'The Wrestler' picked up for local release

30 September 2008 | 11:33 - By World Movies

Mickey Rourke's career-defining performance is bound for Australian screens.  

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Hopscotch Films has acquired Darren Aronofsky's acclaimed film The Wrestler, which is generating surprising but serious Oscar buzz for Mickey Rourke.

Yes, Mickey Rourke.

Rourke was considered washed up after a outgrowing his niche as a pervy bad boy in the 80s, and in recent years, turned to professional boxing to make a living.
But now he's back and it's easy to see where his realistic portrayal of washed up wrestler Randy 'The Ram' Robinson came from.

Robinson is a professional wrestler long past his prime, is earning his keep on the rounds of the stunt wrestling circuit. Variety has deemed Rourke's depiction of Randy's efforts to rebuild his life and repair his fractured relationship with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), "one of the great, iconic screen performances". High praise, indeed.

The Wrestler had buyers circlng it when it nabbed the Golden Lion at the Venice Film  Festival and Hopscotch has snapped up the local rights with a release slated for January - the typical month for all Oscar contenders.

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