The time is the 1950s: seedy Brooklyn private eye Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) is hired by shady Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to locate a pop singer who reneged on a debt. Harry ventures into Harlem, the first step of a Heart of Darkness-inspired odyssey. Each time Harry makes contact with someone who might know the singer's whereabouts, he or she is killed in a horrible, ritualistic fashion; a Satanic cult seems to be at the bottom of all the carnage. Harry solves the mystery, all right. He
just didn't know that he had the answer all along -- even before Louis entered his office. Also available in the "unrated" video version, Angel Heart is best known as the film that nearly got an X-rating due to a no-holds-barred sex scene involving Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Watching a hirsute, long-nailed Robert De Niro daintily peel and unceremoniously scarf down a hard-boiled egg in high definition is more than worth the SRP.
Metaphysical and emotional anemia is an important tradition in cult horror/mystery, a category the daffy plot twists and crimson, incestuous excesses of Angel Heart sit quite cozily in.
Angel Heart [is] a forgotten gem, a no longer controversial piece of brilliant craftsmanship that represents the height of Alan Parker's pana-visionary skill.
Este excepcional noir conta com maravilhosa fotografia, edição primorosa, roteiro envolvente e - o mais importante - uma atuação genial de Rourke, digna de Marlon Brando.
Down at heel private eye Harry Angel is employed to track down an old time crooner and becomes embroiled in a world of black magic and murder. Allan Parker's tribute to Film Noir makes great use of the local colour of Harlem and the Louisiana Bayou to create a dark, brooding atmosphere in this beautifully shot
supernatural thriller. Mickey Rourke puts in a good performance as the gumshoe who is seemingly out of his depth in this shadowy world and a fine supporting cast all play their part along with some intense sound design to create a suitably otherworldly and Hellish feel. The plot is perhaps a little thin as none of the supporting characters actually live long enough to conjure any really meaningful interaction with the protagonist leaving it feeling a little episodic, but the sense of dread and foreboding is tangible. A great lesson in how to create tension and atmosphere even if the story is a little lacking.
November 4, 2006
xGary Xx
Super Reviewer
A spectacular thriller that successfully blends noir and horror, boasting beautiful cinematography, perfect editing, a fascinating story that holds your attention from the first minute to the last, and a remarkable performance by Mickey Rourke, who is nothing less than extraordinary.
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