Watch A Prayer for the Dying For Free

Very well executed

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Memorable, crazy movie

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Let me start by saying that I was fortunate enough to be able to re-enact 2 scenes from this great film in college (theatre class). I played Fallon in the park meeting with Liam Neeson's character (played by another student). Our fellow thespians loved the intensity but were a bit perplexed by the slow pacing.Secondly,the scene with Fallon and the priest (at the pulpit)after Docherty is shot by his female partner.Maybe it's partly because of my Irish heritage, but I LOVED this film.The soundtrack features some lovely pennywhistles and a bittersweet melody. I,also, enjoyed the Bach Fugue (sic) though Fallon's organ playing didn't look that realistic to me (I play).Liam Neeson is wonderful, as always. The look on his face as Fallon turns away from him in the park is priceless.He knows he just signed his own death-warrant.Secondly, the previous scene where he announces "Here,here, I'll not go near this place" to the (funeral-worker) informer. What authority! Some memorable quotes: "I once saw some writin' on a wall in (London) Derry ... that said: is there a life before death?" and "I don't wanna keep waking-up hearing the screams of young children, I lost somethin a long time ago...everything" and the ending when Fallon asked God to "Please,please,please forgive me" then dies in the arms of the grateful priest. Wow! Also, Bates is terrific as devil/angel crimeboss and that line "I don't think you quite know who I am, Father". It truly could have been written about a mafioso or a gangbanger who is curved back in by people who believe he knows too much: ally or not The IRA wants him back (in their fold) or dead.Trust me : it happens daily in this country.In my humble opinion: Like Mel Gibson's Hamlet , Rourke is surrounded by some of the best actors in GB and gives a nearly perfect performance. Nuanced and understated yet with a quiet intensity that should have earned him an Oscar (or at least a nomination).Who did he anger to be so vilified by Hollywood's honchos?Lastly, Bates was said to have "chewed up the scenery" by a critic. Does anyone know what that means? Love to all, all over this blue planet !!!

Jack Higgins' straightforward thriller about a guilt-ridden IRA bomber forced into "one last job" (where have I heard that plot before?) gets a snarky treatment from cult director Mike Hodges. Mickey Rourke, with alarming red hair, confesses all to the priest (Bob Hoskins, of all people) who accidentally witnessed the shooting. The rules of the church keep Father Bob from talking, but then Rourke goes and falls in love with the priest's blind niece. They bond at the church organ. What? Really, that's the plot. Alan Bates is around as the top dog mobster who's calling the shots (literally) and he seems to be the only actor who's on to the jokey tone Hodges is aiming at. Bates is all set to do a sort of U.K. PRIZZI'S HONOR, but no one else, including an effortlessly charismatic Liam Neeson in a supporting role, has been informed.

A bizarre, rather disappointing choice for nearly all involved. The film is essentially an action movie, although it certainly makes an effort to rise above its lowly fate as such and make a statement about the ability to forgive others, and ultimately to forgive yourself. Mike Hodges' biggest mistake is not letting the film be what it was meant to be, a thriller.It begins with Irish Republican Army operatives Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) and Liam Docherty (a game Liam Neeson) overseeing the bombing of an English army transport truck. The bombing goes awry, however, and a schoolbus carrying a handful of children is detonated instead. In the ensuing chaos, Martin and Liam are separated. Guilt-stricken, Martin goes on the run. Liam is sent by his IRA superiors to find Martin and either bring him back or kill him.Martin wants to drop out of the terrorist business and go to America. In order to get the papers he needs from creepy crime boss/undertaker Jack Meehan (Alan Bates), he agrees to one last job, the assassination of a rival gang leader. Martin goes to a cemetery to do the job, but is witnessed by Father Da Costa (Bob Hoskins). In order to prevent the priest from identifying him to the police, Martin confesses his crime to Da Costa.And that's when things get complicated. Meehan wants Martin to off the priest, but Martin says he's done killing. Da Costa is uncomfortable with keeping Martin's secret, but as a Catholic priest he has no choice. And Liam is closing in on Martin every day.There are moments of genuine pathos, mostly thanks to Mickey Rourke, who does his absolute best with the material at hand. The more I see of him, the more I'm reminded of what Marlon Brando was like in his youth. Aside from a significant facial and physical resemblance, they share a vulnerability on screen that's very unusual. For the most part, however, this is silly stuff, especially Fallon's romance with Da Costa's blind niece (a godawful Sammi Davis). That was just unnecessary.I should probably mention that Alan Bates makes a pretty terrific villain, and he's almost worth the price of a rental all by himself. Not quite, but almost. There's also some fine cinematography. The score got on my nerves though; in fact, you could say the score is a perfect metaphor for the film. It weaved from mournful, evocative Irish folk music to typical action-adventure crap, often within heartbeats of one another.Overall, an uneven, occasionally dull effort. Huzzah for Alan Bates for keeping it interesting though.

You got it wrong, definitely is there people around, for whom it's not completely missed, more likely near the top of all-time favorites. I'd better divide people to who has seen it and who has not. Reluctant to say, is it Rourke's best or 3rd or what, I was more impressed by Hoskins' performance definitely, or role. Rating? Max. Liam? You don't have to be on screen for duration to make Your point.