Already a quarter century has passed since A Prayer for the Dying was first released, and I don't think age has been kind to either Mickey's character portrayal of an IRA bomber named Martin Fallon, nor to the films story line. I believe Mickey Rourke to be a fine actor whose body of work has been solid decade by decade. He is an actor that I look forward to seeing what he plans to do next. I just don't think this particular screen play was very realistic, so first rate actors such as Mickey Rourke, Bob Hoskins, Liam Neeson and Alison Doody who had thought they had ordered top grade steak were served ground beef instead for the screenplay.

The movie is about Martin Fallon a cold hearted IRA bomber who hangs up his TNT after accidentally blowing up a school bus of children which was intended for another IRA target. Of course Martin Fallon is forced to come out of retirement for just one last hit which he completes for another mobster appropriately at a cemetery. Unfortunately Martin fails to see the priest Father Michael Da Costa who witnesses his assassination. The priest is played by the very versatile actor Bob Hoskins.

Yes, there was a steady stream of IRA villains planning other hits, the London Bobby's were continually chasing after the elusive IRA bomber Martin Fallon, the Irish mob wanting their own way, and the film even had a blind damsel in distress named Anna played by Sammi Davis who Martin Fallon falls in love with.

Even with all this potential, and actors of the highest caliber, the film lacked any depth of true characters or continuous suspense. Instead, I felt the movie just plodded on through out and left me half way through the film expecting little more to come of it other than a disappointing ending which was the case.

I give the film a rare 5 out of 10 only on the strength of Mickey Rourke and Bob Hoskins, otherwise my rating would have been even lower.

This Emotionally Engaging Film Arrived with Director Hodges and Star Rourke Dismissing it as Miss-Handled, Retooled, and Released as an Action Vehicle.

Whereas Rourke Wanted the Personal Elements Elevated Beyond the Final Film's Capitulations.

The Professional Critics Followed in Lock-Step Pulverizing the Movie.

Everything from Rourke's Irish Accent to Bob Hoskins Miss-Casting as a Priest.

It was an All-Out Assault on the Movie. The Film Never Recovered, was Forgotten and Still Languishes in Limbo.

One of the Biggest Complaints seems to be the IRA Story-Line Ignored and Disrespected and that Political Hissy-Fit Itself can be Ignored and Disrespected.

Because that is Not what is On-Screen for the Audience.

What is Here is a Character Study of an IRA Assassin and Terrorist who Finally Realises the Sins of His Misplaced Anger and Motives and Wants No Part of it Anymore.

He is on a Personal Quest of Soul Cleansing. That's What is Going-On.

The Nay-Sayers are Negatively Reacting to the Positive Personal Message that Cannot be Denied.

In that Regard the Film is a Visceral, and Yes Violent and Explosive Picture with Hoskin's Priest, Alan Bates Mobster, Sammi Davis Wonderful.

Forget the Pro-Critics like Roger Ebert who gave the Movie 1 Star and Compared it to the Film "Cal" (1984).

Yep, You Guest it. A Movie about the IRA and its Impact.

This is Definitely NOT THAT.

It is a Totally Other Thing and an Excellent Thing at That.

Completely (and rather unjustly) forgotten today, this is an offbeat, interesting dramatic thriller based on a book that seems to lift its basic idea from Alfred Hitchcock's "I Confess" (actually, I haven't seen "I Confess" yet, but everybody knows its premise). The movie has a great cast and makes an earnest attempt to combine psychodrama with more traditional thriller elements. The main problem is that, once the basic situation has been (elaborately) set up, the story seems to get stalled and has nowhere to go. There is also a subplot, involving Liam Neeson in an early role as Mickey Rourke's old comrade in the IRA, that's ultimately just a waste of time. (**)