Homeboy

A lot can be written about the derailing of Mickey Rourke's career... But when reflecting on the the reasons he achieved such recognition to begin with... One has to review Homeboy. The man had real talent as an actor and it is a shame that he is more remembered for phoned in performances than the highlights. Homeboy is one of the highlights. A very complete method performance that regardless of commercial stereotypes stays true to the characters created and the world they're in.

This is a real picture of a fighter way past his prime who gets a second chance at inspiration. But this is not the Rocky world where a theme song and a jog around the park give the character new life. This is a real character at the bottom of the bucket trying to reach up. And the mistakes of a lifetime are not easily overcome in this film.

Also Alan Parker's longtime cinematographer Michael Serensin makes his directing debut. Sadly it also ends his directing career. But the screen is always wonderfully alive under his direction both gritty and flashy in unison.

The support cast is wonderfully strong including one of the best minor support roles Christopher Walken has ever delivered.

I highly recommend this film for fans of smaller unconventional character dramas. If you want stereotypes... watch something else.

Johnny Walker (Mickey Rourke) is a struggling boxer at the end of his road. He gets a surprise win and is befriended by sleazy promoter Wesley Pendergrass (Christopher Walken). He falls for Ruby, the owner of a struggling seaside carnival.

Rourke is doing a forerunner to a much better film 20 years later. It's essentially the same character and the same performance. The girlfriend is rather bland and the actress isn't doing much. As for Walken, he deserves better. He needs more screen time and his character is doing weird things for no reason. I knew he was in trouble when he starts singing and the ending is doing another weird thing. He's wasted in this. Rourke would get his reward later but in this, he shows the potential.

Homeboy is a haunting and outstanding drama. Micket Rourke turns in an amazing performance as Johnny Walker and Christopher Walken's role is memorable. The film's soundtrack is excellent. The plot revolves around Johnny Walker, a down and out, aged boxer who falls for a girl and has hopes of making it big. Johnny meets Walken's character who trys to get Walker into some bad things. The film is depressing and hopeful. It is very sad at parts but the film really is amazing. You must read under the surface of things. A must see for Rourke fans!!! The acting is excellent but I feel the film could have been better if there was more emphasis on things.

A poignant, depressing, gloomy drama about a loser splendidly played by Mickey Rourke for a character that seemed to be made especially for him. I also would have imagined Steve McQueen in this film, I don't know why.... My all times favourite from M. R, more than YEAR OF THE DRAGON for instance. Not destined for sure to large audiences, those silly people craving for super f...heroes whilst eating their popcorn. . This may be painful to watch if you are plenty involved into the character. Mickey Rourke should have won an Academy Awards for this incredible performance, sort of THE WRESTLER, twenty years ahead.

Mickey Rourke is a boxer who winds up in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He begins a relationship with Debra Feuer (Rourke real-life wife at the time) who owns a run-down amusement park, as well as a friendship with Christopher Walken, a bad lounge singer whose real job is robbery.

Miss Feuer's park is on its last legs, Walken plans a big job by robbing some Chasidic jewelers, and Rourke takes a big fight, not knowing he has a brain problem that can kill him if he's hit in the temple.

It's Michael Seresin's only movie as director. He took the opportunity to have DP Gale Tattersall shoot in the night-time rain. Visually a feast, excellent performances, this story about losers whose dreams are too big for them kept my attention all the way through.