Movie star Mickey Rourke entered the Celebrity Big Brother house earlier this week – leaving some viewers scratching their heads trying to remember where they’d seen him before. Now 72 years old, the actor rose to fame through a number of classic 1980s films – but today looks very different from his days as a Hollywood heartthrob.
The actor made waves in a number of action thrillers, from Year of the Dragon to Rumble Fish, as well as a provocative role in erotic romance, 9 1/2 Weeks. But he’s probably best remembered as Charlie Moran in the 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village.
He plays the lead role of a New York waiter in what one viewer described to be “Mickey Rourke at his very best.” Set in New York, the story follows two cousins working as waiters in Greenwich Village who find themselves plotting a get-rich-quick scheme after getting fired.
In the hopes of supporting his pregnant girlfriend, Charlie and his cousin Paulie Gibonni, played by Eric Roberts, orchestrate a robbery – which they soon learn was a huge mistake. It turns out the reckless pair have robbed a local mobster, and they’re soon left anticipating his revenge.
Mickey’s co-star Eric is considered to be one of the most prolific actors of our time, with an impressive 700 credits. Viewers may recognise him, now 68, for his leading role in the 1978 movie King of the Gypsies, as well as films such as The Dark Knight, and the TV programme Suits. He’s also the brother of Hollywood royalty Julia Roberts.
Many audience members have taken to Rotten Tomatoes to share their thoughts on the performances of the two 80s actors in The Pope of Greenwich Village. One review read: “It doesn’t really go anywhere or amount to much, but it’s an interesting and authentic window into street life for small-time hoods. Rourke and Roberts are fantastically layered characters.”
The review goes on to say that Roberts’ character is “obnoxious”, and at some points makes the film “hard to watch”. Other viewers said the performances from the two leads was “amazing”, with one writing: “Some really strong performances make it worth your time.”
The film is particularly fondly remembered for its authentic take on working-class life in New York in the 1980s. One reviewer said: “This movie’s strength doesn’t lie in the story or the acting (even though Eric Roberts gives a great performance), but in its gritty, totally authentic and unglamorous portrayal of small-time crook and Italian mobster life in mid-80s New York.”
They continued: “In this respect, it’s up there with Scorsese, with some great photography contributing to its dirty charm…on the downside there is some questionable acting, and a few either silly or melodramatic scenes that don’t work.”
Following a series of poorly-received movies later in the 80s and early 90s, Mickey Rourke made a strange career move in 1991, becoming a professional boxer. He later returned to acting, and had something of a career resurgence in the mid-2000s, with roles in Sin City, Iron Man 2, and The Expendables. He even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 2008’s The Wrestler.
But today he’s a rarely-seen face on the big screen – and it may be this which led him to sign up for this year’s Celebrity Big Brother. The Pope of Greenwich Village is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.
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