Capetonification

What a champion. Probably the only true hollywood badass. The guy stopped acting to become a professional boxer! And it seemed he was pretty good at breaking face. Haven't seen any of his fights, but I'll youtube-ing it soon.

I must admit, I have always watched out for news about this guy. He intrigues me for some reason.

His new movie, The Wrestler, will be launching in SA soon and it looks like something I want to see. It's already won some awards, and the people in the know reckon he could be up for an Oscar.

I really enjoyed his role in Sin City. Aside from the makeup, it's like the role was made for the guy, maybe even based on his life in some way.

There's a moment in Sin City when Clive Owen's character says something that goes more or less like this: "Marv is a gladiator. He was born in the wrong century. He would have been at home in the great Colliseum swinging an axe at somebody's head."

Somehow that seems to apply very well to Mickey Rourke. And the character he plays in the Wrestler seems to galvanize that.

I was on IMDB.com and I pulled some of his personal quotes (Thanks to IMBD.com for these and anyone who contributed)

Personal Quotes

[On what he wants in a woman:] "It's like when I buy a horse. I don't want a thick neck and short legs."

"I thought my talent would transcend my outspokenness. I was wrong. I'm willing to give them 100 per cent this time. I just want a second chance at Hollywood." [1994]

I lost the house, the wife, the credibility, the entourage. I lost my soul. I was alone ... I'm sort of OK with it now, but the first time I'm in there, pushing a f***ing cart, getting my supper. I used to go to the 24-hour place in gay town, so no one would recognize me. The only thing I could afford was a shrink, so that's where my money went. Three times a week for the first two years. The year after that, twice a week and now I'm down to once a week. I've only missed two appointments in six years.

You get desensitized to pain and for three and a half years I developed these symptoms of Brain Damage - you forget what you did the night before. You have to get out when the doctors tell you to, otherwise you're on queer street for the rest of your life. One doctor said to me before a big fight, your neurological report doesn't look too good. I was like four fights away from a big, big fight and he said, 'Mickey, how much are they paying you? Look at your tests - you won't be able to count the money'.

I've talked to my priest a lot. I used to have to call him or the shrink when there was an explosion, because I was really good at not talking to anybody until there was an explosion. My priest is this cool Italian from New York. We go down to his basement and he opens the wine. We smoke a cigarette and I have my confession. He sends me upstairs to do my Hail Mary's. I mean, I'm no Holy Joe, but I have a strong belief. If I wasn't Catholic I would have blown my brains out. I would pray to God. I would say, 'Please can you send me just a little bit of daylight.' He talked me out of it and we started meeting. His name is Father Pete and he lives in New York. Father Pete put me back on the right track.

I always knew I'd accomplish something very special - like robbing a bank perhaps.

"George is doing a hell of a job during very difficult times, more power to him. Screw all them people who don't like him." - On President George W. Bush

"I didn't have a childhood, really, because I worked my whole life and... other reasons. So when I had some success, I went ballistic. That was my childhood, and the party kept going on. I didn't get off my motorcycle for 10 years." - On his earlier success.

(On his film Spun (2002)) I didn't care for the material and I wasn't real interested in the cast. But two years ago I put myself in the hands of an agent, David Unger at ICM, and he said 'Do the movie.' So I did.

(On The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)) It was the most fun I've ever had on a movie. It was one of the happiest times in my life. I was living in New York, and I really enjoyed acting at the time. [pauses] Also, it's funny because that was also the time when I went downhill. - 2003.

I always thought I'd accomplish something special. Like robbing a bank.

I love this guy.
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