Darren Aronofsky talked to Vulture yesterday and there’s a graph about the music in “The Wrestler.” The NYMag blog notes while there are big bands like Guns N’ Roses are used in the film, there’s also lesser hair and cheese metal bands like Ratt and Accept in the film. Aronofsky’s pretty damn funny in this graph about Mickey Rourke and the music used in the film. (check the Brad Pitt ‘Inglourious’ ‘stache, someone has started a trend).
Aronofsky:
“Well, let’s just say that those [bands, Ratt and Accept] are the rewards of not really having a music budget. [Laughs] The original script had these bigger songs in it, but there was no way we could afford them. In fact, in the bar scene where Marisa [Tomei] and Mickey bond over Ratt’s “Round and Round,” Mickey really wanted it to be Guns ‘N Roses. He hates hair metal. And I knew there was no way we could get “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Mickey said, “I’m friends with Axl, I’m friends with Axl!” And he was on the phone every day leaving messages for Axl to let us have the song. Finally, we just had to shoot it, and Axl came through at the last minute, let us have it for a fraction of the amount they would have ordinarily charged. But I decided I couldn’t change it. I had to go to Mickey and tell him that. He was furious. But it wouldn’t have worked — two people connecting over “Sweet Child O’ Mine” isn’t anything special. Two people connecting over Ratt — that’s so much more unique.”
Release Schedule
“The Wrestler” is now in NY/L.A. limited release. We believe it goes wide in January which is weird because we thought the original plan was wide December 19. Ahh, the film goes wider December 26, when it hits Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. It then goes wider again in spurts on January 9th, 16th, etc. /Film has a good schedule of the rolled-out release, check it to find out when it will hit theaters in your city.
