role) and screenplay, which Myers co-wrote. Hilton's three prizes are worst actress for "The Hottie and the Nottie," supporting actress for "Repo! The Genetic Opera" and screen couple alongside either of her "Hottie" co-stars, Christine Lakin or Joel David Moore.

Pierce Brosnan was chosen as worst supporting actor for "Mamma Mia!" "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was named worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel.

Today's Birthdays

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Julius Erving is 59. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 50. Actress Jeri Ryan is 41. Actor Jose Solano is 38. Actress Drew Barrymore is 34. Singer James Blunt is 32.

Source: The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT