PODCAST: Darren Aronofsky to screen 'The Wrestler' for Vince McMahon

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to chat with "The Wrestler" director Darren Aronofsky, the 39-year-old Harvard grad who has acquired something of a cult following since making his directorial debut a decade ago.

Aronofsky broke a little news at one point, reporting that he would be in Connecticut today to host a private screening of "The Wrestler" for Vince McMahon, who is the controversial chairman of the former World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) and is in many ways the most enduring face of the sport.

It will be interesting to learn whether McMahon, whose personal finances are directly linked to the public's feelings about wrestling, received it as graciously as many of the former professional wrestlers who have already seen it at various screenings that. One, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, became emotional as he told the filmmakers, "It's not my story... but it is my  story."

"Wrestler" stars Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei are generating plenty of Oscar buzz. And even if Aronofsky, the rather low-profile man who made it all possible, is not at the center of much awards chatter himself, he seemed quite content during our conversation — which you can hear for yourself by clicking HERE — just to be able to tell a good story and help an actor whom he has long admired get back on his feet to fight another day.

A little Aronofsky history after the jump...

Aronofsky first broke onto the scene with "Pi" (1998), an intriguing sci-fi thriller, which was followed shortly thereafter by "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), a gritty drama about drug abuse that earned star Ellen Burstyn an Oscar nomination for best actress. When his passion project, "The Fountain" (2006), bombed, some wondered if he might have been knocked down and out altogether. As it turns out, it took him only two years to get back up, and his latest effort might be his best yet.

"The Wrestler," which follows a past-his-prime professional wrestler who is forced to finally confront self-inflicted ailments of the body and soul, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in early September, took critics and festivalgoers by surprise and was awarded its Golden Lion Award for best picture. It was quickly picked up by distributor Fox Searchlight, put on the festival and award circuit, and finally opened nationwide on Wednesday. 

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Photo: Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky celebrate their Venice Film Festival win for "The Wrestler." Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures