barflyer7
Mickey Rourke is great in this film as an Irish hit-man trying to escape his life of violence.Rourke plays Martin Fallon a respected hit-man whose one mistake was allowing Father DA Costa (played by Bob Hoskins) to see his latest and what was to be his last kill. . Fallon is then ordered to kill off Da Costa by his employer and mob boss Jack Meehan (played by Alan Bates). Fallon refuses, he's had enough of killing and living life on the run he wants to make everything right just doesn't know how to yet. Meehan demands Fallon do the job or be killed himself.Enter Da Costa's blind niece Anna(Sammi Davis)and a chance meeting with Fallon. To her he's kind,gentle and unknowing of his past she befriends him and falls in love. Fallon having confessed his sins and given the chance of redemption by Da Costa strives for salvation and his own freedom but freedom always comes with a price.Rourke is great in this film you feel real empathy for his character and there is strong support from Hoskins and Bates. Don't be put off by some reviews and stories of disputes with director and cast this is a great film and a hidden gem for Mickey Rourke fans
EighthSense
I won't bore any readers by repeating the plot line, since several others already have.I bought the DVD after renting this movie, so I can enjoy Mickey Rourke's performance many times. It is wonderful, very different from what he has played before, and his Irish accent is just right-quite a pleasure to hear it. I enjoyed the movie altogether, but Rourke's performance made it stand out totally-without it it would have been just another action/suspense movie. However, the blind girl's acting was unnatural and contrived a bit.
radiobirdman32
Mickey Rourke is a much deeper and more dedicated actor than he gets credit for. His accent in " A Prayer.." is spot on and that is quite an accomplishment that takes months of dedication. He takes his place up in the front row with Gary Oldman, Pete Postlewaithe (sp.?) and I even have to include Brad Pitt after his amazing performance in Snatch. Rourke's Bad Boy image makes the moral dilemma he creates for himself or finds himself in even more effective. Brilliant scene when Hoskins becomes increasingly irate and at the peak of his fury we see him from Rourke's POV and his dark outline eclipses the first few letters of a "Courage" beer sign and only the flashing red neon letters RAGE remain.
Ghost-Cat
It is a mystery for me how the great movies sometimes fall through the cracks. I don't expect it to be everyone's favorite but being completely missed by almost everybody? It puzzles me. If you up for a tough and disturbing movie tonight rent it. You won't be disappointed.
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