Question about the movie "The Wrestler"?

I heard this movie was based on a true story. I searched the web but nothing I found really verified that. I found the movie to be good, but strangley weird, Mickie Rourke looked gay and on steroids! I thought his fingernails (in the movie) looked weird cuz he was on steroids. But I saw him on HBO talking about the movie and his fingernails looked exactly the same! What Up? Does anyone else know what I mean? Can u believe I read somewhere on the web that Nicholes Cage had originally been offered this role? Could'nt imagine him playing that role!