Review of A Prayer for the Dying (1987) by Danny S — 17 Aug 2007

A parayer for the dying is a mixed blessing and one of its porblems is the casting of mickey rourke who although looks the part can't seem to manage to stay with his somewhat weird irish accent. Just like watching brad pitt trying to use a german accent in seven years in tibet. it just doesnt work and becomes a distraction.

With that out of the way Mickey rourke plays tormented IRA revoltionary Martin Fallon who decides one night to get out of his line work and to look for a life of peace and quiet away from the vioolent blood shed that he is accostomed for most of his life is sshort lived when he is forced to do one last job or else he might be dead. A ruthless mobster dandy jack meehan (played by one of englands greatest thespian actors Alan Bates also from mel gibson's hamlet) and his henchman played by liam neeson before schindler's list and darkman fame and anthony stewart head who would later play the librarian on tv show buffy the vampier slayer demand him to do one more job and that is to kill the priest father de costa (an engaing bob hoskins before who framed roger rabbit fame) who was willing to testify against the mobster's ruthless murders. Marton fallon also has another problem, he is fallen in love with Jenny, a woman he has loved all of his life who wants him to go straight and live her outside of ireland. If he doesnt do the killing then his girlfriend, the priest and himself will be killed. In the end though, the good samaritan comes out and Marton decides to take out the ruthless mobster and his henchman in good old fashioned style.

With some violenct sequences, some very strong supporting performances, a decent script from Jack higgins whose screenplay is loosly based on his best selling novel and great direction from mike hodges who has directed two of the best crime thriller ever made in england one being Get carter the original with a grea michael caine and Croupier from 1997 with another great actor Clive owen before sin city fame. This is a good thriller but not the best.

Worth a look.