A Prayer for the Dying Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1987

A Prayer for the Dying is an intense drama featuring Mickey Rourke as an ex-IRA bomber that desperately wishes to leave his violent past behind… a past that continues to haunt him when he runs afoul of his former terrorist organization as well as a local drug kingpin. Can he leave his bloody past behind, or is he destined to use his skills to shed more blood?

This is a film that places the emphasis on the characters and their tribulations rather than rock 'em sock' em action. So does it work? Read on to find out…

A Prayer for the Dying is a dramatic tale of regrets and the quest for redemption. When the movie opens we see Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) assist two IRA compatriots in setting up a roadside bomb, one of which is Liam Docherty (Liam Neeson), who happens to be Fallon's best friend. Their plan to destroy up a military convoy blows up in their face (no pun intended) when an innocent school bus full of children is captured in the devastation instead. With the inadvertent blood of helpless children on his hands, Fallon swears off the IRA and attempts to escape his violent past.

Unfortunately his past doesn't wish to let go of him so easily, for his skills as an IRA killer are very much in demand from a local crime lord, who convinces Fallon it's in his best interest to take on one more job and assassinate a rival. But things go wrong when a priest, Father Michael Da Costa (Bob Hoskins), witnesses the execution. Tired of the violence, Fallon refuses to kill the priest, despite the demands from the mob to tie up the loose ends.

The rest of the film centers on the priest's struggle to lead Martin Fallon to redemption, and Fallon's inner turmoil at the sins of his past. His tortured spirit is not the only obstacle in his path, for the IRA wants him dead for betraying their cause and sends his best friend out to do the deed. Meanwhile the mob also wants him dead, not to mention the priest that observed the execution.

In the end the film shows us a dark and often tragic picture of how difficult it is to escape the circle of violence once things spiral out of control. Redemption is a goal many seek, but few have the strength to truly obtain it, and this film illustrates that struggle.

Mickey Rourke is a talented actor that somehow never really received the respect he deserved. In A Prayer for the Dying he manages to slip into the role of a tortured ex-IRA killer and lends an authenticity to the character. I won't state that no one else could have done it better, but Rourke has a lot of chemistry and I almost always enjoy watching his performances.

Although Liam Neeson's role doesn't take center stage of this film, his quiet and expressive demeanor was perfect for his part as a best friend turned would-be executioner. Bob Hoskins was criticized during the movie's release as being miscast as a priest, and while I can understand the basis for the criticism I personally didn't feel he detracted from the film. He was another solid actor that handled his part well.

The film is dark, but it doesn't choke you with despair. It draws you in, but it doesn't forcefully ensnare you. It does justice to the novel the movie was based on, but it still loses a bit of depth in the translation. All in all, A Prayer for the Dying isn't a perfect film, but it succeeds much more than it fails.

If the subject matter appeals to you in the least, you'll likely find this drama to be worthy of your time.

Movie rating: 7 stars

If you enjoyed A Prayer for the Dying you may also find the following films to be of interest:

• Mad Max
• Messenger of Death

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