AFI Awards: Top 10 Movies of 2008
On Sunday, December 14, American Film Institute (AFI) have announced their selections for the top ten of most outstanding motion pictures in 2008. Among those making it on the list are two of the summer’s blockbuster comic book adaptations, “Iron Man“and “The Dark Knight“.
AFI’s Top 10 Movies of 2008:
- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
- “The Dark Knight”
- “Frost/Nixon”
- “Frozen River”
- “Gran Torino”
- “Iron Man”
- “Milk”
- “Wall-E”
- “Wendy and Lucy”
- “The Wrestler”
Much buzzed-about movies like “Revolutionary Road“, “The Reader” and “Doubt” were noticeably absent, along with the National Board of Review and British Independent Film Award winner “Slumdog Millionaire.” Continue Reading…
Brand New Wrestler Photos
Rourke, who received a rare standing ovation at a press conference, is generating early Oscar chatter. He told in an interview that “The Wrestler” was “the best … movie I’ve ever made.”
Written by Rob Siegel, “The Wrestler” stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Back in the late ’80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.
“The Wrestler” has won the top award – Golden Lion – at the Venice Film Festival.
The Wrestler New Trailer
New trailer for Darren Aronofsky-directed “The Wrestler“, starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood has been released.
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson who comes out of retirement to try to knock down an old rival.
The movie won Golden Lion award for best movie at Venice Film Festival. Rourke told in an interview: “The Wrestler” was “the best … movie I’ve ever made.”
“The Wrestler” Two Posters
Check out two new posters for Darren Aronofsky directed “The Wrestler.”
The Wrestler poster
Written by Rob Siegel, “The Wrestler” stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Back in the late ’80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.
“The Wrestler” has won the top award – Golden Lion – at the Venice Film Festival.
Rourke, who received a rare standing ovation at a press conference, is generating early Oscar chatter. He told in an interview that “The Wrestler” was “the best … movie I’ve ever made.”
“The Wrestler” Footage
AP posted a clip from Darren Aronofsky-directed “The Wrestler“, starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. This clip features footage from the movie and interviews with Aronofsky and Rourke.
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson who comes out of retirement to try to knock down an old rival.
Mickey is no stranger to knocking people out – he used to be a pro boxer.
“The Wrestler” has won the top award – Golden Lion – at the Venice Film Festival.
Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” wins Venice’s Golden Lion
Venice Film Festival will be remembered for Rourke’s performance in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler“, which the actor and critics agree is his best yet.
“The Wrestler” won the coveted Golden Lion award for best movie on Saturday.
“Darren Aronofsky came here a couple of years ago and fell on his ass,” Mickey Rourke told a packed Sala Grande crowd after the award was announced, referring to Aronofsky’s “The Fountain,” which flopped in Venice in 2006. “I’m glad he had the balls to come back. I don’t think he wanted to come back but I told him, “You have to come back’ and he did.”
The award seals his comeback from the Hollywood wilderness, and comments that Rourke is ready to ditch his bad-boy image and cooperate with directors suggest there is more to come.
“A guy like me changes hard, I didn’t want to change, but I had to change,” the star of 1980s hits “9-1/2 Weeks” and “Angel Heart” told in an interview in Venice.
There was controversy at Saturday’s closing ceremony when jury president Wim Wenders criticized rules which prevent the Golden Lion winner also picking up best acting prizes, suggesting Rourke should have won that too.
The Silver Lion for best director was won by Russia’s Alexei German Jr. for “Paper Soldier“, set on the windswept steppes of Kazakhstan and centring on the 1960s Soviet space program.
The best actor prize went to Silvio Orlando for his acclaimed portrayal of an overprotective father in “Il Papa di Giovanna” (Giovanna’s Father).
The best actress prize went to France’s Dominique Blanc in “L’Autre” (The Other One), a haunting tale of a woman who becomes dangerously obsessed with a young ex-boyfriend.
“Teza“, by Ethiopian director Haile Gerima, picked up two prizes, the special jury award and best screenplay.
The story chronicles the life of an Ethiopian intellectual who flees his country during the Marxist “red terror” in the 1980s, only to be attacked in Germany by racist youths.
Jennifer Lawrence of the United States was named best emerging actress for her role in “The Burning Plain“, in which she appeared alongside Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron.
As well as “The Wrestler”, “The Hurt Locker” by U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow impressed critics with its portrayal of the perils faced by a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, while actress Anne Hathaway generated awards buzz in “Rachel Getting Married“.
Venice 2008 – Review
The competition film, “The Wrestler,” which stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood, packed three Venice screenings Friday and prompted speculation among festival participants that Mickey Rourke could be a candidate for Venice’s best actor prize, which will be announced with the other major awards Saturday.
Mickey Rourke has given what critics are calling the performance of his life in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” in which he plays a lonely, washed out wrestler whose story poignantly mirrors the Hollywood outsider’s own troubled past.
“Wrestler,” which centers on an aging former professional wrestler, is the fest’s final premiere at the Sala Grande.
Rourke, who received a rare standing ovation at a press conference, is generating early Oscar chatter. He told in an interview that “The Wrestler” was “the best … movie I’ve ever made.”
The film, the last of 21 movies in the main competition to premiere, is a contender both for the top actor award and the coveted Golden Lion for best picture, critics say. The festival wraps Saturday with its prize ceremony.
Anne Hathaway also impressed in her unusually dark role in “Rachel Getting Married,” Jonathan Demme’s touching wedding drama that has been lauded in Venice.
A third late entry, Thursday’s premiere, “The Hurt Locker” by U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow, leads an informal poll of Italian critics who were impressed by its portrayal of the perils faced by a bomb disposal unit in Iraq led by a reckless sergeant.
“The Wrestler” Movie Stills – Hi-Res
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson who comes out of retirement to try to knock down an old rival in new flick “The Wrestler.”
The Wrestler
“The Wrestler” is the story of retired professional wrestler, Randy “The Ram” Robinson, making his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival.
Rourke is no stranger to knocking people out – he used to be a pro boxer.
“The Wrestler” is directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Ajay Naidu.
Filming of Aronofsky’s ‘The Wrestler’
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This Scene is the end of the Hardcore match featuring Rourke’s character Randy “The Ram” Robinson against CZW wrestler Necro Butcher.
Mickey Rourke The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson who comes out of retirement to try to knock down an old rival in new flick’ The Wrestler’.
Mickey is no stranger to knocking people out – he used to be a pro boxer.
The Sun’s wrestling expert Simon Rothstein said: “Nicolas Cage was meant to play this role, but you can see why the producers plumped for Mickey.
“His physique and blond locks remind me of Hulk Hogan.”
”I can’t wait to see him dropping an elbow or hitting a powerslam. But at 51, he probably won’t try a top rope imploding 450° splash, though.”
‘The Wrestler’ is the story of retired professional wrestler, Randy “The Ram” Robinson, making his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival. The film stars Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei and is directed by Darren Aronofsky.
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