Actor accepts Spirit awards' best male lead prize with rambling, expletive-laden speech.
Mickey Rourke set the standard for over-the-top acceptance speecheson the eve of tonight's Oscars ceremony when his film The Wrestler won three prizes at the Spirit independent film awards last night.
The 56-year-old star of The Wrestler, who is in line for the best actor Academy Award, was named best male lead. Celebrating victory, Rourke kissed the film's director, Darren Aronofsky, on the lips and gave a meandering speech during which he recalled time spent in police cells a decade ago, urged Hollywood to give his friend Eric Roberts another chance, and paid tribute to his recently deceased Chihuahua dog, Loki. "This is for you, baby," he declared.
The Wrestler won awards for best feature and for the cinematography of its French camerawoman, Maryse Alberti. Winners of the Spirit festival have frequently gone on to earn an Oscar for the same performance. Rourke and Sean Penn, nominated for his portrayal of a gay Californian politician in Milk, are tipped as favourites for Academy awards tonight.
In his expletive-laden speech, Rourke thanked his co-star Marisa Tomei, who plays an exotic dancer, saying "not many girls can climb the pole, and she did it well".
Rourke, who plays a down-on-his-luck professional wrestler named Randy "The Ram" Robinson, received a standing ovation as he made his way to the stage.
The film's director, Darren Aronofksy, told reporters that he hoped to work with Rourke again. "I've been joking with him I'm going to wait five years till he screws it up again, and then come back and reinvent him," Aronofsky said.
The Spirit awards, held in a large tent near the Santa Monica beach in California, celebrate independent, low-budget filmmaking. Eligible films must be at least 70 minutes long and the cost of the completed movie has to be less than $20m.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona also won twice – for director Woody Allen's screenplay and for Spanish actor Penelope Cruz's supporting role.
The ceremony's host, the British comedian Steve Coogan, joked that a new category would be created in Allen's honour – "best girl-on-girl action described as art".
A sure guide to films certain to avoid Oscar glory is the Golden Raspberries or Razzies, the spoof prizes for the worst Hollywood movies of the year.
The selecting panel takes into account votes by the public. This year's winners, announced last night, were dominated by the Mike Myers comedy flop The Love Guru. He won in the category of worst actor and worst screenplay.
Pierce Brosnan won the worst supporting actor title for Mamma Mia!, and Paris Hilton grabbed three awards – for worst actress in The Hottie & the Nottie, worst supporting actress in Repo: The Genetic Opera and as part of the worst screen couple in The Hottie & the Nottie.
Follow all tonight's Oscars action at guardian.co.uk/film
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