6. Year Of The Dragon (1985)
Director: Michael Cimino Cast: Mickey Rourke, John Lone, Ariane Long before The Wrestler and Iron Man 2 established Mickey Rourke as a modern screen presence, the actor was delivering some fine performances in some highly watchable movies during the 1980s. One of these films is 1985s Year of the Dragon. Rourke plays Stanley White, a detective working the Chinatown beat. Hes abrasive, compulsive and cocky. He has a reputation for breaking rules and invariably manages to hurt those around him. But he remains uncompromising in his duty as a cophe wont take bribes and he wont look the other way. This becomes a problem in dealing with a surge in violence in Chinatown. The Syndicate that runs things often takes care of their own problems as the cops stand back. But not Stanley. He believes organized crime in Chinatown is out of control, and as he pushes the young syndicate leader, played by John Lone, he puts himself and his loved ones in danger. Year of the Dragon is a provocative film that deals with morality, organized crime and racial stereotypes. Director Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter) crafts a fluidly-paced and dramatically dynamic film that is, frankly, better than it ought to be. Rourke is a strong lead here, and he carries the film on his capable shoulders. While similarly dark in tone like many 80s thrillers (Black Rain, the De Palma films), this one is just a little bit better.