Walter Hill is usually associated with rugged, high-testosterone movies. Here teamed with the author of 'The Taking of Pelham 123' the testosterone is amply in evidence but the plot actually more resembles that old Joan Crawford film in which her life is transformed by one of those operations you only get in the movies that gives her a beautiful new face.
Mickey Rourke starts out looking like the elephant man (with pretty stiff competition from the reptilian Lance Hendrickson). Although technically the hero - he's the one called 'Johnny' after - he sacrifices the audience's goodwill by cheating on nice Elizabeth McGovan with peroxided gun moll Ellen Barkin.
Seen today today the film's biggest irony is that if it was made today he wouldn't need any makeup for the scenes before he has the surgery.
Mickey Rourke starts out looking like the elephant man (with pretty stiff competition from the reptilian Lance Hendrickson). Although technically the hero - he's the one called 'Johnny' after - he sacrifices the audience's goodwill by cheating on nice Elizabeth McGovan with peroxided gun moll Ellen Barkin.
Seen today today the film's biggest irony is that if it was made today he wouldn't need any makeup for the scenes before he has the surgery.