Homeboy (1988)

Synopsis: Brain-damaged palooka wanders around seaside resort town as repetitive blues guitar strums in the background.

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “In faded denim and cowboy boots, Johnny Walker (Mickey Rourke) is a bounced-around club boxer who has taken the low punches in life. Given another chance in the only profession he knows, he meets two people whose influence will change his life: Ruby (Debra Feuer) a volatile yet vulnerable woman, who operates a rundown carousel and Wesley (Christopher Walken) a flashy, mediocre club entertainer and petty thief, who promises Johnny a shot at the big time. Together they can do it, but it may cost Johnny his life!”

What Did I Learn?: If everyone around you appears as a blurry image, and you can’t understand basic speech, it might be time to hang up the old boxing gloves.

You Might Like This Movie If: Johnny Walker? You think Mickey Rourke is at his very best when he plays characters named after famous brand names.

Really?: I realize Johnny is supposed to be a dumb hick, but I found it hard to believe he never heard the word “Jewish” before.  

Rating: Homeboy is a character-driven drama featuring characters that are neither interesting nor particularly likeable. Walken provides a sterling performance as a sleazy man-about-town, but the script (based on a screenplay penned by Mickey Rourke, which ought to tell you something) doesn’t provide him with much. I would have given Homeboy six stars, but I had to deduct a half-star for the countrified-blues guitar score that permeates nearly every scene and started to irritate me mid-way through. 5.5/10 stars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095316/