“Harry Angel is searching for the truth... Pray he doesn't find it.”
Right now, I cannot think of a truer tagline for a movie than the one for “Angel Heart,” an Alan Parker directed movie starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, and “The Cosby Show’s” Lisa Bonet. It follows the story of Private Detective named Harry Angel played by Rourke who is hired by a mysterious man named Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro in his best impersonation ever of Martin Scorsese) to track down the last whereabouts of a famous singer. This singer is presumed dead, but it turns out that may not be the case as Harry finds that he was transferred out of the hospital years ago, and while people say that this singer is dead, they cannot convince themselves of that. Angel’s journey into discovery takes him from the snowy and gospel filled streets of Harlem all the way out to the sweaty bayous of Louisiana. In “Angel Heart,” curiosity may not kill the cat, but it can sure frazzle and scar it for life. We search for the truth throughout our lives, but we never taken into account the possible consequences of what we may find.
I caught “Angel Heart” last Thursday at the New Beverly Cinema where they were showing it as a double feature with another Alan Parker movie, “Birdy.” Sitting in the theater with a very tiny audience on a weeknight (let’s leave the pun out of this), I can’t believe just how long it has taken for me to get out and see this movie. I remember when it was first released, and how it got an X rating (NC-17 today) for this sex scene between Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet where as they make out, the water dripping from the ceiling turns into blood. The version of this movie was the R-rated version that was released theatrically 20 years ago (yikes!), but the unrated edition can be found today on DVD. In fact, when it first came out on VHS, I think it was actually one of the very first movies to be shown on video in the way it was intended to be seen, without the MPAA breathing down its neck. Of course, this was years and years before Blockbuster Video came into play with its “family friendly” policy that did not allow for any NC-17 movies. I hate censorship of any kind, especially sanctioned censorship!
Was the movie deserving of its X rating? I doubt it. Considering that there are other acts of violence throughout this movie like a heart being cut out, someone blowing their brains out, and another person getting a very sensitive part of their body being cut off, the sex scene should seem almost tame in comparison. It’s depressing to see that this hypocrisy of the MPAA goes on to this very day where they find sexuality in movies more unnerving than violence or someone getting blown away literally. Of course, it did offer the movie some free publicity which must have tickled the producers to death.
“Angel Heart” is a heavily atmospheric movie that makes you feel the coldness of New York, and the never ending heat that makes you sweat like never before in Louisiana. It is not a loud slam bang movie, and it does take its time in setting up the story and of the locations that the movie was shot in. Each city in the movie is an important character, and they reflect the nightmares and dreams of the main characters in the film. If this movie were to be made today, I imagine the studios would want the characters to be younger and more hip and take away some of the dark stuff… I hope this is one movie that filmmakers can leave off of the remake table. It does have some exciting moments and some shoot outs and chases, but they never seem put there to “liven” up the film so to speak.
Back when this movie was made, Mickey Rourke was a much bigger star, and this is one of the movies he seemed to do without the benefit of shampooing his hair. This fact continually dogs him to this very day. As Harry Angel, he does excellent work in making his character seem tough and sleazy, yet resourceful and vulnerable. Harry’s life unravels faster and faster as he digs deeper and deeper into the mystery that surrounds him. Watching Rourke in a roll like this reminds you of what a strong and brave actor he can be. Back then, he was not afraid to play on the dark side of a character and to give us someone who was not so morally sound. His off screen antics seem to get the best of him these days, but thanks to his performance years later in “Sin City,” we can never forget how great of an actor he can be.
The movie credits itself for having “a special appearance by Robert De Niro.” Special appearance? That seems to imply that you see him in the movie once. On point of fact, you see him several times throughout the movie as Louis Cyphre (pay close attention to that name). It’s one of the few performances where De Niro never goes over the top and gets all threatening like he does in movies like “Mean Streets.” This film was also made way before De Niro went into making nothing comedies (“Righteous Kill” should correct that). As Cyphre, De Niro gives a delicious performance of a man endlessly fascinated by the corruption and decay of the soul. His character feeds on that just as he feeds on hard boiled eggs. When he says that the egg is the symbol of the soul and then slowly bites into it in front of Rourke’s character, it is a very chilling moment. De Niro looks like he had a blast playing this part.
Lisa Bonet was deep into playing Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” when she was cast in this. I imagine the MPAA tricked themselves into giving this film an adults only rating because they got all hot and bothered at one Cosby’s TV daughters showing her breasts. I can see them now:
“We can’t let kids see this movie! They will never look at one of television’s famous daughters the same again! This will destroy their innocence!!”
A lot of the controversy surrounding this movie almost hides the fact that Bonet was actually really good here. A lot of people probably assumed she got this part because of her success on “The Cosby Show,” but Alan Parker made it clear when the movie was released that he picked her because he felt she was right for the part. Having seen this movie, I completely agree. I also have to admit that it was fun seeing her naked, but anyway. Lisa’s character of Epiphany (perfectly named by the way) is a mysterious person who seems to say everything yet reveals nothing, and she captures the mystery of this character very well and keeps us guessing of what she really knows. It’s almost a shame that her career has descended into obscurity, although I get the feeling she doesn’t mind it all that much.
Director Alan Parker has made a lot of great movies over the years like “Birdy” and the experience that is “Midnight Express” to name a few. Like “Angel Heart,” they deal with lost souls trying desperately to free themselves of whatever is holding them back. There is a lot holding Harry Angel back in this movie, but when he finally gets to the truth, he will find that being held back was actually a blessing that he could never see. Alan gives the movie a distinctive look as it takes place in the 1940’s. Parker also directs his actors very well and gives them each a memorable moment that sticks with you long after you have seen the movie.
Trevor Jones did the score, and I’m wondering if I can possibly find it anywhere. It’s probably out of print at this time. Trevor does great work capturing the tension and the atmosphere, and of aiding the filmmakers in realizing the horrifying truth that Harry has spent this movie trying to find.
The trailer for “Angel Heart” goes out of its way to make it look like this is the second coming of horror by comparing it to “The Exorcist” and “Chinatown.” This movie does not reach those heights and was never in a position to do so, but it is still a very good movie worth seeing for those who have an interest in the devil and/or the occult. Both play a big part in this movie.
***1/2 out of ****
Right now, I cannot think of a truer tagline for a movie than the one for “Angel Heart,” an Alan Parker directed movie starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, and “The Cosby Show’s” Lisa Bonet. It follows the story of Private Detective named Harry Angel played by Rourke who is hired by a mysterious man named Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro in his best impersonation ever of Martin Scorsese) to track down the last whereabouts of a famous singer. This singer is presumed dead, but it turns out that may not be the case as Harry finds that he was transferred out of the hospital years ago, and while people say that this singer is dead, they cannot convince themselves of that. Angel’s journey into discovery takes him from the snowy and gospel filled streets of Harlem all the way out to the sweaty bayous of Louisiana. In “Angel Heart,” curiosity may not kill the cat, but it can sure frazzle and scar it for life. We search for the truth throughout our lives, but we never taken into account the possible consequences of what we may find.
I caught “Angel Heart” last Thursday at the New Beverly Cinema where they were showing it as a double feature with another Alan Parker movie, “Birdy.” Sitting in the theater with a very tiny audience on a weeknight (let’s leave the pun out of this), I can’t believe just how long it has taken for me to get out and see this movie. I remember when it was first released, and how it got an X rating (NC-17 today) for this sex scene between Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet where as they make out, the water dripping from the ceiling turns into blood. The version of this movie was the R-rated version that was released theatrically 20 years ago (yikes!), but the unrated edition can be found today on DVD. In fact, when it first came out on VHS, I think it was actually one of the very first movies to be shown on video in the way it was intended to be seen, without the MPAA breathing down its neck. Of course, this was years and years before Blockbuster Video came into play with its “family friendly” policy that did not allow for any NC-17 movies. I hate censorship of any kind, especially sanctioned censorship!
Was the movie deserving of its X rating? I doubt it. Considering that there are other acts of violence throughout this movie like a heart being cut out, someone blowing their brains out, and another person getting a very sensitive part of their body being cut off, the sex scene should seem almost tame in comparison. It’s depressing to see that this hypocrisy of the MPAA goes on to this very day where they find sexuality in movies more unnerving than violence or someone getting blown away literally. Of course, it did offer the movie some free publicity which must have tickled the producers to death.
“Angel Heart” is a heavily atmospheric movie that makes you feel the coldness of New York, and the never ending heat that makes you sweat like never before in Louisiana. It is not a loud slam bang movie, and it does take its time in setting up the story and of the locations that the movie was shot in. Each city in the movie is an important character, and they reflect the nightmares and dreams of the main characters in the film. If this movie were to be made today, I imagine the studios would want the characters to be younger and more hip and take away some of the dark stuff… I hope this is one movie that filmmakers can leave off of the remake table. It does have some exciting moments and some shoot outs and chases, but they never seem put there to “liven” up the film so to speak.
Back when this movie was made, Mickey Rourke was a much bigger star, and this is one of the movies he seemed to do without the benefit of shampooing his hair. This fact continually dogs him to this very day. As Harry Angel, he does excellent work in making his character seem tough and sleazy, yet resourceful and vulnerable. Harry’s life unravels faster and faster as he digs deeper and deeper into the mystery that surrounds him. Watching Rourke in a roll like this reminds you of what a strong and brave actor he can be. Back then, he was not afraid to play on the dark side of a character and to give us someone who was not so morally sound. His off screen antics seem to get the best of him these days, but thanks to his performance years later in “Sin City,” we can never forget how great of an actor he can be.
The movie credits itself for having “a special appearance by Robert De Niro.” Special appearance? That seems to imply that you see him in the movie once. On point of fact, you see him several times throughout the movie as Louis Cyphre (pay close attention to that name). It’s one of the few performances where De Niro never goes over the top and gets all threatening like he does in movies like “Mean Streets.” This film was also made way before De Niro went into making nothing comedies (“Righteous Kill” should correct that). As Cyphre, De Niro gives a delicious performance of a man endlessly fascinated by the corruption and decay of the soul. His character feeds on that just as he feeds on hard boiled eggs. When he says that the egg is the symbol of the soul and then slowly bites into it in front of Rourke’s character, it is a very chilling moment. De Niro looks like he had a blast playing this part.
Lisa Bonet was deep into playing Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” when she was cast in this. I imagine the MPAA tricked themselves into giving this film an adults only rating because they got all hot and bothered at one Cosby’s TV daughters showing her breasts. I can see them now:
“We can’t let kids see this movie! They will never look at one of television’s famous daughters the same again! This will destroy their innocence!!”
A lot of the controversy surrounding this movie almost hides the fact that Bonet was actually really good here. A lot of people probably assumed she got this part because of her success on “The Cosby Show,” but Alan Parker made it clear when the movie was released that he picked her because he felt she was right for the part. Having seen this movie, I completely agree. I also have to admit that it was fun seeing her naked, but anyway. Lisa’s character of Epiphany (perfectly named by the way) is a mysterious person who seems to say everything yet reveals nothing, and she captures the mystery of this character very well and keeps us guessing of what she really knows. It’s almost a shame that her career has descended into obscurity, although I get the feeling she doesn’t mind it all that much.
Director Alan Parker has made a lot of great movies over the years like “Birdy” and the experience that is “Midnight Express” to name a few. Like “Angel Heart,” they deal with lost souls trying desperately to free themselves of whatever is holding them back. There is a lot holding Harry Angel back in this movie, but when he finally gets to the truth, he will find that being held back was actually a blessing that he could never see. Alan gives the movie a distinctive look as it takes place in the 1940’s. Parker also directs his actors very well and gives them each a memorable moment that sticks with you long after you have seen the movie.
Trevor Jones did the score, and I’m wondering if I can possibly find it anywhere. It’s probably out of print at this time. Trevor does great work capturing the tension and the atmosphere, and of aiding the filmmakers in realizing the horrifying truth that Harry has spent this movie trying to find.
The trailer for “Angel Heart” goes out of its way to make it look like this is the second coming of horror by comparing it to “The Exorcist” and “Chinatown.” This movie does not reach those heights and was never in a position to do so, but it is still a very good movie worth seeing for those who have an interest in the devil and/or the occult. Both play a big part in this movie.
***1/2 out of ****
I used to watch this all time in college.
Love it!!!
Love that elevator ride at the end,
The book it is based on is great too!!!
Excellent review!!!
Love Birdy too!!!
Great review. I have not seen this film in many years but I do love it. Definitely on my re-watch list.