10 Formerly Great Film Roles That Are Horribly Awkward Today

8. Mickey Rourke €“ Angel Heart

Despite the huge comeback with The Wrestler, it was very hard to look past the state Rourke has got himself into since his great lead role in Angel Heart. Plastic surgery has made him a hulking shell of the man who was once considered one of the best-looking leading actors in Hollywood. Angel Heart represents the last leading man role for the chiselled Rourke, before he slipped into complete obscurity throughout the 90's, opting for a few bit parts here and there whilst perusing his first love of amateur boxing. Rourke became a victim of his own success, and with his first love of boxing taking precedence in his life, he became a battered mess of his former movie star self and ended up beaten and broken, much like his character in The Wrestler. Upon reflection of Angel Heart, Director Alan Parker was quoted as saying that, at the time, Rourke could have been as big as Marlon Brando when it comes to leading men. He had the acting chops, the on-screen presence and the leading man good looks. But much like Brando, a deviation from a great career turned out to be the biggest mistake he could have made, despite the supposed comeback, Rourke was also known to have turned down Bruce Willis' role of Butch in Pulp Fiction, a role that would have set him back on track in the movie world. Angel Heart makes awkward viewing to this day in the sense that when you think what could have been for Mickey Rourke, it represents a somewhat wasted talent.