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A Prayer For The Dying
1987
Martin Fallon is an IRA bomber who tries to blow up a troop truck but instead kills a bus load of school children Read more
| Starring | Mickey Rourke, Bob Hoskins, Alan Bates, Liam Neeson |
|---|---|
| Director | Mike Hodges |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama, Thriller |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Sadly, those involved in this political thriller could never decide what they wanted to make of Jack Higgins's novel about the moral dilemma of a priest unable to shop an IRA terrorist because he has identified himself in the confessional. Director Franc Roddam left the project before shooting began, allegedly because he saw it as an “Irish Rambo”. He was replaced at short notice by Mike Hodges, who disowned the released film. The end result works relatively well as a fast-paced action adventure, but it is certainly shallow and melodramatic, and Bob Hoskins is hard to take as the priest. As the terrorist, Mickey Rourke was also unpopular, though his Belfast accent isn't at all bad.
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It would be nice to say that Hodges' movie about an IRA man - chopped about by other hands, laden with opprobrium after... read more on Time Out
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Convoluted melodrama which kills its chances as a thriller by striving to say something meaningful.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Plot Summary for A Prayer For The Dying
Martin Fallon is an IRA bomber who tries to blow up a troop truck but instead kills a bus load of school children. He loses heart and quits the movement and goes to London trying to leave the U.K. and start a new life. The IRA wants him back (he knows too much) and the local crime boss, Meehan, will only help him if he performs one last hit, on a rival crime boss. When Fallon does perform the hit, he is seen by a catholic priest. He refuses to kill an innocent again and must find a way to escape the police without killing the priest who can identify him
SUMMARY
Based on the Jack Higgins novel of the same name, A Prayer for the Dying follows an IRA hitman (Rourke) who has seen enough and wants to come clean. Chased the cops and the IRA as well as a notorious gangster, Rourke (as Martin Fallon) has to protect a priest who he has implicated in a murder. While some of the supporting actors aren't the most impressive, I think that this is Rourke's best work. He plays a man with a haunted past who wants desperately to put an end to the cycle of violence that has followed him for years. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Suspence and action
Killer messess up big time and tries to pack in the killing for the IRA but as per usual with gangsters killing is for life not just for christmas.
Will the British government get him or will the IRA get him, who can he turn to, who can he trust? Who can trust him, should anyone trust him, should anyone help him?
Watch it and enjoy. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Powerful Drama
Although a little dated, it is nice to see such young looking Bob Hoskins and Micky Rouke strutting their stuff. A great storyline, well acted with never a dull moment.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Suspence and action
Killer messess up big time and tries to pack in the killing for the IRA but as per usual with gangsters killing is for life not just for christmas.
Will the British government get him or will the IRA get him, who can he turn to, who can he trust? Who can trust him, should anyone trust him, should anyone help him?
Watch it and enjoy. -
Surprising
Never heard of this film before and thought Mickey Rourke was out of the picture! His protrayal of an IRA assassin with a conscience was a brilliant feat of acting. Alan Bates as the subtly evil bad guy a great foil for Bob Hoskins ex.Special Forces man turned Priest. A taut, well acted and plausible tale with a brilliant ending. Highly recommended.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Plot Summary for A Prayer For The Dying
Martin Fallon is an IRA bomber who tries to blow up a troop truck but instead kills a bus load of school children. He loses heart and quits the movement and goes to London trying to leave the U.K. and start a new life. The IRA wants him back (he knows too much) and the local crime boss, Meehan, will only help him if he performs one last hit, on a rival crime boss. When Fallon does perform the hit, he is seen by a catholic priest. He refuses to kill an innocent again and must find a way to escape the police without killing the priest who can identify him
SUMMARY
Based on the Jack Higgins novel of the same name, A Prayer for the Dying follows an IRA hitman (Rourke) who has seen enough and wants to come clean. Chased the cops and the IRA as well as a notorious gangster, Rourke (as Martin Fallon) has to protect a priest who he has implicated in a murder. While some of the supporting actors aren't the most impressive, I think that this is Rourke's best work. He plays a man with a haunted past who wants desperately to put an end to the cycle of violence that has followed him for years. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Suspence and action
Killer messess up big time and tries to pack in the killing for the IRA but as per usual with gangsters killing is for life not just for christmas.
Will the British government get him or will the IRA get him, who can he turn to, who can he trust? Who can trust him, should anyone trust him, should anyone help him?
Watch it and enjoy. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Powerful Drama
Although a little dated, it is nice to see such young looking Bob Hoskins and Micky Rouke strutting their stuff. A great storyline, well acted with never a dull moment.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Rubbish
Didn't get past the first 10 minutes...Not my thing.
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IRA
A bit slow to begin with but good once you get into it.
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Surprising
Never heard of this film before and thought Mickey Rourke was out of the picture! His protrayal of an IRA assassin with a conscience was a brilliant feat of acting. Alan Bates as the subtly evil bad guy a great foil for Bob Hoskins ex.Special Forces man turned Priest. A taut, well acted and plausible tale with a brilliant ending. Highly recommended.
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Bit Cliche, but so what
Really enjoyed this movie, vaguely remember this being slated by the tabloids at the time of it's release for it's controversial nature (School Bus bombing incident - don't want to say to much about the plot). Great performance by Micky Rourke ( fairly decent American/Oirish accent, better than Brad Pitts!What happened to Mickey Rouke anyway? ). It's good to see 'not quite famous at the time' faces ie Liam Neeson, & that Blerk From Buffy. Of course the Star of this movie has to be Bob Hoskins, what a performance, ok his character is a bit cliche (Vicar with a dodgy past,internal struggle,good & evil etc) but you really belive it. And the scene where he beat's the c**p out of three cockney bruisers with a dustbin lid (no wheelies in them days) is mental...
Highly recommended thriller, get the beers & a curry in on a Saturday neet & enjoy. -
bloke film
hubby loved it, I didn't!
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Critics' reviews (3)
-
Sadly, those involved in this political thriller could never decide what they wanted to make of Jack Higgins's novel about the moral dilemma of a priest unable to shop an IRA terrorist because he has identified himself in the confessional. Director Franc Roddam left the project before shooting began, allegedly because he saw it as an “Irish Rambo”. He was replaced at short notice by Mike Hodges, who disowned the released film. The end result works relatively well as a fast-paced action adventure, but it is certainly shallow and melodramatic, and Bob Hoskins is hard to take as the priest. As the terrorist, Mickey Rourke was also unpopular, though his Belfast accent isn't at all bad.
-
It would be nice to say that Hodges' movie about an IRA man - chopped about by other hands, laden with opprobrium after... read more on Time Out
-
Convoluted melodrama which kills its chances as a thriller by striving to say something meaningful.
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