| John Sedley |
Mickey Rourke is a great actor;. Of this, there is no doubt. His characters, while showing a darker and rarely seen side of
human nature, have been compelling (Angel Heart, Year of the Dragon), humorous (Barfly, Spun) or as in the case of his
character in “Johnny Handsome” Rourke takes the lead as ‘John Sedley‘ and runs with it in the1989 film; directed by Walter
Hill. ‘Sedley’ is a petty criminal, born with a horrible facial disfigurement due to his mother’s abuse of drugs and alcohol
during her pregnancy. Despised by his mother (who died when he was a teenager) and abandoned by the father he never
knew, he experienced a rough and lonely childhood.
He grew to become a loner; unloved and unwanted his entire life. Johnny falls in with a bad crowd. (to call it a crime ring
would be an exaggeration—Johnny makes it a foursome), where 2 of the members, Sunny (Ellen Barkin, also his co-star in
Diner) and Rafe (Lance Henriksen) cruelly nickname him Johnny Handsome and suggest he puts a bag over his head. The
other member of this group is Mikey (Scott Wilson) who becomes Johnny first, best and only friend. Until that time, no one
had shown Johnny love, kindness, friendship or acceptance before.
Sunny and Rafe double-crosse Johnny and Mikey on a job, which Johnny did not want to do but Mikey had to for the
money, killing Mikey and leaving Johnny holding the bag. Johnny is a two time offender and a dogged detective (Morgan
Freeman) is eager to put Johnny away, which he does. But while in prison, a plastic surgeon (Forest Whitaker) feels that
John Sedley would be the perfect subject for an experimental and controversial program which gives criminals with
disadvantaged backgrounds a new start in society. The doctor offers John Sedley a new face, new identity and a new life
which Johnny accepts; but Freeman is skeptical and says it won’t do any good because the doctors can’t fix “in here”,
meaning the heart and soul.
This is where the tragedy that is John Sedley begins. The man who, now known as John Mitchell cannot let the death of
Mikey go unpunished. As John Mitchell, he is still unable open himself up enough to become involved in a relationship with
Donna (Elizabeth McGovern) a lovely, caring secretary from his new construction job who shows him the kindness and
compassion Mikey had given him before his untimely demise. When she find pictures of how he appeared pre-surgery, she
hugs him and tells him its all right. Donna doesn’t run from him in disgust or shame. Her feelings are true for John although
she doesn’t understand why he pushes her away. In spite of her efforts, John keeps the wall up, knowing Donna shouldn’t
be involved in what he feels has to be done.
Soon, he’s hooked back up with Sunny and Rafe (who has taken over Mikey’s bar and unable to recognize him) claiming he
worked with them some time ago on a one-night job with Sunny. Johnny quickly learns Sunny has other plans. She wants
him to help her double cross Rafe who says she stiffed her on the same job they double-crossed Johnny and Mikey on he
night he lost his dearest friend. With an arrangement of his own, John plans to lure them into helping him rob his employer of
$5 million dollars, which he says will be split 3 ways, but his actual scheme is to double cross them both, take all the money
and run.
The deal begins to fall apart when Sunny and Rafe discover John’s true identity. The duo holds Donna hostage to flush
Johnny out. Johnny’s genuine sense of loyalty to both Donna and Mikey draw him out. Suddenly, a gunfight with Sunny and
Rafe is taking place in a cemetery in the middle of the night. Before too long, all their fates are sealed.
Rourke’s last line in the movie reflects the way John Sedley viewed himself and his place of importance in the world: “How
do I look?” And therein lies the tragedy: a man born with a horrible disfigurement and no advantages is given all that he ever
thought he would need to be happy: a new face and a new start. But as the old saying goes, “Wherever you go, there you
are”. John Mitchell had no chance at life while continuing to live with the soul of John Sedley.
This character synopsis was written by Robinette Glenn, feedback is greatly appreciated.
human nature, have been compelling (Angel Heart, Year of the Dragon), humorous (Barfly, Spun) or as in the case of his
character in “Johnny Handsome” Rourke takes the lead as ‘John Sedley‘ and runs with it in the1989 film; directed by Walter
Hill. ‘Sedley’ is a petty criminal, born with a horrible facial disfigurement due to his mother’s abuse of drugs and alcohol
during her pregnancy. Despised by his mother (who died when he was a teenager) and abandoned by the father he never
knew, he experienced a rough and lonely childhood.
He grew to become a loner; unloved and unwanted his entire life. Johnny falls in with a bad crowd. (to call it a crime ring
would be an exaggeration—Johnny makes it a foursome), where 2 of the members, Sunny (Ellen Barkin, also his co-star in
Diner) and Rafe (Lance Henriksen) cruelly nickname him Johnny Handsome and suggest he puts a bag over his head. The
other member of this group is Mikey (Scott Wilson) who becomes Johnny first, best and only friend. Until that time, no one
had shown Johnny love, kindness, friendship or acceptance before.
Sunny and Rafe double-crosse Johnny and Mikey on a job, which Johnny did not want to do but Mikey had to for the
money, killing Mikey and leaving Johnny holding the bag. Johnny is a two time offender and a dogged detective (Morgan
Freeman) is eager to put Johnny away, which he does. But while in prison, a plastic surgeon (Forest Whitaker) feels that
John Sedley would be the perfect subject for an experimental and controversial program which gives criminals with
disadvantaged backgrounds a new start in society. The doctor offers John Sedley a new face, new identity and a new life
which Johnny accepts; but Freeman is skeptical and says it won’t do any good because the doctors can’t fix “in here”,
meaning the heart and soul.
This is where the tragedy that is John Sedley begins. The man who, now known as John Mitchell cannot let the death of
Mikey go unpunished. As John Mitchell, he is still unable open himself up enough to become involved in a relationship with
Donna (Elizabeth McGovern) a lovely, caring secretary from his new construction job who shows him the kindness and
compassion Mikey had given him before his untimely demise. When she find pictures of how he appeared pre-surgery, she
hugs him and tells him its all right. Donna doesn’t run from him in disgust or shame. Her feelings are true for John although
she doesn’t understand why he pushes her away. In spite of her efforts, John keeps the wall up, knowing Donna shouldn’t
be involved in what he feels has to be done.
Soon, he’s hooked back up with Sunny and Rafe (who has taken over Mikey’s bar and unable to recognize him) claiming he
worked with them some time ago on a one-night job with Sunny. Johnny quickly learns Sunny has other plans. She wants
him to help her double cross Rafe who says she stiffed her on the same job they double-crossed Johnny and Mikey on he
night he lost his dearest friend. With an arrangement of his own, John plans to lure them into helping him rob his employer of
$5 million dollars, which he says will be split 3 ways, but his actual scheme is to double cross them both, take all the money
and run.
The deal begins to fall apart when Sunny and Rafe discover John’s true identity. The duo holds Donna hostage to flush
Johnny out. Johnny’s genuine sense of loyalty to both Donna and Mikey draw him out. Suddenly, a gunfight with Sunny and
Rafe is taking place in a cemetery in the middle of the night. Before too long, all their fates are sealed.
Rourke’s last line in the movie reflects the way John Sedley viewed himself and his place of importance in the world: “How
do I look?” And therein lies the tragedy: a man born with a horrible disfigurement and no advantages is given all that he ever
thought he would need to be happy: a new face and a new start. But as the old saying goes, “Wherever you go, there you
are”. John Mitchell had no chance at life while continuing to live with the soul of John Sedley.
This character synopsis was written by Robinette Glenn, feedback is greatly appreciated.
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