Another year, another Oscar ceremony. Most of the awards went according to plan. The British were the big winners on the night, with Slumdog Millionaire scooping, well, nearly everything, and Kate Winslett getting the Oscar at long last. For me though, the thing that disappointed me the most was that Mad Mickey Rourke missed out on the Best Actor Oscar, one he was expected to walk away with. For me though I was really looking forward to seeing Mickey Rourke crazy things up again with yet another slightly insane acceptance speech.

The award eventually went to Sean Penn for his brilliant portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Look – I am not saying that Sean Penn wasn’t worthy of the accolade. Far from it – his role was as iconic as it was important. But am I the only one that just loves the crazyness that Mickey brings to the often staged and insincere PR stunt that is the Oscars?

So many of the celebrities on the red carpet turned up, as always, perfectly groomed in sponsored outfits and monotonous black tuxedos. Mickey Rourke, on the other hand, turned up in a messy looking white suit. Of course he also wore his trademark designer sunglasses which have become part of his image in the awards season. Nuttiest of all was Rourke’s “Loki the dead chihuahua” necklace in tribute to his recently deceased pet, which he pointed out to every invterviewer he spoke to!

We were due for another wacky and memorable acceptance speech if Mickey Rourke had got the award. Who knows what he would have come out with on the stage, chihuahua memorial necklace, sunglasses and all? I’ll never forget his previous antics at the Golden Globes awards. And more recently he brought the house down at the Independent Spirit awards the night before the Oscars – see the video above.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some political manouvering going on behind the scenes that prevented Rourke from winning. Mickey himself had predicted he woudldn’t win because he’s pissed off too many hollywood hotshots in the past. “I stupidly said acting wasn’t a job for a real man. I threatened producers, raged at directors, forgot my agent’s name. I really burned my bridges. And a lot of people have long memories,” was the eerily accurate prediction from Mickey Rourke before the awards.

You gotta give it up for the Pennster however, his speech was certainly an interesting one. To begin with his thank-you’s were directed at the Academy, whom he referred to as “commie, homo-loving sons of guns!” Penn then pulled out a small scribbled bit of paper, donned his prescription glasses, and after a few “thank you’s,” proceeded with an impassioned plea for equal rights for gays and against the ban on gay marriages. Not quite as entertaining as Mad Mickey would have been – but better than gushing and thanking his mother for bringing him into this wonderful world.

Meanwhile the Mickey Rourke comeback continues!