Hopefully he stays on top…but the nature of the beast that is Hollywood will look for every chance it can to knock him down…he’s just gonna have to proceed carefully with every step and word.

Charlie Rose is a great interviewer and gets people to really open up! Good watch!

chuck

Hey Matt- You are so right..Hope people go see the Interview. From what everyone is saying there, the world agrees with you. Charlie posted the whole thing!:

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10077

My eyes were not on Charlie the interviewer. They were transfixed on surprisingly humble, forthcoming, articulate, very attractive and transformed Mickey Rourke.

Many of us had wondered what had happened to the “somewhat” (ahem) arrogant, very sexy star of: Diner; Nine 1/2 Weeks; Angel Heart; Barfly and Black Orchid. In the past years he seemed to have become an easy target for TMZ, all the press as a “has been.” But last night Charlie gave him a chance to explain, and he did! He held back nothing. Mickey sat there looking every bit the bad boy in a big shiny new leather jacket and hip orange-tinted shades, but he was every bit the cool gentleman who told Charlie straight up “I wouldn’t blow smoke up your ass.” And he didn’t. His words, his confession of where he had been emotionally due to losing someone he loved deeply, allowing a career to fade and ultimately himself lassoed all of me heart, soul and mind. The interview was a powerful, heartrending story of his own death in a way and how through sleeping on a couch, the love of Chihuahuas and the kindness of true friends such as Sly Stallone, Sean Penn, Bruce Springsteen, he was reborn. Mickey has a valuable message to everyone, though he did not describe it as such, he discussed facing the other monsters in the world, not drugs or alcohol, the other demons many of us have in us. They are the deep dark pasts which eat at us from the inside, personal demons. Charlie probes a little bit, but he also respects Mickey when he tells Charlie he is not going to answer the questions about those demons. With the knowledge that Charlie will respect his right to keep somethings to himself and not push him, Mickey opens up even more.

He goes on to describe the challenges he faced on the outside, being a “has been” recognized in a 7-11. AND in staring down the opportunity to work at the top of his game again with Darren Aronofsky, a no-nonsense director. Mickey’s story of loss, struggle, rebirth, friendship, Chihuahuas and most of all hope was inspiring. He made Charlie a bit nervous with the possibility oflighting up a cigarette as Sean Penn had. And I loved it that Charlie used the words “graced” about their mutual friend Sean Penn, that “Sean has graced” this table.” All in all, what was said made me smile, parts made me want to pray and parts brought tears to my eyes. You know? It wasn’t just another interview like “let’s let the world in on how many women he’s bedded or what “bab boy” stuff is he up to. The interview parallell’s the film a bit in that it is about being a human being and how hard it is. The difference is: “The Wrestler” had no hope and Mickey does. Hip Hip Hooray for Mickey! Awesome interview Charlie must have been moved by it himself.