Review of Angel Heart (1987) by Jack G — 20 Jan 2010

1: I usually like period pieces, especially ones that feature private investigators, but this is the exception. It has many of the trappings of a period piece, but its 80's seaminess and tackiness shines through throughout.

Nothing looks or feels right and this just eliminates any chance of the film being effective. Rourke is too Rourke and too 80's as well. Elliot Gould managed to channel the PI noir feel while simultaneously overturning it, but Rourke doesn' really do anything of interest.

De Niro's character is a bit silly as well. It seems a bit ridiculios that Mickey Rourke gets absolute top billing. The credits run "Mickey Rourke in" and then "a film by Alan Parker".

That in itself is highly unusual and definitely indicative of the kind of power and appeal Rourke once had.