IS this the most counterintuitive Oscar campaign ever? In recent weeks, Rourke has:
* Delivered an obscenity-laced acceptance speech at the British academy awards, during which he bragged about watching co-star Marisa Tomei’s nude scenes in “The Wrestler.” Backstage, Rourke mugged with a champagne bottle in his mouth.
* Flirted with joining Wrestlemania.
* Reportedly dissed Penn, who plays a slain gay civil rights leader in “Milk,” in a text: “Look seans an old friend of mine and i didnt buy his performance at all – thought he did an average pretend acting like he was gay besides hes one of the most homophobic people i kno” [sic].
* Turned up in a series of eyeball-gougingly ugly outfits, often with his dog as an accessory. At one press event, he sat the dog on a table where food was being served.
* Used a hate term for gay men when a video paparazzo asked if he were dating Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Rourke’s daughter in “The Wrestler.” (He later denied it.)