Johnny Handsome (1989)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers (WGA):

John Godey (novel)
Ken Friedman (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Revenge has a new face

Plot:

Johnny Handsome is a deformed gangster who plans a successful robbery with a friend of his, Mikey Chalmette...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Revenge | Shipyard | Robbery | Detective

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	John Sedley a.ka. Johnny Handsome / Johnny Mitchell
Ellen Barkin	...	Sunny Boyd
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Donna McCarty
Morgan Freeman	...	Lt. A.Z. Drones
Forest Whitaker	...	Dr. Steven Fisher
Lance Henriksen	...	Rafe Garrett
Scott Wilson	...	Mikey Chalmette
David Schramm	...	Vic Dumask
Yvonne Bryceland	...	Sister Luke
Peter Jason	...	Mr. Bonet
J.W. Smith	...	Larry
Jeffrey Meek	...	Earl (as Jeff Meek)
Allan Graf	...	Bob Lemoyne
Ed Zang	...	Prestige Manager
John P. Fertitta	...	Prestige Salesman (as John Fertitta)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Avondale Shipyard - 5100 River Road, Avondale, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

The birth date used for Mickey Rourke's character, as seen on the monitor in the hopsital operating room, is Mickey Rourke's actual birthday

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the graveyard scene, Larry "pumps" the action on a double barreled shotgun.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Il solitario (2008)

Rourke's final attempt at greatness

'Johnny Handsome' was Mickey Rourke's last chance to prove that he was actually the next Marlon Brando. Unfortunately, the script failed him halfway through and it's all way downhill since then.

The concept is ingenious: A man born with distorted facial features, is caught during a heist. A second chance is given to him, when he is taken to a special program where they make him normal. But have they mended his soul as well?

Up to a point the movie is brilliant. The dark atmosphere and the slow pace are elements that captivate the audience. But suddenly, this original idea makes such a cliche turn that disappoints.

Mickey Rourke's performance is magnificent. Cool but not weird as he later became and very emotional, he makes the story absolutely believable.

The script needed a little more work, but still this is a pretty good film. If more attention was given to the writing, this could be an Oscar nominated movie and Rourke would actually become the next Marlon Brando.

Shame...

7/10