The Mickey Rourke Archive: PASSION PLAY.

 

As you might have noticed, I have re-ignited my nearly-defunct column spotlighting the unusual and fascinating filmography of actor Mickey Rourke. The latest inspiration was seeing him in a designer cowboy hat enjoying the bizarre spectacle of the Golden Globes the other night, handing over an award for Best Actress In A Drama to Sandra Bullock (which is a brilliant stroke of surreal insanity in its own right).

 

Today’s featured movie is a glimpse into the future, where Rourke stars alongside Megan Fox and Bill Murray in a movie called Passion Play which I probably saw five times in the theater (this being the future and all.) The movie was written and directed by Mitch Glazer, a writer (Scrooged) and producer and a longtime friend of both Rourke and Murray. It was shot by the great cinematographer Christopher Doyle, best known for his work with Wong Kar-Wai. (For real though!) The ever-reliable Wikipedia suggests that Ultimate Fighter Chuck Liddell and Harold & Maude’s Bud Cort also played featured roles in this future film, hopefully as a mismatched odd couple.

 

The article in which I first learned about this project describes the story as that of an unfortunate trumpet player (Rourke) who saves a captive angel (Fox) from a dangerous gangster (Murray), and is in turn saved by her. Sounds like Mad Dog & Glory but with 100% more supernatural happenings! At the time I learned of the project, it was reportedly already in production in New Mexico. By the time I saw it, it had either become my favorite movie ever, or a fascinating mistake forgotten by history. It had a good shot at being either one, that’s for sure. By pairing my favorite film comedian (Murray)and one of my very favorite eccentric geniuses (Rourke), Passion Play joins The Beaver as one of my most eagerly anticipated odd films of the future.

 

Previous entries in The Mickey Rourke Archive:

KILLSHOT (2006/2008/2009)

BULLET (1996)

 

 

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