Mickey Rourke at the Independent Spirit Awards

The Academy Awards have come and gone once again. On the whole the award winners were given to the bookies’ favourites. The British were the big winners on the night, with Slumdog Millionaire scooping, well, nearly everything, and Kate Winslett getting the Oscar at long last. For me though, the thing that disappointed me the most was that Mad Mickey Rourke missed out on the Best Actor Oscar, one he was expected to walk away with. But I for one was hoping that Mickey would get to spice up the night with another nutty acceptance speech.

The award eventually went to Sean Penn for his brilliant portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Look – I am not saying that Sean Penn wasn’t worthy of the accolade. On the contrary, Milk was a great film and Penn’s role will live long in the memory I suspect. But am I the only one that just loves the crazyness that Mickey brings to the often staged and insincere PR stunt that is the Oscars?

While the female stars on the red carpet can turn up in all kinds of jaw dropping outfits, with men it’s usually the same old black tuxedo for everyone.  Mickey Rourke, on the other hand, turned up in a messy looking white suit. Of course he also wore his trademark designer sunglasses which have become part of his image in the awards season. And the most classic of all, he wore a picture of his beloved dead dog Loki on a necklace, which he spent more time talking about than any other subject!

We were due for another wacky and memorable acceptance speech if Mickey Rourke had got the award.  Who knows what he would have come out with on the stage, chihuahua memorial necklace, glasses and all? I’ll never forget his previous antics at the golden globes. And more recently he brought the house down at the independent Spirit awards the night before the Oscars – see the video above.

I reckon there was some political goings on in the Academy that stopped Mickey from getting the award. Mickey himself had predicted he woudldn’t win because he’s pissed off too many hollywood hotshots in the past. “I stupidly said acting wasn’t a job for a real man. I threatened producers, raged at directors, forgot my agent’s name. I really burned my bridges. And a lot of people have long memories,” Mickey predicted on the Friday before the ceremony.

Sean Penn does deserve bonus points – he’s never a dull guy and his acceptance speech was interesting to say the least. To begin with his thank-you’s were directed at the Academy, whom he referred to as “commie, homo-loving sons of guns”! Penn then pulled out a small scribbled bit of paper, donned his prescription glasses, and after a few thank-yous proceeded with an impassioned plea for equal rights for gays and against the ban on gay marriages. Not quite as entertaining as Mad Mickey would have been – but better than gushing and thanking his mother for bringing him into this wonderful world.

Roll on the Rourke comeback wagon in the meantime!