Movie Description
In Alan Parker's ANGEL HEART, based on the novel FALLING ANGEL by William Hjortsberg, a New York City gumshoe is hired to find an aging blues singer. Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) follows clues from the ominous ghettos of Harlem to the witchy backwoods of Louisiana, where he takes up with Epiphany Proudfoot (Lisa Bonet), the beautiful young daughter of a voodoo priestess, whom he believes will be able to shed light on the growing mystery surrounding the missing musician. As Angel closes in on the truth of the case, his contacts start turning up dead. He begins to suspect he might be next.
Parker (MISSISSIPPI BURNING) threads a commentary on the limitations of modern Western society into his sensual, suspenseful thriller. As the story unfolds, Angel relies less and less on his failing, overwhelmed rational mind (and handgun) and more on Epiphany's ancient mojo. Rourke captures the unraveling protagonist perfectly, and Bonet adds an erotic and mysterious edge with her performance. Robert De Niro is both funny and malevolent as Angel's mysterious client, Louis Cyphre. Shimmering with a beguiling mist of the macabre, ANGEL HEART provides an unexpectedly haunting dose of gothic noir.
| Credits | | Producer: | Mario F. Kassar | | Cast: | Charlotte Rampling, Mickey Rourke, Rick Washburn |
Editorial Reviews
"...A mightily absorbing mystery that also represents the best sustained filmmaking of director Alan Parker..."
Variety - Cart. (03/04/1987)
"...It is a movie cool to the eye....It is the film's cumulative atmosphere that builds its mounting sense of doom..."
Los Angeles Times - Sheila Benson (03/06/1987)
"...With spine-twisting atmosphere, oodles of sly wit and a nightmare-birthing ending..."
Total Film - Ceri Thomas
"...A definitive 1980s period piece..."
Sight and Sound - Danny Leigh (03/01/2001)
"[Rourke] gives off a vibe of mangy cool..."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (06/10/2004)
4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's still a kick to see the two Method men lock acting antlers -- particularly with both at the peak of their pomp."
Total Film - Andy Lowe (08/01/2006)
4 stars out of 5 -- "ANGEL HEART grows richer with each viewing, especially in its autumnal palette."
Uncut - Stephanie Dalton (09/01/2006)
4 stars out of 5 -- "ANGEL HEART duly remains a well-regarded Faustian puzzle of a film."
Ultimate DVD - Simon Edwards (09/01/2006)
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