TOP 5 BEST ROURKE FILMS

TOP 5 BEST ROURKE FILMS:

1. The Wrestler (2008)

-Now when I first saw this film at the Toronto International Film Festival back in 2008, I was completely blown away. I had always known of Rourke and been a pretty big fan, however, this film took the cake for me. It immediately made me want to see every one of his films, good and bad. Every thing Rourke had done in the past was leading up to his performance as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson in The Wrestler. He WAS this character. If you don't already know the story of this film, it centers on a middle aged wrestler (Rourke) named Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, who was once a wrestling super star back in the 80s, but has now ruined his career and now doing local wrestling matches in shit holes in New Jersey. Living in a trailer park, working behind a deli at a grocery store, and practically broke. The only real friend he has is aging stripper Cassidy (played beautifully by Marisa Tomei). She is the stripper at the local bar he hangs out at. Randy finally decides to retire and get his life back on track by tracking down his daughter, who he hasn't seen in ages (Evan Rachel Wood). Everything seems to go nicely until everything crashes down on him. Randy later on realizes that his daughter doesn't want him, Cassidy doesn't need him, but the only people that truly matter in his life is the fans of his at the wrestling matches. All he can do now is jump back into the ring. It is a beautifully told story with a winning script by Robert D. Siegel, who recently marked his directing debut with the Sundance film, Big Fan, starring Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan. Now I absolutely love Darren Aronofsky's work ever since Requiem for a Dream. I think he is slowly but surely becoming a legend. However, this film was so out of his reach and you would never in a million years think of Aronofsky as director when you see the film, but that just shows you how brilliant and versatile he really is. He pulled out away from his bizarre noir thrillers, and settled down with a simple human story. This film is the film that really inspired me to write the blog entry on Mickey Rourke. He was the new James Dean in the 80s, and I think people continue to look down on him, considering he is black balled in Hollywood. Rourke may have done a lot of total crap in the 90s and may just continue to do more crap, however, watch this film and you'll understand what I am talking about. That he is by far one of the best, rawest actors of his generation. 

2. 9 1/2 Weeks (1986)

-In my opinion, this is by far, one of the sexiest, seductive films of all time. Screw Basic Instinct! This film is absolutely marvelous. I do love Basic Instinct, however... Anyway, this film starred a young up and coming Mickey Rourke as John, a seductive, fearless wealthy businessman who is heavily into erotica and sex games. He starts an intense relationship with a vulnerable art assistant, Elizabeth (played by Kim Basinger). Probably her best performance. And is probably her sexiest in this film. A performance that made me fall head over heels in love with Kim Basinger, and still to this day, believe she is a fantastic actress, just does not get the right roles. Anyway, back to the film. Once John and Elizabeth start dating, he introduces her to his sexual fantasies and sort of unleashes this animal inside her that has been dying to be released. Their relationship is fiery, sexy, and even dangerous, as it eventually causes her to leave him, because she just can't do it anymore. John plays games with her that practically humiliate her, including throwing food in her face, forcing her to run around on all fours like a dog and even dressing her up like a man and putting her in a public restaurant. Next to Fatal Attraction, this is Adrian Lyne's best work. It's a shame he has not directed a film since 2002's Unfaithful, cause he really is very original. With an excellent script by Sarah Kemochan, Zalman King (director of a similar sexy erotic Rourke film, Wild Orchid), and Patricia Louisianna Knop. And based on the novel by Elizabeth McNeill. Now unfortunately Jones Films and The Carousel Picture Company decided to produce two sequels to 9 1/2 Weeks. Which were complete and utter disasters. The first sequel called Another 9 1/2 Weeks was released in 1997 and starred a returning Rourke (definitely just needed the money) and a new love interest, Angie Everhart (from Tales From the Crypt's Bordello of Blood). Then the final sequel, or should I say, prequel, was The First 9 1/2 Weeks with the only honorable name in the film, Malcolm McDowell and starred Adrenalin Junkies' Paul Mercurio and the love interest was French actress Clara Bellar. I do not recommend either of these films. There total garbage and just simple ways to make a buck. Only watch the original! It definitely had a major influence on sexual films to follow, including Red Shoe Diaries (which was created by Zalman King, co-writer of  9 1/2 Weeks). 

3. Diner (1982)

-Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag the Dog) wrote and directed this landmark post-college film taking place in 1959 Baltimore, Maryland. It centered on a group of college buddies struggling with adulthood. The only thing they all have going for them is the local diner where they hang out to basically shoot the shit and recap. The film starred Steve Guttenberg (in one of his best roles to date), Daniel Stern, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser, and of course, a breakthrough performance by Mickey Rourke. The film was certainly a gearing point for practically the entire cast and unfortunately most of them never truly received another film quite as good as this. Rourke was clearly the heavy hitter and ultimate scene stealer in this picture. He played Robert Sheftell, but best known as 'Boogie' by his pals. He's the all around ladies man bachelor who can talk a girl in the sack in a matter of minutes. Well... most of the time (i.e. the popcorn scene...). Loves to eat suger right out of the container and loves to gamble and smoke. But Boogie was quite possibly the most flawed and troubled character in the film, next to Kevin Bacon's depressing lonely character, Timothy Fenwick, Jr. Rourke hadn't done much film work before Diner. Having small parts in films such as 1941, Act of Love, Body Heat, and Heaven's Gate. However, Diner was his first really powerful performance that had the most amount of screen time. I mean, don't get me wrong, his cameo in Body Heat is breathtaking. Having to act opposite William Hurt and stealing the scene from him for only two scenes! That's quite impressive. However, his performance in Diner really set the bar high for future actors in the business. Rourke simply showed us what acting is all about. He showed us this new 'balls into the wind' attitude that surely influenced much more actors to come. Not only is Rourke excellent in Diner, but the film is a true gem. I highly recommend it. 

4. Angel Heart (1987)

-Probably one of the most controversial films of Rourke's career considering the graphic lengthy sex scene between the 35-year-old Mickey Rourke and the 20-year-old Lisa Bonet. I mean, this scene is intense. Blood splashing all over the walls as well as their naked bodies while they aggressively go at it. It seems like a sex scene from a vampire film or something. Anyway, Angel Heart was released on March 6th, 1987 and was written and directed by brilliant filmmaker, Alan Parker (Midnight Express, Fame). It was adapted from William Hjortsberg. The novel being called Falling Angels. Hjortsberg is also a screenwriter. He wrote such 80s films as Ridley Scott's Legend, and Corey Allen's Thunder and Lightning. The film takes place in the 1950s and centers on private detective, Harry Angel (Rourke), who is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre (the always marvelous Robert De Niro) to track down a singer named Johnny Favourite. But the investigation takes an odd and rather twisted turn for the worse. In other words, nothing is what it seems. Rourke once again shines in every frame of this film, almost upstaging De Niro in the few scenes he has with him. Rourke does have the hardest job as an actor in this film; having to instill the terror inside you as you watch it, but still play it subtle. Rourke has these sweet, vulnerable eyes but contains such a fearless, daring, impulsive attitude in this film. You are torn between rooting for him and despising him. Alan Parker is clearly the Hitchcock of his generation and with this film, made one of the all time scariest films of the 1980s. He showed those idiotic directors behind those schlock horror disasters what terror is all about. It's not about blood and gore (though this film does have it's fair share), but about sheer terror and depth. Major investment in the characters instead of the tits and blood. Almost mirrors an 113 minute Twilight Zone episode. Or a Stephen King novel. But I don't think Parker could ever have done it without his explosive cast. Mickey, you shined once again. Bravo. 

5. Sin City (2005)

-I can't say enough good things about this film. It's a comic book geek's wet dream. But it is also an all around terrific work of art. Robert Rodriguez, visionary behind original gems as El Mariachi and From Dusk Till Dawn, co-directed this film adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novels. Frank Miller also co-directed the film as well as guest director, Quentin Tarantino. It is done in comic book style fashion, but not at all like anything we have seen before. One of several films to be shot on a completely "digital backlot." With all the acting in front of a green screen and the settings added during post-production. I think the best term to simply describe this film is "AWESOME." I remember seeing this with my friends late one night in the cinema and I could not believe what I was watching. It was most likely similar to the feeling that my father and his friends felt when they saw Star Wars for the first time. The film centered on multiple story lines all taken from Miller's graphic novel that were in some way all connected. They all took place in Basin City, later called... Sin City. The main story that really satisfied me was The Hard Goodbye, and starred an unrecognizable beefed up Mickey Rourke as Marv. A rough and tough chain smoking grizzly man, self-conscious of his looks. And can't believe his luck when he lands a blond bombshell named Goldie (Jaime King). But then discovers her dead body the next morning and begins a mission to hunt down the killer. He eventually teams up with Goldie's twin sister to track down the psychopath (a terrifying Elijah Wood). My Uncle gave me the action figure of Marv when I was a teenager of have him strapped to the electric chair. When I saw this film, I couldn't believe how much they made Rourke look like Marv. He WAS Marv! I couldn't believe the make up job. Rourke brought so much realism and life to the character. I feel like in most comic book films, the actors feel like just because there playing a cartoony character, that they do it real over the top, and not bring any real truth to it, but Rourke definitely cleared up that mentality for us (i.e. Iron Man 2...) He was my all time favorite character in this film and I was very upset when he gets the death penalty by way of electric chair. However, his final line is priceless. "Is that all you got, you pansies?" Classic material. It was as if the illustration from Miller's graphic novel literally, by some magical force, jumped off the page and onto the screen and was given life by Mickey Rourke. Really amazing performance. Rourke kicks some serious ass in this flick. 

Now we all know the unfortunate decline Rourke went through in the 90s and most of this last decade due to telling everyone in Hollywood to simply "Fuck off," or getting into drugs and hanging with bad crowds. But no matter how weak the script may be, Rourke will always be entertaining to watch at least. And when the script is actually good?! Oh man, watch out! Cause Rourke will be coming at you like a grenade. In my opinion, he is up there with the greats. I consider him, to this day, a screen legend. Hey, look at De Niro and Pacino! They've done tons of crap in their careers, but they still give 2000% in their work no matter what the film is. Aspiring actors all over, attention please! If you really want to know what real acting is and not this bull shit that Robert Pattinson and Ashton Kutcher seem to be doing. But what real honest acting is? Watch any of Rourke's films. Even the bad ones. There's this special style of his that will never let go. Something you don't really find anymore. Whether it's a tiny part in a film like The Pledge or Body Heat, or a lead role in a bad film like Barfly or Bullett (which he co-wrote). Rourke always brings something special to the table. He's a man's man and an actor's actor. I am truly grateful that Rourke was given a second chance, which is rear, especially in the film business. But he did, and I couldn't be happier. Mickey Rourke lives on! 

OTHER ROURKE CLASSICS:

1. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)

2. Year of the Dragon (1985)

3. Rumble Fish (1983)

4. Body Heat (1981)

5. Spun (2002) 

Sincerely, 

FILMBOY - Chris von Hoffmann

ENTRY QUOTE:

"I think that people who are famous tend to be underdeveloped in their humanity skills." - Diane Keaton