Honestly, it’s hard to wrap your head around how a movie with this much star power basically evaporated into thin air. If you look at the cast of passion play film, you’d think you were looking at an Oscar-season heavyweight. Mickey Rourke was fresh off his massive comeback in The Wrestler. Megan Fox was the biggest name in the world after Transformers. Bill Murray? Well, he’s Bill Murray.
Yet, this 2010 indie drama—a weird, neon-soaked fever dream about a jazz musician and a winged woman—is mostly remembered as a cautionary tale. Or, more accurately, it’s barely remembered at all.
The Big Names Who Anchored the Cast of Passion Play Film
The movie, written and directed by Mitch Glazer, centers on Nate Poole, played by Mickey Rourke. Nate is a washed-up trumpet player who has a knack for getting into trouble with the wrong people. Rourke plays him with that specific brand of bruised vulnerability he perfected in the late 2000s. He’s essentially a man looking for a miracle, and he finds it in the most literal way possible.
Then there’s Megan Fox as Lily Luster. This was a huge pivot for her at the time. She plays a "bird girl" in a traveling carnival. And no, it’s not a costume. She actually has wings. It’s a bizarre, ethereal role that required Fox to be more than just a pin-up, acting as the emotional heart of Nate's redemption.
The Antagonists and Supporting Players
You can't talk about this cast without mentioning Bill Murray. He plays Happy Shannon, a ruthless mobster who isn’t exactly "happy." Murray brings a strange, quiet menace to the role that feels a world away from his usual comedic persona.
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The rest of the ensemble is just as eclectic:
- Rhys Ifans as Sam Adamo, the flamboyant and somewhat sinister carnival owner who "owns" Lily.
- Kelly Lynch as Harriet. Fun fact: Lynch is actually married to the director, Mitch Glazer, and she’s been a staple in cult cinema for decades.
- Robert Wisdom and Rory Cochrane pop up in supporting roles, adding some grit to the desert-noir atmosphere.
- Even UFC legend Chuck Liddell makes an appearance as a character named Aldo.
Why This Ensemble Didn't Save the Movie
On paper, this is a dream team. In reality, the film was a bit of a disaster at the Toronto International Film Festival. Critics were brutal. The word "misbegotten" got thrown around a lot.
Basically, the story tried to mix classic film noir with magical realism, and for most people, the gears just didn't mesh. Mickey Rourke himself didn't help matters. In a moment of brutal honesty that probably gave his publicist a heart attack, he later called the movie "terrible" during an interview. He eventually walked those comments back a bit, but the damage was done.
The budget was roughly $15 million. The box office return? A staggering, soul-crushing $3,669 during its limited theatrical run. You read that right. It didn't even make enough to buy a used Honda Civic.
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The Chemistry (Or Lack Thereof)
There’s a lot of debate about whether the cast of passion play film actually worked together. Some fans—yes, there is a small cult following—argue that Rourke and Fox had a genuine, protective chemistry. Rourke was very vocal about defending Fox’s acting ability, calling her one of the best actresses he’d ever worked with.
Whether you believe that or think they were sleepwalking through the script, the performances are definitely unique. You don’t often see Bill Murray playing a straight-up villain against a winged Megan Fox while Mickey Rourke plays the trumpet in the background. It’s a specific vibe.
Production Secrets and "What Ifs"
The road to getting this cast together was long. Mitch Glazer actually wrote the script twenty years before it was finally filmed. Originally, he wanted Kelly Lynch to play the angel, but by the time the cameras rolled in late 2009, the roles had shifted.
The film also features one of the final performances by R&B legend Solomon Burke, who played himself. He passed away shortly before the film was widely released, adding a layer of real-world sadness to an already melancholy movie.
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Watch It For the Curiosity Factor
If you're going to watch it today, don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Watch it for the spectacle of seeing these specific actors in such a strange environment. The cinematography by Christopher Doyle—who is a legend for his work with Wong Kar-wai—is actually stunning. The movie looks like a billion dollars, even if the story feels like it's drifting through a desert fog.
To really appreciate what happened here, you have to look at it as a piece of "difficult" art rather than a blockbuster. It’s a movie that exists in its own bubble, fueled by Glazer's long-term passion and a cast that was willing to take a massive, albeit unsuccessful, risk.
Actionable Insights for Film Buffs:
- Check out the cinematography: If you’re a fan of visual storytelling, skip the plot and just watch how Christopher Doyle lights Megan Fox’s wings. It’s masterclass level.
- Context is everything: Watch The Wrestler right before this to see the headspace Mickey Rourke was in when he signed on.
- Bill Murray completionists: This is a rare chance to see Murray play a character with zero "wink-at-the-camera" humor. It's unsettling.
- Research the "rough cut": The version that screened at TIFF was notoriously different from the final DVD release. If you can find the production notes on the edits Glazer made to "save" the film, it’s a fascinating look at the post-production process.