passion-play-fox-rourke

We haven’t done much coverage on the film Passion Play, which stars Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox. The first big piece we ran on the film was prompted by Toby Kebbell dropping out and Bill Murray stepping into his role. Now we’ve got the first image from the movie, above, and a few quotes from Rourke about the production.

In true Rourke fashion, some of his comments are sure to piss a few people off. When an actor has worked with some of the people he has teamed with, saying that Megan Fox is “probably the best young actress I’ve ever worked with” is sure to get attention. Read on after the jump.

EW talked to the actor and ran the image you see above. Before I get to Rourke’s comments about Megan Fox, let’s cover what the film is about. We originally ran the following logline:

An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.

Fox is the angel, Rourke is the trumpet player and Murray is the gangster. I’m curious to what extent Fox’s character really is an angel. EW describes the film as being a “romance about a troubled trumpet player and a winged beauty who rescue each other from dire circumstances.” Rourke says, “she has wings, so she was sort of an oddity trapped in a carnival act. She’s been a prisoner her whole life, and she has no understanding of trust. She’s very vulnerable and delicate.”

The film is written and directed by Mitch Glazer, who wrote Scrooged and The Recruit. Rourke and Glazer went to high school together, and the director told Rourke about this story idea over a decade ago. So this one is a long time coming. Based on the description, I’m wildly curious to see the final product. EW says the film has just wrapped, so it’s possible we’ll see it this year if a buyer steps up.

So, about the more gossipy quotes from Rourke…basically he seems to dismiss the chops of Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei. I’m sure Darren Aronofsky would have something to say about the following quote. But maybe it’s just Rourke being Rourke. We love him because he’s nuts…right? As he says of his big comeback movie, “Well, The Wrestler was quite tough. There wasn’t much chemistry there. Uh, that’s a whole other conversation. With Megan and I, there’s a lot of chemistry and a lot of respect.”

Related Posts with Thumbnails

  • If it wasn't for the absolutey RIDICULOUS casting choices of Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox in the lead roles, I would be marking my calendar for this flick's release date. But oh my goodness, can we not think of anything more disgusting than Mickey Rourke's battered, broken, INSANE frame engulfing Fox's inept, talentless visage for over 90 minutes? This is the antithesis of Burton's Alice in Wonderland.
  • thats a great pic
  • Debunker
    I'll say this,
    If Megan Fox can pull off 'vulnerable and delicate' I'll be impressed.
  • Dean Moriarty
    Well, Rourke never was one the brightest minds of his generation. Or any generation. Maybe he has not learned all that much. Or just enough to know how to get himself and his movies mentioned. Whatever, that has nothing to do with his acting chops. "Artists" can be dumb assholes, just like every other person. I detest the hell out of many actors, but i still recognize their work.
    Also, BILL MURRAY! Thats a must watch in my book.
  • nolacuse
    Just a quick question? How is he dissing Marissa Tomei? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only time he worked with Tomei was on The Wrestler, so I hardly doubt she can be considered one of the "young actresses" he was referring to. Don't get me wrong, I think she is very hot and has plenty going for her, but she is in her mid-forties. Even by normal societal standards that's not young. Not old, but certainly not young.
  • topheavy
    Evan Rachael Wood, acting "chops".... ummmmmmmmm..... no
  • justthinking
    Carrie Otis is all one must say, Mickey assumed she could act as well..sale the film, that's the Hollywood Way Philly my boy, you are cooking with cash now..
  • Cineprog
    I would like to Reserve jugment on Megan Fox Acting in this Film untill I have seen the first trailer for the film of Passion Play, But here Acting in Jenifers Body was Crap, Weather it was the Script i don't no. I will give her the Benefit of the Doub't.
  • Jake007
    I think Rourke really likes to promote whatever new project he is on, and if that means dissing an old project, so be it. I also think that he changes his mind an awful lot about a lot of things, which could easily be the case here.

    Either way, I agree Fox is a poor actress - however that does not mean that there is no chemistry between her and Rourke. Call me old fashioned, but just typing that last part made me feel dirty. That's icky.
  • joenostalgia
    Lying is bad
  • jackieboi
    Rourke is a classic take-it-or-leave-it kinda guy, he's not in the biz to make friends, he doesn't bs, he just tells you whats on his mind, and he could give a crap if you don't like it.
  • TimK
    "Proof that the internet is full of whiny tools" because of something you conjured up out of thin air and put in the mouths of fictional people who never said anything like that? I've seen strawman arguments before, but you've just impressed even me.
  • CyT
    First I hear the Russell Crowe and Beyonce are some couple in a film, and now Rourke and Fox? Whats next ... Jamie Lee Curtis and Zac Efron?
  • ROFL
    WHAT A GREAT ANALOGY BRO
  • probot
    not funny
  • Lola
    Of course not. Old Putty Face and Fox? That's hot, but some old bag getting it on with a hot young stud? Totally gross. (Unless of course your objection was to Efron to which I concur.)
  • shane
    This is going to be awesome. Or maybe terrible. But I'd love for it to be terrific.
  • gomez
    Isn't it obvious?
    Rourke wants to get some action with a hot young thang.
  • dogless
    Probably already has. She looks like she puts out pretty easily.
  • A.
    Yeah, because it's not like she's only had one boyfriend for years, or anything.
    Oh, wait. She has.
  • dogless
    I'm assuming you're not that one boyfriend, so no need to get so defensive of her, Tex.

    Besides, if she insists on portraying herself as some wild-child wannabe dumb slut, that's what I'm going to think of her.
  • Don't get your hopes up.
  • deathmetalhero
    its cool guys, Ill do her with mine.
  • dogless
    I wouldn't do her with yours.
  • RobertZ
    Of course some of us remember Mad Dog and Glory! (Good call) That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw that Mr. Murray was playing the gangster. Should be some interesting Acting (in a good way) with Rourke and Murray going at it. Sounds different, and with the current state of film-making "different" wins big points in my book.:)
  • JesseWhitehead
    Murray also played a gangster in Mad Dog And Glory, a little remembered gem that had some great acting by Murray, De Niro and Uma Thurman. Does anyone else remember this movie?
  • Christopher Doyle is shooting this one. That alone gets me excited for the film. I tend to trust his judgment when it comes to project selection (with the exception of Lady in the Water). He's a class act, in an old drunken hobo genius sort of way.
  • RussFischer
    I don't know how I'd missed that Doyle is shooting this -- thanks for the reminder. Agree that he always adds cred. (I do wish that Away With Words, the first film he directed, was better. Haven't seen Warsaw Dark yet.)
  • Well, he even admits its failure, which is a good sign, I think. He's more of an artist than a filmmaker. I got to go to a talk with him on Friday. He's a wonderful man.
  • Harmonica
    This sounds a lot like the movies Rourke used to make in the 80's, like Johnny Handsome or A Prayer for the Dying.

    Maybe that's why I am so excited to see this film.
  • RussFischer
    I'm with you on that. Gives off some 'The Salton Sea' vibe, too, and while I don't really *like* that movie I'm sorta fascinated with it.
  • jason b
    ahh yes...here's where rourke follows in travolta's shoes and self-sabatouge's a wonderful comeback.

    at least in travolta's case he wasn't an ignorant fuckwad.
  • waqman
    'Murray is the gangster'

    whaaaaaaaaaat? I don't care how shitty this movie turns out I'm definitely watching that. Should be hilarious.
  • Nokoo
    Murray's played a gangster before.
  • I'm with you. The cast has me far too intrigued to skip it.
  • Unless Bruce Springsteen ends up writing a song about Megan Fox shooting angel wings out of her back, I'm not interested.
  • Ashley
    Why not give Megan a chance. All she's really done is action movies. This movie may be the one that shows us if she can act or not And Rourke knows who can act and who cant. He taught people how to act at the Actor's Studio.
  • Matt
    Now that Rourke has positive things to say about Megan Fox, I'm sure everyone will ignore all that praise they heaped on him and his "style" during the 2008 Oscar season when he was promoting his film "The Wrestler". Because, y'know, he couldn't possibly have a valid opinion if he likes Megan Fox, despite the fact that just a year ago everyone respected the hell out of his opinion and would shout at you if you contradicted him or said his film wasn't that great. Further proving the internet is full of whiny tools.
  • FLOCKE
    So much truth in that statement. So much truth.
  • Ashley
    Megan's character isnt an actual angel. When she is like 13 wings shoot out of her back. I read the script. Its great.
  • affirmallchance
    I read the script too and it's terrible.

    And you're wrong.
  • Ewwwwwww.

    Ever notice how many Oscar nominees go on to be in crap movies, shortly after they've been nominated? This movie might be to Mickey Rourke what "Æon Flux" was to Charlize Theron.
blog comments powered by Disqus