More on “Midnight Run”
After mentioning the film “Midnight Run” in yesterday’s post—and searching You Tube for relevant videos—I started wondering what it is about that movie that I like so very much. After all, it features the f-word very prominently, and it’s an action film—hardly my favorite genre.
I have decided it’s the actors who really make the difference in the film. Also, the director who may have helped coax such stellar work from all of them. The script is fine, but it wouldn’t be anything without these performances.
De Niro is usually good, but I don’t think he’s ever been so funny as in “Midnight Run.” Charles Grodin tends to be a grating guy, but in this movie that quality of his has been put to perfect use, and Grodin adds a subtle slyness that I’ve never seen before (or since) in him, as well as a real humanity.
But they couldn’t do it alone. “Midnight Run” is the rare movie in which every single role is played to perfection, including the smallest bit parts. Watch the kid on the airplane as he watches Jack (De Niro) making a fake ID. Listen to the waitress describe the chorizo and eggs. See the look on the face of Jack’s daughter during his brief visit to her. Enjoy the dumb-but-lovable gangsters and the vicious mob boss, and the latter’s ever-escalating threats as he becomes more and more exasperated with the incompetence of the former: “You and that other dummy had better start getting more personally involved in your work, or I’m gonna stab you through the heart with a fuckin’ pencil.” Note especially the hysterical panic of bail bondsman Eddie, and the gleam in the eye of rival bounty hunter Marvin, Jack’s convivial but aggressive nemisis. See Yaphet Kotto, as FBI agent Moseley, struggle and fail to retain his dignity (and his sunglasses) amidst the frenetic goings-on.
Here’s a series of short scenes from the movie. I almost didn’t include it, because if you haven’t seen “Midnight Run” I doubt it will seem all that funny. But in the context of the film the bits are hilarious. It’s the split-second timing, the running jokes, and the ensemble acting. Don’t think the film doesn’t justify its “action” designation, either: there are plenty of hair-raising moments.
Note in the video the waitress (“chorizo and eggs”) at minute 2:18, and remember that, as she speaks, the characters De Niro and Grodin play are salivating with hunger but unable to afford a meal. Note also that, despite the general hilarity, the film contains real evil (see the mob boss addressing accountant Grodin at minute 4:21).
But most of all, rent the movie and enjoy.
[NOTE: It may be somewhat relevant to mention that the more serious theme of the movie is corruption and the fight against it.]
I’m only commenting so it won’t be so lonely down here.
vanderleun: Yes, another heartfelt ode to “Midnight Run” is apparently not what my readers had in mind.
The clips sound good. I’ll have to check it out one of these days, although I’ve never gotten in the habit of renting videos.
I’m with you that it’s a great movie (or at least highly entertaining). I think when a movie is greater than the sum of it’s parts, and there is a consistent level of quality acting, you have to give credit to the Director, in this case, Martin Brest. Surprisingly, also the director of Gigli. I did like Meet Joe Black, though.
Of course, it could be the humbling of a DeNiro tough guy character that we find so amusing.
Still, credit to a good directing job.
Oh . . . jeez! I’ve watched this movie before, forgot completely, didn’t even connect the f****** video clips with it. Great, fun, formula movie celebrating what it used to be to be a real man; the f***ing f*** -words so frequently repeated just get deleted in my hearing because they are pointless for the story, something the f***ing current f***ing Hollywood types miss completely.
What I really loved, on rerunning Midnight Express via my computer, is the smoking everywhere, right in the airport, at the ticket counter (“smoking or non-smoking??”) and on the plane. Long past freedoms. Also amazingly realistic shots of boxcars, the Arizona desert, and old southwest towns.
So old so soon, so smart so late.
I grew up in Dorchester, MA. In that time and place, every complete sentence began with a capital letter, ended in a period and contained some version of the f-word.
What about John Ashton? The stuff he pulls to hobble DeNiro were both frighteningly simple and effective.
I still think that DeNiro made the movie.
At the time Stanley Kauffman at TNR gave it a great review. After I saw it I understood why. It really was a lot of fun, despite the swearing.
I love this movie and enjoyed your insights and discussion of it. Thanks. Have nothing more to say since I agree with everything you said!
“It may be somewhat relevant to mention that the more serious theme of the movie is corruption and the fight against it.”
Yes, and what do you know, it’s Chicago corruption. How timely. Governor F Bomb would fit quit nicely in this movie, judging by his FBI tapes. Maybe the studio should re-release it to a brand new audience.
(In this case the corruption is police corruption, but I’m sure it all runs together in Chicago, to some degree.)
Also, here’s one bit of “Midnight Run” trivia. There were a couple of made-for-TV “Midnight Run” sequel movies as part of the Universal Television “Action Pack” programming that they featured for awhile. It was sort of a collection of recurring action/comedy movies, of which “Midnight Run” was one component.
Midnight Run sequels
I’ve loved “Midnight Run” ever since I first saw it in the theaters. Part of it is the believability of the characters — Robert DeNiro is enough of a method actor to know how to play an embittered ex-cop, and believe me, he gets it just right. (When backed into a corner, Jack Walsh falls back on his training and acts like a policeman, every single time.)
And the mix of action and comedy is exquisite, right down to the finale, when unbearably-building tension (the hit-men getting closer and closer) is relieved by a completely un-self-conscious DeNiro, whose character has no problem saving the day by making a complete ass of himself: “CERANO’S GOT THE DISKS! CERANO’S GOT THE DISKS!!!” I love it.
Oh, and a surprisingly refreshing angle — the movie has no love interest in it whatsoever. That’s rare… and, as such, it’s a nice change.
Neo, we must discuss favorite movies sometime. Ever seen “My Favorite Year”?
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
Ozyripus: I’m glad you came around. But just one correction: it’s “Midnight Run,” not “Midnight Express.”
Well, neo, it was midnight when I re-watched it, in way of a lame excuse.
“You know why you have an ulcer? Because you have two forms of expression, silence and rage.”
The scene between Jack (DeNiro) and his daughter Denise was incredible. I thought it was a big risk to put the brakes on the madcap pace of the film at that point, but it worked. Absolutely blew me away the first time I saw the film. As you’ve said, neo, it’s just one of the many parts that they seemed to get just right, and thankfully not overdone.
Gosh, its been so long since I’ve seen this movie – i used to be able to quote just about the whole film. Definitely a classic “buddy” movie. Brilliantly played by both actors. Its a shame that Hollywood can’t make movies like that anymore.
Thanks for the wonderful ‘blast from the past’….