Homeboy (film)

Plot

Johnny Walker (Mickey Rourke) is a down-and-out boxer with brain damage who has recently moved into a sea-side resort. He falls in love with Ruby, a carnival owner who has a lot in common with Johnny. He also befriends Wesley Pendergrass (Christopher Walken), a corrupt promoter. Wesley and Johnny form a strong friendship, and it's clear that Johnny comes to idolize Wesley who wants to use Johnny as muscle in a robbery and asks for his help. Johnny has to choose between the love of Ruby (Debra Feuer) or the friendship of Wesley.

Production

Exterior shots in Asbury Park include the boardwalk, the beach, Paramount Theatre, Cookman Avenue. Shots in Belmar include Alfred's Ice Cream Cafe and Pied Piper Ice Cream. Interior shots in Asbury Park include the Convention Hall and Belmar Barber Shop in Belmar. The Tillie mural and the Palace Amusements building can be seen in the background, a staple of Asbury Park and its culture. During the boxing scenes, the Convention Hall is used as the venue. This is the first of two times Rourke used the famed venue in films. The second was for 2008's The Wrestler.

Christopher Walken told Film Comment in August, 1992:

Cast

Mickey Rourke as Johnny Walker

Christopher Walken as Wesley Pendergass

Debra Feuer as Ruby

Thomas Quinn as Lou

Kevin Conway as Grazziano

Antony Alda as Ray

Jon Polito as Moe Fingers

Bill Slayton as Bill

David Albert Taylor as Cannonball

Joseph Ragno as Cotten's Trainer

Matthew Lewis as Cotten

Willy DeVille as Moe's Bodyguard

Rubén Blades as Doctor

Sam Gray as Barber

Dondre Whitfield as Billy Harrison

Stephen Baldwin as Luna Park Drunk

Soundtrack

See Homeboy – Original Score Performed by Eric Clapton.

In popular culture

In Bob Dylan's first memoir, Chronicles Volume One, he writes of a trip to the movies during the recording of the album Oh Mercy. He writes of Mickey Rourke:

He could break your heart with a look. The movie traveled to the moon every time he came onto the screen. Nobody could hold a candle to him. He was just there, didn't have to say hello or goodbye.

Dylan would later work with Rourke on his film Masked and Anonymous in 2001.