''Pope' and circumstance

Think fast - what comes to mind when you hear the name Mickey Rourke?
A face that visited one too many plastic surgeons? A brief bout as a boxer? An allegedly real sex scene with his "Wild Orchid" co-star Carre Otis? (Not true)
I finally caught up with one of his signature films - "The Pope of Greenwich Village."
I know, what took me so long?
The 1984 feature offers up raw performances by Eric Roberts and Geraldine Page (who earned an Oscar nomination), but viewers walked away marveling at how cool Rourke could be in a role that should have devolved into a New Yawk stereotype.
In 2005, Rourke made a minor comeback in "Sin City," and he's set to appear in the sequel next year. But his face could prevent any large-scale revival. It's too unnatural for anyone not to be distracted by.
For a fascinating look at his rise and fall, check out this 2002 Salon article.