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Mickey Rourke and "The Wrestler" won top honors at the Spirit Awards here Saturday, the annual eve-of-Oscars salute to the best of independent cinema.
Rourke, a nominee at Sunday's Academy Awards, won the best actor for his performance as a washed-up prizefighter in director Darren Aronofsky's moving drama, which later scooped the ceremony's best picture prize.
Rourke's award was the latest in a series of honors that have gone to the 56-year-old, who has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after his career suffered a prolonged slump through the 1990s.
In a typically profanity-laced acceptance speech, Rourke dedicated the win to "The Wrestler" director Aronofsky -- and to his pet chihuahua, who died last week.
"I've just gotten thousands of letters from strangers and people that know me about my dog that died six days ago, Loki. This is for you baby," he said.
"Thank you Darren Aronofsky for believing in me. Directors like Darren come around every 25 years," added Rourke.
In other awards Saturday, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo won the best actress award for her performance in the human-trafficking drama "Frozen River."
Tom McCarthy meanwhile took best director honors for "The Visitor," which is notable for helping journeyman Richard Jenkins earn a best actor nomination at Sunday's Oscars.
In the supporting actor and actress categories, Spanish siren Penelope Cruz won for her performance in Woody Allen's steamy comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Cruz will be seeking to emulate the success at the Oscars, where she is nominated in the best supporting actress category.
Meanwhile James Franco picked up the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of gay politician Harvey Milk's long-time lover Scott Smith in the Gus Van Sant biopic "Milk."
In other notable awards Saturday, France's "The Class (Entre Les Murs)" won the best foreign film, while the best documentary went to "Man on Wire," director James Marsh's exhilarating account of Frenchman Philippe Petit's tight-rope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
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-23 17:35:20
