The Sleepless Film Festival Presents an Academy Awards Special - A Drink with Mickey Rourke: An Evening at the Shamrock Social Club, Part II

Avast!

Welcome to the Persian immersion!

Please find a space on the rug and sit facing East. The wine has only just started to pour.

Cold Southern mornings are marked by a damp cataract the blurs the air and makes your bones feel wet. Then again, your bones are already pretty wet, what with all the goo.

Clearly I am going over the top in my recent fascination with Mickey Rourke, but The Wrestler was such a great movie, and he was so fantastic in it. For the most part, I don't think we see very much good acting in films nowadays. When I am watching American movies from that great age of the 1970's (Altman, Cassavetes, Hopper, Scorsese, DePalma, Coppola, Lucas, Schrader) or even Euro flicks from the 60's/70's like the movies of Roeg or Godard, the acting in these films tends to be honest and sincere action and dialog - no more, no less.



Nowadays we see to many actors ACTING! This is what makes Rourke such a wonder in this film. There is a scene where Rourke tries to re-establish his relationship with his estranged daughter. It's probably the most emotional scene in the film, and the nature of the scene is such that there is an immediate danger of the acting becoming forced, attenuated, cliche and overly-sentimental. For one moment in the scene - Rourke's biggest moment in the film - he spins perilously close to the edge, but he doesn't wobble. He glides right up against it, and then he glides away. Not only is the scene moving because of its content, but also because while we are watching Randy the Ram reclaim his dignity in his daughter's eyes, we are simultaneously watching Rourke reclaim his squandered gifts and his place as one of the best actors of his generation.





Here is a great, long interview with Rourke in the full-flush of post-Wrestler hype. This chat took place before Rourke received his Academy Award Nomination.




This is the new video for my song "The First to Know"





Love,
Joe Nolan

Use this player to listen to my new CD. Consider purchasing a song or two at your favorite digital outlet and help us stay awake here at Insomnia!

Check out my profile at Reverb Nation to see my updated press and bio.

Listen to my earlier releases, and enjoy free downloads here!

The Sleepless Film Festival Presents an Academy Awards Special - A Drink with Mickey Rourke: An Evening at the Shamrock Social Club

The Academy Awards are upon us and - as every faithful reader of this blog knows - we are crazy for film! As every reader - so brilliant, so dangerous - also must know, the Academy Awards are mostly bullshit.





Just like the Grammy Awards, these American pop-culture celebrations can never seem to decide if they are honoring art or commending commerce.

Will these two never get along?



That said, they sometimes surprise, recognizing real talent over box-office tallies, true vision over crafty hacksterism.

Although neither Darren Aronofsky or his brilliant film The Wrestler got their just due at nomination time, the performance of Mickey Rourke has received the nod.



Here at insomnia we are long-suffering fans of the long-suffering thespian. We wanted to bum his smokes in Diner. We wanted to steal his haircut in Rumble Fish. We wanted to join his revolution in A Prayer for the Dying, and we wanted to be make out with Lisa Bonet in Angel Heart.



After famously destroying his career - and resurfacing with his original dream of boxing greatness - Rourke has made a steady comeback, capped off by his Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Randy the Ram.



There has been a lot of ink spilled on his journey, but The Sleepless Film Festival would rather hear from the man himself.

Here are two long interviews that allow Rourke to tell his own story on his own terms:

First, The Mickey Rourke Story: One of the best actors of his generation, Mickey Rourke is nominated for an Academy Award for his role as a down-and-out pro wrestler in Darren Aronofsky's film, The Wrestler. In this interview, Rourke talks about his troubled childhood, his early fame, his thirteen year exile from Hollywood, his passion for boxing, and his new work with Robert Rodriguez and Aronofsky.



And now, Mickey Rourke-The Angel Heart Interview: This candid interview with Rourke can be found on the DVD extras of the special edition of Rourke's film Angel Heart. Rourke talks about his bad behavior, boxing, his dog (who makes a cameo) and the great Eric Roberts.



Now for something completely different...

This is the new video for my song "The First To Know"!




If you liked that, you'll love this!



Love,
Joe Nolan

Check out my profile at Reverb Nation to see my updated press and bio.

Listen to my earlier releases, and enjoy free downloads here!