Lisa Bonet topless in Angel Heart (1987)

A favorite of mine. Beautiful woman, engaging story. Director Alan Parker was an interesting and complex guy, as demonstrated by the astounding diversity of his movies. His filmography encompasses a wide range of styles, tones and genres. And there are some damned good movies on that list.

Angel Heart is a combination horror movie and detective film noir (bayou sub-genre), and it’s a terrific example of a filmmaker completely controlling the film’s spooky, ominous atmosphere. The plot is incredibly complicated and confusing, and the details sometimes seem to make no sense, but that may actually be an asset in this case, in that it takes the film deeper into your head, and makes it seem even darker and more mysterious. What we do know is that a low-rent detective named Harry Angel is hired by a mysterious client to find Johnny Favorite, a missing singer. It seems that Mr. Favorite was one serious sleazebag, engaged in some blasphemously evil practices.

At one time I wanted to figure out some of the most confusing details, so I read the prize-winning book upon which the film is based, then lent it to a friend to read. Between the two of us, we had no more clues after reading and discussing the book than before we started it. I think you have to just accept that it is some dark, evil stuff, and forget about trying to tie it down with tight logic. I can’t say much more because the mystery is much more fun if you try to solve it along with Harry Angel.

3 thoughts on “Lisa Bonet topless in Angel Heart (1987)

  1. Parker might have one in my all-time top ten (if I would ever do one) – The Commitments.
    “Say it loud – “Oi’m black and oi’m proud”.

    1. A classic. “Joey: The name’s Joseph Fagin. Joey “The Lips” Fagin.
      Jimmy Rabbitte: [sarcastically] And I’m Jimmy “The Bollocks” Rabbitte
      Joey: I get mine from my horn playing. How’d you get yours?”

      1. RIP Johnny Murphy (Joey) . They kept talking about doing a sequel until he died a few years back. Gina is bereft.

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