homeboy

Often derided as a shameless vanity project, Homeboy (1988) written by Mickey Rourke [under the pseudonym Eddie Cook -ed.] is a major guilty pleasure here. Throwing out the bad (too many moody lingering shots of the star) there really is some good fun to be had. And considering this was shot right after Barfly you have to tip your hat to his workout regime. This is Rourke pre-tattoos, pre-surgery and pre-HGH. (I wore out my VHS copy years ago, but Homeboy has been reintroduced on dvd since the Wrestler. I believe the "piece of meat" scene is filmed at the same location as some of this film.)

Cowboy boxer, Johnny Walker, transplants to New Jersey and falls in love with an Indian cycle riding fairground owner (played by Debra Feuer -Rourke's wife at the time, who also starred in the undervalued To Live and Die in LA). Tough/tender guy falls for girl next door type running the carnival... late 80's this was right in my wheelhouse. Plenty of old man B-reel shots (in diners, boxing clubs, bars), lots of Chris Walken (the dinosaur and Aristotle monologues, great stuff), Ruben Blades in a brilliant scene as the doctor, John Polita nails it as the greasy fight promoter; and finally Rourke's ever rotating denim collection is practically its own character, awesome. Man, I want that shirt with the pony hide elbow patches... That is what this post is really about. Have to tread pretty carefully here as don't want to suggest that Johnny Walker (great name) with cowboy boots et. al. is my sartorial hero... but enjoy the workgloves, blanket-lined Lee Storm Riders, Redman and rabbits foot... He also carries a Bruce Banner-esque holdall that seems able to fit all this.


Am I certifiable if I bought an identical Tiddledy Winks game to travel with? Well sign me up then. Bosh.

quotable -rumble fish

Benny (Waits): Time is a funny thing. Time is a very peculiar item. When you're young, you're a kid, you got time. Throw away a couple of years here, a couple of years there... It doesn't matter. The older you get you say, "Jesus, how much I got?" I got 15 summers left. Think about it.

'Grab via The Sheila Variations. Have a definate soft spot for Rumble Fish here. More choice shots below, same source.

the wrestler -stays with you

Knocked out The Wrestler yesterday. Reviews are all over the web, here, here or here. My thoughts are in the comments section below - so don't look or your experiece will be tainted.

the wrestler -the trailer is up

via AppleTrailers. Unabashed Mickey fan here. We never left pal.

the wrestler -clip

Still no production trailer for The Wrester but this is a good. Would rather post a full trailer than just a clip of Mickey crying...but you definately get a feel for the general tone. A few more at TrailerAddict.

the wrestler -mickey rourke

Small clip and interview from Venice Film Festival for The Wrestler; a possible return to limelight for Rourke. Sounds slightly retread (another fight might kill you...ok i'll do it) but the role of bruised/failed fighter def' suits Mickey. No trailer available yet. Darren says on his blog that the final cut was finished just days before Venice. Venice wowed by Rourke comeback via BBC.
There are a lot of pretty grim photos of Rourke nowadays but he is hugely reminiscent for us. Good stuff.


Further reading: Toronto Film Fest writeup.

lee storm rider

Plenty of ink spilled about Levi's jackets...i like to switch it w the 2-pocket Lee Storm Rider. Blanket lined natch'. Good enough for Mickey and Marilyn.



General info:
In 1936, Lee moved to identify itself more fully with the Western world of cowboys and rodeos by forming the Rodeo Cowboys Association. The company also opened a plant in San Francisco to produce its trademark denim cowboy pants, now known as Lee "Rider" pants. For the first time, the company's logo was rendered in a "hair-on-hide" leather label that featured the letters of its name connected in a way that resembled the mark of a cattle brand. By 1939, Lee had become the largest producer of work clothes in America.

The Storm Rider 101LJ is the lined version of the 101-J. The tag was embroidered until sometime in the 80's when Lee decided to print the tag.