Tags
1980's, Alan Parker, Angel Heart, Charlotte Rampling, Horror, Lisa Bonet, Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Thriller
Film Title
Angel Heart
Director
Alan Parker
Cast
- Mickey Rourke as Harry Angel
- Robert De Niro as Louis Cyphre
- Lisa Bonet as Epiphany Proudfoot
- Charlotte Rampling as Margaret Kruesmark
An unsettling mix of noir and supernatural thriller, Angel Heart contains many visually indelible images and a highly atmospheric score that linger long in the memory. Although polarizing and controversial upon release, in no small part to a graphic love scene, Angel Heart is much more than that. It may seem like style over substance and lacking subtlety, but if you look closer it has a nail-biting premise that culminates in a shocking and unexpected finale. Angel Heart is not a film for everyone, in particular the faint hearted but there is no denying its shock power, sense of creepy atmosphere and memorable lead performance by a young Mickey Rourke.
It is 1955, New York. Harry Angel is an unkempt private detective who is often contacted for simple cases. One day he is contacted by a lawyer whose client wants help with an interesting job. The client is the elegant yet strangely sinister Louis Cyphre, who Harry meets in a church in Harlem. He informs Harry of Johnny Favourite, a crooner during the war who suffered horrific injuries and hasn’t been seen in a long time. Cyphre had a deal which he cryptically talks about that he had with the crooner that he wishes to resolve. He wants Angel to find out simply if Johnny is alive or dead. Harry takes the case, but as he investigates further into Johnny’s life in New Orleans and meets the sexy and mysterious Epiphany Proudfoot, a growing sense of creepiness and uncertainty begins to surround it. His questions are met with hush-hush replies and strange occurrences begin happening as a result of Angel’s curiosity with the crooner. He also becomes caught up in the Voodoo of Johnny’s past and he is plagued by weird dreams that make no sense to him at all.
Special praise should go to the cinematography that captures the darkness and sweltering atmosphere that Harry uncovers through the course of the film. The film is also sonically intriguing, making the simplest of sounds such as the clattering of feet and the turning of a fan sound sinister. A young Mickey Rourke both shows the tough and vulnerable side to Harry, making the audience relate to him and what he is going through. His scenes with De Niro are fantastic and memorable. Robert De Niro relishes the role of Cyphre and plays him with a creepy and cryptic menace that is quite unsettling. Shedding her good girl image of The Cosby Show, Lisa Bonet is enigmatic and sexy as the Voodoo priestess and daughter of one of Johnny’s conquests. Charlotte Rampling is an interesting and mystical presence in her small role as a wronged fortune-teller whose heart was broken by the crooner.
All in all, Angel Heart is a visually intriguing and doom laden movie that takes many twists and turns as it escalates. As I’ve mentioned earlier, the film is not for everyone. But if you like a thriller with a supernatural edge and bizarre images, this is the film I would recommend.
sati said:
Great review! This is one of my favorite films, they just don’t make such wonderfully creepy and atmospheric thrillers/horrors anymore. Rourke was really great here and DeNiro clearly had a lot of fun with his part.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, yeah I loved the whole atmosphere the film created.
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Terry Malloy's Pigeon Coop said:
This sounds really interesting, I’ll have to check it outnatbsome point. Great review.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment man.
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mistylayne said:
I haven’t seen this – is this the one that Bill Cosby got so mad at Lisa Bonet for doing?
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vinnieh said:
I’m not sure, but it certainly is a departure from her good girl image of the Cosby Show.
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kutukamus said:
@ mistylayne / vinnieh
Yep. I think this one is. 🙂
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theipc said:
Yes!
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Cavershamragu said:
Always rated this as among Parker’s better films (his script certainly improves on William Hjotsberg’s enjoyable pulpy novel) and you are right, the cinematography by the always underrated Michael Seresin is really impressive. I wish there hadn’t been that sequence with Angel wearing the silly sunglasses though …
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, I love a film with good cinematography.
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Tyson Carter said:
Loved this film, another fantastic De Niro performance. Great job Vinnie 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, De Niro is great in this.
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Mark Walker said:
Sorry I’m late to this Vinnie. I was sure I left a comment the other night. I was rather drunk at the time though. 😉 Anyway, great review man. This was my favourite film at one point and I still hold it in very high regard. It’s one of Rourke’s finest performances and DeNiro is just masterful. Nice one Vinnie!
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Brian Worley said:
Excellent movie reviews here! Thanks for dropping by my blog : ) glad to be connected!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment.
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fernandorafael said:
Great review. Will definitely be checking this one out.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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timneath said:
Great review here, yes its a really dark and atmospheric film, glad I took the time to watch this and see an early Rourke too
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the positive comment glad you liked it.
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kutukamus said:
I guess it’s one of those rare few with substance so strong we don’t usually find in many others, any movies (not just horror or such):
“for the devil to win, the soul must be aware”
But that’s just me. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, love that quote.
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theipc said:
Excellent work! Great pic!
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vinnieh said:
Really appreciate you going through my back catalog of reviews.
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David said:
I adore this movie. When I was young, I was utterly blown away by the story and film style. I watched it so many times, trying to learn all the clues. Of course, I fell wholly in love with Bonet (and would again years later with High Fidelity). I really need to watch this again. Great review.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks David, it is definitely strong on mystical style.
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David said:
Yes, great themes and never so obvious that it’s pounded too heavily. Love Rourke’s acting in this, especially at the end.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks David, it’s one spooky film and as you say, Rourke is great in the lead role.
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beetleypete said:
When Rourke gets it right, he does get it right. Nice twisty tale, great atmosphere, and Rampling is great too.
Cheers, V. Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Anything to do with voodoo or mystical seems to interest me.
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beetleypete said:
Try these mate.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027521/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Zombie_(film)
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the links Pete.
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