JOHNNY HANDSOME

US, 1989, 94 minutes, Colour.
Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Elizabeth McGovern?, Morgan Freeman, Lance Henricksen, Forest Whitaker.
Directed by Walter Hill.

Johnny Handsome is a tough thriller directed by the renowned director of tough thrillers, Walter Hill - whose films include Streetfighter, The Driver, Red Heat, Southern Comfort, 48 Hours.

The film has authentic New Orleans settings. It focuses on petty criminals and their success, as well as their betrayal of one another. Lance Henricksen and Ellen Barkin portray two of the ugliest of screen villains. Mickey Rourke has an offbeat role as Johnny Handsome - a man with a disfigured face (reminding audiences of the Elephant Man). After a plastic surgery operation (done by the genial actor Forest Whitaker), he goes back to an ordinary life - but is bent on revenge. Elizabeth McGovern? is attractive as the sympathetic girl.

The film focuses on grim aspects of life, the world of criminals, the world of labour, the world of the police (represented by Morgan Freeman as a sardonic parole officer). There is a great deal of violence - but is quite well done in its style.

1. Interesting and exciting thriller? Twists of the plot?

2. The New Orleans settings, the world of the criminals, the dark, nightclubs, prisons, workplaces, the police? Industry and labour? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?

3. The title and its ironies?

4. The credits: the relationship between Johnny and Mike, the photos, the bonds, the past? Crime and money? The plan for the robbery? Rafe and Sunny, her background, working with Rafe? The robbery, the execution, the masks, the jewels, the violence, the getaway - and the killing of Mike and wounding Johnny?

5. Johnny, his appearance, nickname, participation in the robbery? Grief at Mike's death? The arrest, prison? In himself, his memories, his parents, his face, threatening the children who mocked him? His sentence? The police officer and the pursuit? In jail, his being knifed in the yard, the failure of the attempt on his life?

6. The doctor, sympathy, the possibility of change? The discussion at the surgery, the issues, the preliminaries, the operation, the computer work and planning of the restructuring? The effect?

7. The personality of the doctor, his motives, sympathy? Preparation, the operation? With the students at the hospital? His being the psychologist for Johnny's rehabilitation and readjustment? The nuns at the hospital, the sympathetic nun and her teaching Johnny how to speak?

8. Johnny transformed into the recognisable Mickey Rourke? Getting out, new documents, the report of his death, possibilities? Going to work, the effect of work on him, an ordinary life, apartment, meeting the secretary, attracted to her, sympathetic? Going out with her? The attack by her boyfriend and his threatening him? Warning him away from forcing the girl to cook the books? His dropping her and her puzzle?

9. Rafe and Sunny, their background, Sunny as a prostitute, Rafe keeping the money, her being in the bar? Their partners?

10. Johnny's plan, checking it out, the threats? Going to the club, seeing Sunny, getting Rafe involved? Rafe's threats but Johnny's hold over them?

11. The execution of the robbery, the effectiveness, the same technique as before? The getaway? Johnny and his shrewdness with the money, his plan, laundering it? The various doublecrosses and the effect?

12. The cleaning of the money, the man recognising Johnny? Contact?

13. The policeman, his continued meetings with Johnny, suspicious, looking for the revenge, wanting to catch the criminals? His working out the laundering of the money? His pursuit?

14. Rafe and Sunny and their taking Donna? The shootout? The final bluff about the gun in the case? Rafe's death, Sunny's death? Johnny being shot? What had he achieved?

15. The world of criminals and evil, the effect? Possibilities of redemption? Revenge or redemption? What if...?