This film was overlooked by the Academy! Now while I don't quite think it was Best Picture material I will say it deserved Oscar nominations for these categories: Best Actor (Mickey Rourke), Best Supporting Actor (Robert DeNiro), Best Supporting Actress (Lisa Bonet), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, and Best Original Score!
M.R. was a great actor (maybe he still is) and in this film he was incredible, he surpassed De Niro and the specialized press never recognized him. Great movie based on a great novel.
The final shot is Mickey running away from Hollywood after they showed him his dark side. "I know who I am!" he screamed. After all these years of finding out who he really is, boxing and living like an animal, after wrestling all those demons, he's ressurected himself as "The Wrestler" ...how poetic. Mickey Rourke has been stripped bare of an act - that's why he's so real as an actor.
Apart from the beautiful cinemantography, brilliant acting, ominius symbols and smart story telling I liked this one because it hit one of those primal fears about being not quite the human you thought you were, the most personal type of horror.
Ce film est un chef d'oeuvre ! l'histoire , l'ambiance , les acteurs , tout y est parfait ! Et puis cette scène finale où le doute et l'angoisse explosent en terreur ! MAGISTRALE !
It never ceases to amaze me that this film inspired so many of the touted psychological "modern-classics" like Fight Club or Memento, yet more oft than not, people do not remember Angel Heart, or even know it, until it is mentioned. I still love watching this bit and compartng it to Christian Bale's last scene in The Machinist - a direct copy if ever there was one.
Angel Heart is a masterpiece that works on many levels - you can watch this film many times, for the genius acting or for the multiple meanings contained in the story. If anyone doesn't like it, its because it simply has gone over their head, or, for some reason, they're turned off by great acting - of the super intense variety. The scenes between Rourke and DeNiro are to be treasured . . . WOW!
''I'm afraid you did Johnny!.they were all killed by your own hand,guided by me ,naturally.Frankly, you were dune from the moment you sliced that young boy in to half Joooohnny!'' !!!!!!!!! De Nirro looks here like the priest we had as a teacher in High School
Mickey Rourke is a very natural actor... no exaggeration in any shape or form and even on dialogue etc but when he runs through out this film his running is a bit unnatural for me.. after a few days after watching the whole film now I seem to understand what he was doing,, he was at the same time running from whatever he was running from as well as running from himself... fcking brilliant! And not even an oscar nomation for this work!
[ Spoiler alert ] In the book Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg that this film is based on, Cyphre was the killer.He personally killed everyone. So it's a really neat twist here that Johnny Favorite committed all the murders while having been possessed by Cyphre. Alot of critics& regular people who've disliked the film always praise the book but I think the film really blows the book right out of the water. Why? The film is darker,more depressing, and scarier.
Deniro is a great actor, and I would probably give him the nod in other roles, but as far as playing the devil, wow. Pacino was so sly and cunning in D.A. and the way he went "toe to toe" with God at the end was priceless! No worries, both of them are superb actors.
It's easy to understand the record is a Johnny Favorite song and he used to be Johnny Favorite so it's one of his old songs. Plus the theme of the song plays all through the movie and he keeps whistling it and hearing it but he doesn't know why.
Yeah, you noticed that too huh? Yeah he credited Mickey in his speech because GUILT got the best of him. Hey, let's cut to the chase OK? EVEN Sean Penn knew it was Mickey's Oscar, and that it should have been Mickey's night. As for Penn....try this: go to a party and talk about his body of work. It'll be a short conversation. At the same party, talk about Mickey's body of work. Then....watch the faces lite up and you'll hear ppl go on and on about all their fav. roles he's played....nuff said.
poor penn, always people will think, possibly righty so, that he's the one who robbed mickey the oscar..mickey couldve got the oscar for this and retired on the spot
Mickey's voice is so hoarse in this scene because there was alot of outtakes of him screaming. Hopefully Parker will release the deleted scenes some day.
This movie is really well done. Visually powerful, great acting, and an engrossing, haunting story-line. I saw it when it came out and often pull out the dvd to watch again. I have always been disappointed that more people didn't see it - or even know about it. I am convinced that Alan Parker blew it by having the gross sex scene at the end of the movie. This movie forever gets overlooked because of that one scene. I guess it just shows that sometimes sex doesn't sell....
that to me was one scary film when i saw it , imagine being someone really bad and you didnt know it ,then finding out , micky played that well , it was creepy , great film thanks for posting it , any chance of sticking it all on
Rourke and DeNiro on a film back then? I didn't know they acted together on a film. Another thing, HOW the HELL did Mickey Rourke's voice changed so much? I like how he sounds now, but DAMN, what a goddamn change in his tone.
@zeuqzavaj - the fans. When Cyphre first visits Angel, he plays with his cane turning it in circles and Angel looks up and sees the ventilator fan start moving. Later, whenever someone's going to get murdered, we see a ventilator fan start moving... maybe symbolising Cyphre's evil presence & guiding hand (this is clearer with hindsight). It also generally precedes the horrific dream sequences... when Angel's conscious mind goes bye-bye & he's possessed...? It's one theory, anyway
great movie; great performance; Rourke superb; much more than De Niro in this movie,of course; what happended tou you, Rourke with you career & you whole life after that??? You pissed off; what a pitty
mickey is one of my favorite actors, but in my opinion ! sean penn acting is just as good..since bad boys in the 80s to carlitos way and u-turn etc...it wasn't seans fault the votes went in his favor to win the oscar, so why should he feel guilt ? sean was just being humble, besides ! sean works just as hard at what he does..i'm sure mickeys gotten over it , even before the awards were aired..giving credit to mickey was just the right thing to do
Actually I did watch it and the record that was playing was the only part of the movie I didn't understand. When I don't know something I ask. That doesn't make me dumb.
@williamrprice The crack of his voice....Rourke...".I know who i am"...".and you're trying to pin it on me". "My name's not Johnny!" "I KNOW WHO I AM!!!!!"
Well thank you, now explain to me what is the symbolism behind the song they were playing so I can have a more of a better understanding of this particular scene.
@dmeyer2626 somebody is unimpressed with Rourke in this film? Who? He's absolutely brilliant the whole way through. Predictable or no, the films power is clear and strong.
I think part of his problem was the fact that people were envious of him. And due to the fact that he probably got alot of shit from people, in turn made him unpredictable cause he doesn't like taking shit.
what most dont seem to understand is that cypher never had johnys soul. it was all based on guilt and the belief there was no point of return. if cypher really had power and authority over him, there would not have been the need for all that deception, hed just take him straight to hell. johny sent himself into hell by taking the blame for what cypher did to and thru him. in the end cypher got 2 souls for the price of one.
de niro played a great devil in this movie, but al pacino played a fuckin awesome devil in the devils advocate...i'm a God fearing man, but pacinos speech on God was extraordinary..then he really out did himself in scent of a woman speech
@PrimeTimeJokesta...I'd say Mickey was better than Keanu...Mickey's performance wasn't underrated according to critics , it was Oscar worthy to some, however when Mickey and Keanu came face to face with their Devils, Both scenes are great
Great noire in the opening. Once he put on the nose guard, it lost all pace and intensity. The empty diner where he waits while the doc sweats it out was the top. The New Orleans scenes were okay, but Lisa Bonet is not convincing although she is, or was, hot. I didn't get the scarfing stuff at all when it came out, and the Ripper thing didn't work then or now.
@giugnhgbvinierngvb89 i agree mikey ruled this movie...but i wou'd say bradd pitt is a nerd, plus he wasn't really that big in the 80's. His big break was in thelma and loius i.e. early 90's.
A true masterpiece!! One of a kind performance by Rourke, who has always been under appreciated.
This film was overlooked by the Academy! Now while I don't quite think it was Best Picture material I will say it deserved Oscar nominations for these categories: Best Actor (Mickey Rourke), Best Supporting Actor (Robert DeNiro), Best Supporting Actress (Lisa Bonet), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, and Best Original Score!
This movie captivated me when I saw it as a kid. I always had a crush on Mickey Rourke. This film is so underrated.
M.R. was a great actor (maybe he still is) and in this film he was incredible, he surpassed De Niro and the specialized press never recognized him. Great movie based on a great novel.
The final shot is Mickey running away from Hollywood after they showed him his dark side. "I know who I am!" he screamed. After all these years of finding out who he really is, boxing and living like an animal, after wrestling all those demons, he's ressurected himself as "The Wrestler" ...how poetic. Mickey Rourke has been stripped bare of an act - that's why he's so real as an actor.
Pope of Greenwich, Barfly, 9&1/2 weeks, AngelHeart, Year of the Dragon and Diner. Quite a run thru the eighties.
Mickey Rourke should've won an OSCAR for his performance in this movie.
Remember watching this in the cinema in the 80's, then watched it again on channel 4 last night, memorable film.
Apart from the beautiful cinemantography, brilliant acting, ominius symbols and smart story telling I liked this one because it hit one of those primal fears about being not quite the human you thought you were, the most personal type of horror.
Ce film est un chef d'oeuvre ! l'histoire , l'ambiance , les acteurs , tout y est parfait ! Et puis cette scène finale où le doute et l'angoisse explosent en terreur ! MAGISTRALE !
00:53 - 1:48 - Such denial that it HURTS!!!!!!!!!!! When he says "I didnt kill TOOTS" POOR GUY!!!! AMAZING ACTING!!!!
The best movie in my life. I know that it wont change. I got everything the movie could give me.
It never ceases to amaze me that this film inspired so many of the touted psychological "modern-classics" like Fight Club or Memento, yet more oft than not, people do not remember Angel Heart, or even know it, until it is mentioned. I still love watching this bit and compartng it to Christian Bale's last scene in The Machinist - a direct copy if ever there was one.
This film still gives me the creeps
One of the best dramatic performaces ever, Period.
Angel Heart is a masterpiece that works on many levels - you can watch this film many times, for the genius acting or for the multiple meanings contained in the story. If anyone doesn't like it, its because it simply has gone over their head, or, for some reason, they're turned off by great acting - of the super intense variety. The scenes between Rourke and DeNiro are to be treasured . . . WOW!
''I'm afraid you did Johnny!.they were all killed by your own hand,guided by me ,naturally.Frankly, you were dune from the moment you sliced that young boy in to half Joooohnny!'' !!!!!!!!! De Nirro looks here like the priest we had as a teacher in High School
Genius Mickkey Rourke!
You don't actors like this anymore...Rourke is Awesome!!!
Mickey it was very beauty. Now he seems a old rockstar. GREAT!!
A Great movie.. Superb Acting.
Louis cypher...
Mickey Rourke is a very natural actor... no exaggeration in any shape or form and even on dialogue etc but when he runs through out this film his running is a bit unnatural for me.. after a few days after watching the whole film now I seem to understand what he was doing,, he was at the same time running from whatever he was running from as well as running from himself... fcking brilliant! And not even an oscar nomation for this work!
@dmeyer2626 Just hearing him scream "I know who I am" gave me chills! The scene with Crusmark was amazing him playing with the ice pick, Genius!
awesome awesome awesome awesome scene!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!the best of all times in the history of cinema!!!!!!!!!!!
[ Spoiler alert ]
In the book Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg that this film is based on, Cyphre was the killer.He personally killed everyone.
So it's a really neat twist here that Johnny Favorite committed all the murders while having been possessed by Cyphre.
Alot of critics& regular people who've disliked the film always praise the book but I think the film really blows the book right out of the water. Why? The film is darker,more depressing, and scarier.
Ахренеть, помню первый раз услышал про этот фильм в пересказе...
А потом... мой любимый фильм
my god such a star 20 years later
Deniro is a great actor, and I would probably give him the nod in other roles, but as far as playing the devil, wow. Pacino was so sly and cunning in D.A. and the way he went "toe to toe" with God at the end was priceless! No worries, both of them are superb actors.
this is my favourite mickey rourke movie
I liked it even more than the wrestler
It's easy to understand the record is a Johnny Favorite song and he used to be Johnny Favorite so it's one of his old songs. Plus the theme of the song plays all through the movie and he keeps whistling it and hearing it but he doesn't know why.
I know who I am ? Yep, a damn good actor !!!
@Nautilus1972 .Uh? I said the SCENES are great. I'm not comparing the Actors. There is no comparison! Mickey is the brilliant one
Yeah, you noticed that too huh? Yeah he credited Mickey in his speech because GUILT got the best of him. Hey, let's cut to the chase OK? EVEN Sean Penn knew it was Mickey's Oscar, and that it should have been Mickey's night. As for Penn....try this: go to a party and talk about his body of work. It'll be a short conversation. At the same party, talk about Mickey's body of work. Then....watch the faces lite up and you'll hear ppl go on and on about all their fav. roles he's played....nuff said.
pacino ....... palyed that role way way way way way better he did so perfectly
Dammit, Mickey Rourke didn't win the Oscar for "The Wrestler"! Bummer!
poor penn, always people will think, possibly righty so, that he's the one who robbed mickey the oscar..mickey couldve got the oscar for this and retired on the spot
Love that song!!!!
Pacino. And he played it PERFECTLY!! 4 Stars!!
I think they're both very different and can't really be compared to each other. I like them both, too.
Mickey's voice is so hoarse in this scene because there was alot of outtakes of him screaming. Hopefully Parker will release the deleted scenes some day.
This movie is really well done. Visually powerful, great acting, and an engrossing, haunting story-line. I saw it when it came out and often pull out the dvd to watch again. I have always been disappointed that more people didn't see it - or even know about it. I am convinced that Alan Parker blew it by having the gross sex scene at the end of the movie. This movie forever gets overlooked because of that one scene. I guess it just shows that sometimes sex doesn't sell....
@kevtso , the soundtrack shows this song being performed by Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra.
The composer is Sunny Clapp.
that to me was one scary film when i saw it , imagine being someone really bad and you didnt know it ,then finding out , micky played that well , it was creepy , great film thanks for posting it , any chance of sticking it all on
Thank for explaining, now I understood.
rourkes best work by a country mile.
Rourke and DeNiro on a film back then? I didn't know they acted together on a film. Another thing, HOW the HELL did Mickey Rourke's voice changed so much? I like how he sounds now, but DAMN, what a goddamn change in his tone.
it's smokier but it's still clearly him, and i love it!!!
Mickey in Diner, Wild Orchid IS THE REAL MIKEY
Yeah, that's right, but I don't think that anyone needs to come in defense of Pacino's performance because he was fucking great in Devil's Advocate!
@zeuqzavaj - the fans.
When Cyphre first visits Angel, he plays with his cane turning it in circles and Angel looks up and sees the ventilator fan start moving. Later, whenever someone's going to get murdered, we see a ventilator fan start moving... maybe symbolising Cyphre's evil presence & guiding hand (this is clearer with hindsight). It also generally precedes the horrific dream sequences... when Angel's conscious mind goes bye-bye & he's possessed...?
It's one theory, anyway
great movie; great performance; Rourke superb; much more than De Niro in this movie,of course; what happended tou you, Rourke with you career & you whole life after that??? You pissed off; what a pitty
mickey is one of my favorite actors, but in my opinion ! sean penn acting is just as good..since bad boys in the 80s to carlitos way and u-turn etc...it wasn't seans fault the votes went in his favor to win the oscar, so why should he feel guilt ? sean was just being humble, besides ! sean works just as hard at what he does..i'm sure mickeys gotten over it , even before the awards were aired..giving credit to mickey was just the right thing to do
Actually I did watch it and the record that was playing was the only part of the movie I didn't understand. When I don't know something I ask. That doesn't make me dumb.
who played the best devil ? deniro or pacino... in devils advocate
@williamrprice
The crack of his voice....Rourke...".I know who i am"...".and you're trying to pin it on me". "My name's not Johnny!"
"I KNOW WHO I AM!!!!!"
i was kinda leaning toward Pacino myself, but deniro is my favorite actor
The same shit that happened to Mickey Rourke's character happened to the devil when he came face to face with Chuck Norris.
Well thank you, now explain to me what is the symbolism behind the song they were playing so I can have a more of a better understanding of this particular scene.
I meant since his fall from "grace". Yeah all the parties I go to talk about Mickey Rourke. Not Deniro, not Brando, but Rourke!
Gosh that really scares the shit out of me!!!
I see that Mickey's been deprived of Oscar, so do Alan for directing.
Damn is Deniro a vampire in this? Lookat them nails boy.
Raw exposed nerve-like acting here. Jesus!
@dmeyer2626 somebody is unimpressed with Rourke in this film? Who? He's absolutely brilliant the whole way through. Predictable or no, the films power is clear and strong.
Be honest guys, dosn't this remind you of your rambling days. Drinking, fighting, waking up next ot some hiddious beast who's name you don't know.
Poor Epiphany. :(
True, Penn is a good actor, but Rourke was truly robbed! I still say he should have won the Oscar this year...oh well, he can always try and try again
IMO, Penn robbed the Oscar from Bill Murray as well for Lost in Translation.
I think part of his problem was the fact that people were envious of him. And due to the fact that he probably got alot of shit from people, in turn made him unpredictable cause he doesn't like taking shit.
what was the scene about
Cool movie but read the novel it's based on! 'Falling Angel" by Wm Hjortsberg
I've never seen this film, is this the ending?
the devil is finna cash in on his soul!
Holy crap...
who sings this version of Girl of my dreams? When De Niro is the vinyl
@dmeyer2626 BRAVO
the line - "I know who I am", Is he still refering himself as Harold Angel when he says it???
agreed
There's death everywhere these days, Johnny.
What's with the record?
@Malocosa thats interesting!
what most dont seem to understand is that cypher never had johnys soul. it was all based on guilt and the belief there was no point of return. if cypher really had power and authority over him, there would not have been the need for all that deception, hed just take him straight to hell. johny sent himself into hell by taking the blame for what cypher did to and thru him. in the end cypher got 2 souls for the price of one.
@gmccall22 to me Deniro was more mysterious, Pacino was more manipulative, so i go more for Deniro, its scarier
"I KNOW WHO I AM!"
de niro played a great devil in this movie, but al pacino played a fuckin awesome devil in the devils advocate...i'm a God fearing man, but pacinos speech on God was extraordinary..then he really out did himself in scent of a woman speech
@PrimeTimeJokesta...I'd say Mickey was better than Keanu...Mickey's performance wasn't underrated according to critics , it was Oscar worthy to some, however when Mickey and Keanu came face to face with their Devils, Both scenes are great
ロバート・デ・ニーロの不気味さお感じた映画流れる音楽も不気味
The director literally begged de'niro to take the part as lucifer ..if he hadnt got de'niro im sure christopher walken would been a great choice
Dont know about that I think the legitimate friction Mickey and Robert had made it believable
@giugnhgbvinierngvb89
I love De Niro, But Roukre is the God in this movie..."I Know Who I Am!!!!!!!!!!!
Did Johnny kill Winesapp?
damn that guy looks...different than mickey.
Rosetta West
JOHhhHHHnyyyy
Great noire in the opening. Once he put on the nose guard, it lost all pace and intensity. The empty diner where he waits while the doc sweats it out was the top. The New Orleans scenes were okay, but Lisa Bonet is not convincing although she is, or was, hot. I didn't get the scarfing stuff at all when it came out, and the Ripper thing didn't work then or now.
pacino???
@giugnhgbvinierngvb89 i agree mikey ruled this movie...but i wou'd say bradd pitt is a nerd, plus he wasn't really that big in the 80's. His big break was in thelma and loius i.e. early 90's.
@ronpi4286 Glen Gray
I.... KNNNNOWW WHO I AM FUKKKINN AM......
Nobody sat around discussing Rourke's work prior to The Wrestler. Stop being such a bandwagon hopper.