Aronofsky's "Wrestler" wins top Venice prize

[Lazy Boy]

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL634372820080906

VENICE (Reuters) - U.S. movie "The Wrestler" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival on Saturday, winding up the 11-day competition on the Lido waterfront.

The Silver Lion for best director was won by Russia's Alexei German Jr. for "Paper Soldier". The best actor award went to Italy's Silvio Orlando for his role in "Il Papa di Giovanna" ("Giovanna's Father"), and the best actress prize was awarded to Dominique Blanc in "L'Autre" ("The Other One").

This was never on my interest radar, even if I'm a fan of the pro wrestling circuit. Now I've gotta see it. I would've thought Rourke might take the Actor trophy based on the early acclaim he's been accumulating.

[JINYX]

color me curious, I wasn't that interested in the film before, but after this and the first review on it, I'm definately interested.

[Cop No. 633]

Aronofsky has cemented his place in my list of directors whose work I will always see in a movie theater. He is one of my current favorite directors. I have a feeling he probably will bring out the best we've seen from Mickey Rourke.

[Bourne101]

Aronofsky is an astounding filmmaker and I cannot wait to see this.

[Powerslave]

This completely took me by suprise. Awesome news, definitely increases my already high level of excitement for this movie.

[Frank the Tank]

Wonderful as a fan of wrestling, Rourke, and Afronosky. I hope this gets a bunch of awards and I have a feeling I'll love it.

[JJFlamingo]

Could Rourke finally get the Oscar he deserved many moons ago?? :eek:

[KiKrusher99]

Seeing this tomorrow, so freakin(pardon the language) excited!

[Cosimo]

it will be awesome

[UseYourIllusion]

As a lifelong wrestling fan, I'm so excited that Aronofsky took the reigns with "The Wrestler". It looks like he treated the source with absolute respect, the respect the industry has never seemed to have given professional wrestling. Finally, a movie that takes a look behind the scenes.

Wait, there WAS "Ready To Rumble"!

[KenSPT]

I'm also a lifelong wrestling fan, so I'm psyched as well.

That being said, one of my all time favorite wrestling related films is also one of my all time favorite documentaries ...

http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/Product_images/1020/46858.1020.A.jpg

[xseanymacx]

The subject matter is irrelevant when Aronofsky is involved. I am psyched for this:D

[Frank the Tank]

As a lifelong wrestling fan, I'm so excited that Aronofsky took the reigns with "The Wrestler". It looks like he treated the source with absolute respect, the respect the industry has never seemed to have given professional wrestling. Finally, a movie that takes a look behind the scenes.

Wait, there WAS "Ready To Rumble"!

It did have such amazing moments as Martin Landau beating up Sid Vicious and of course the ~FOUR POST MASSACRE~.

I think the only thing I actually liked in that movie was Mean Gene Okerlund who was actually funny, but Gene's a funny guy.

[thedudeman69]

Wow. This just shot up on my must see list.

[Le_Big_Mac]

Great news!

[dman476]

I haven't liked one thing Aronofsky has touched (except maybe Rachel Weisz), but I am inexplicably interested in this film.

It might be Marisa Tomei...or maybe he's finally made a decent film?
Either way, I'm game.

[Strider]

I'm a fan of wrestling and Darren Aronofsky, and I'm looking forward to The Wrestler as well. Definitely a "must-see" for me.

Strider

[Monotreme]

I have to admit I hadn't even heard of this film before this news. I knew Aronofsky was working on a Mickey Ward bio-pic with Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt, but this really came out of left field for me. Sounds very intriguing, Aronofsky is really showing quite some versitality - two gritty urban dramas, one sci-fi/fantasy epic, and now a small, subtle character study. From the clip they have on YouTube it looks like it's light on the cinematography - then again, I see he isn't working with genius Matthew Libatique, so I'm curious about the visual style of the film as well as Rourke's performance which has been turning heads. Really curious about this one - wasn't on my radar before and now it's way on it!

[dman476]

What's even crazier is that the film was shot on 16mm Monotreme!

How crazy is that? I really don't know any filmmakers who use that format nowadays that aren't total noobs to the business.

[Powerslave]

Well, it would seem that The Wrestler has been bought up by Fox Searchlight. After an "intense, all-night bidding war" no less. It seems they plan on running a full-force Oscar campaign, with a limited release late in the year and a wide release in January. Hopefully (and presumably) we'll be seeing a poster and trailer in the not-too-distant future.

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1117991826&cs=1

[JCPhoenix]

I was so pumped to see this at the Toronto film fest but I had to miss the first screening cause it coincided with the Oasis concert at VFest. However, my roommates both saw it and absolutely loved it (for perspective, one of them LOVED The Fountain, the other one hated it) and for the one who hated The Fountain, it's his favorite movie of the year so far...and for the other, it's his favorite film of at least the fest (and he's seen a ton of movies already). In any case, I'm gonna try to make it to the next screening now for sure (there's one tomorrow and one this coming Saturday)

[Frank the Tank]

Awesome, well it looks like The Road, Australia, and Benjamin Button may have some new competition in the Best Picture Race

[tbone]

this movie wasn't even on my radar but all the buzz points to a great performance by Rourke

[Cosimo]

http://utube.smashits.com/video/ySr3jFWNZVo/Mickey-Rourke-pinned-in-The-Wrestler-Movie-2009.html

[Sigur509]

Nice video. I cant believe he actually said that to Rourke.

[KiKrusher99]

Wow, immensely original and enjoyable film. Mickey Rourke was absolutely perfect for this roll, and I don't think this film could have worked without him. I mean just an amazing performance that you can't really get into without spoiling the film, so i'll give a more in depth review after more people have had the chance to see this.

[Derrida]

Nice video. I cant believe he actually said that to Rourke.

Aronofsky's got some big balls on him. And he's talented as hell and sleeps with one of the most beautiful women in the world. Life ain't fair.

However a mate of mine saw this film in Toronto and he says Rourke's performance is heart-breaking and will surely be a contender for Best Actor at the next Oscar's.

This is definitely now on top of my list (well with Quantum of Solace).
I wonder though if Aronofsky is still gonna go through with that Robocop remake...

[KenSPT]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/hitmandx/wrestling.jpg

[rilocay]

Aronofsky is the bomb. Rourke is the Bomb. The two together...very anxious to see. It's aronofsky, i don't see this film getting cut short of any oscar buzz, the dude can't put a foot wrong. He has his vision and he'll stick to it, if you like his finished product or not, you can always appreaciate his filmmaking. Just awesome stuff, this should be no diff! :)