Re-watching Martin Brest’s “Midnight Run” is a reminder of how talented the director was. Today his reputation is marred by the film “Gigli” (2003) starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, now considered one of the worst films ever made (and definitely worth a re-watch sometime this year). It seems hard for people to remember that he is also the director who brought us this classic film, “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) and “Scent of a Woman” (1992).
Here Robert De Niro plays Walsh, a down on his luck ex-cop turned bounty hunter after a mob boss (a brilliant Dennis Farina) ran him out of Chicago. He is offered a midnight run (an easy gig) to bring in The Duke, the same mob boss’ accountant (played to comic perfection by Charles Grodin) who was arrested for embezzlement but skipped bail. This job would score him enough money to stop the bounty hunter life and settle into a new life. What starts as an easy gig soon becomes a cross country chase with Walsh and The Duke being chased by mob hitmen, the FBI and a rival bounty hunter named Dorfler (played by John Ashton).
There is nothing negative I can say about this film, it works. All the performances are pitch perfect and they are working from a really clever and quotable script by George Gallo. This is a funny road picture that just continues to escalate to it’s tense airport conclusion. The chemistry between Grodin and De Niro is perfect and the dialogue exchanges are often hilarious. The film is very 80’s in style and I don’t think the film would have turned out the same had it been made with today’s sensibilities. The language alone would have trouble getting past the very politically correct censors of today.
This kind of action comedy was a staple of the 80’s and is still one of my favourite genres. Expect more like this throughout the year :-)
One last note, for those that think that composer Danny Elfman is only capable of doing those Tim Burton style ‘Ooompa Ooompa’ scores should check out the soundtrack to this film, it is fresh and very different to most of his other scores with a lot of bass and guitar work. Really entertaining listen in the film and as a stand alone soundtrack. Although my only gripe is the title track is a little to similar to the title track to “The Golden Child” (1986) composed by Michael Colombier.
Originally published on My Year With Movies
