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Mickey Rourke wins Independent Spirit award for 'Wrestler'

By Mark Caro | Tribune reporter

February 23, 2009

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—The biggest winner at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards was Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler," which picked up trophies for best feature, best male lead (Mickey Rourke) and best cinematography (Maryse Alberti).

But despite the standing ovation that greeted Rourke's win and the mutual love fest that marked Melissa Leo's acceptance of her best female lead award for "Frozen River," the celebratory aspects were offset by the reality that indie filmmakers must scrape to secure financing and distribution.

The Spirit Awards, presented Saturday in a big tent on Santa Monica Beach, tend to go to the best-known and most widely celebrated of the nominees, many of which received limited or no release. The little-seen "Ballast" and "Wendy and Lucy" were up for best feature, while "Milk"—which won Spirits for best supporting male (James Franco) and best first screenplay (Dustin Lance Black)—was not.

Some choice quotes tell this year's story:

"It's about shared experience, and today we share the experience of not having seen most of the movies."—host Steve Coogan

"He discovered a new freckle."—best supporting female winner Penelope Cruz explaining what sent "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" writer-director Woody Allen rushing to a dermatologist on the day in which Cruz and co-star Scarlett Johansson were supposed to film their big kiss

"You are my people. You know you are my people."— Melissa Leo accepting the best female lead award

"Eric Roberts is probably the best actor I ever worked with, and I don't know why in the last 15 years ain't nobody give him a chance to show his [stuff]."—Rourke on his "Pope of Greenwich Village" co-star

"Every film in here is a passion piece. We all bled to get in this room."—Aronofsky accepting the big final award for "The Wrestler"

mcaro@tribune.com