-- MTV.com published a review of "The Wrestler" and Mickey Rourke's performance as "the movie's central amazement." Link: MTV.com article.

-- Director Darren Aronofsky's date with Vince McMahon is today at WWE's headquarters in Stamford, Ct. McMahon personally requested a screening of "The Wrestler" and Aronofsky traveled to WWE's offices today to provide McMahon the sneak peek.

Slashfilm.com suggests WWE wouldn't be reaching out to Aronofsky unless there was something else in play, such as potential cross-promotion with WWE Studios and FOX Searchlight, which bought the rights to the domestic distribution of the movie.

In an interview with slashfilm.com, Aronofsky revealed that he could have worked with a $19 million budget if Nicholas Cage was the lead character, but the budget was slashed to $7 million for Mickey Rourke.

Aronofsky said, "Two days after we won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival [Nicolas Cage] sent a text saying that 'The Ram was always Mickey, congratulations.' He is real class.' I thought Nic could have done it, but I had worked so long working with Mickey that it was just the Ram in my head was Mickey." Link: Aronofsky interview on slashfilm.com.