Mickey Rourke on the red carpet, photo by Jennifer Graylock

"The Wrestler" took Best Feature at the 2009 Spirit Awards, which unfolded in typically rowdy fashion on a tent near the beach in Santa Monica. The film's star, Mickey Rourke, also won the prize for Best Male Lead, and gave a memorable speech involving Eric Roberts, Rourke's recently deceased dog and the realism of the wrestling lifestyle he enacts.

Melissa Leo gave her heartfelt thanks after winning Best Female Lead for her part in "Frozen River," and in the biggest surprise of the night, Tom McCarthy took the Best Director prize for "The Visitor."

Here's a complete list of the winners:

BEST FEATURE
"The Wrestler"

BEST DIRECTOR
Tom McCarthy for "The Visitor"

BEST FIRST FEATURE
"Synecdoche, New York"

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"

BEST SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black for "Milk"

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Melissa Leo for "Frozen River"

BEST MALE LEAD
Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler"

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
James Franco, "Milk"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Maryse Alberti for "The Wrester"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Man on Wire"

BEST FOREIGN FILM
"The Class"

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
"Synecdoche, New York"'s Charlie Kaufman (Director), Jeanne McCarthy (Casting Director), Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Diane Weist, Michelle Williams

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
Heather Rae, "Frozen River"

ACURA SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brillance"

LACOSTE TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"

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SusanBigelow

02.23.09

Hello:

Would you have a suggestion of how I might relay a sympathy poem to Mr.Mickey Rourke for his loss of Loki?

I have sent this poem since 1985 to those who loose their guardian animals. That's when I lost mine, and this poem was the only comfort in spite of an outpouring of sympathy from friends and colleagues.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Susan Bigelow, MS

Banford

Dear Ms. Bigelow,
I do not know how to contact Mr. Rourke, but I would greatly appreciate reading your poem. I lost my dear friend and companion, Cuddles (our 17-year-old Bichon), in December, and I miss her every day.
Thank you,
Banford WV