INTO THE NIGHT
US, 1985, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dan Aykroyd, David Cronenberg, John Landis, Waldo Salt, Daniel Petrie, Jack Arnold, Paul Mazursky, Paul Bartel, Don Siegel, Jim Henson, David Bowie, Amy Heckerling, Roger Vadim, Lawrence Kasdan, Clu Gulager, Jonathan Demme, Carl Gottlieb, Irene Papas.
Directed by John Landis.
Into the Night is an entertaining caper film, directed by John Landis who showed he had quite some humour with Trading Places and The Blues Brothers as well as directing An American Werewolf in London and the opening sequence of Twilight Zone: the Movie.
The film has a good cast, and makes a number of references to films: quotations, excerpts seen on television etc. The film also has quite a number of American directors appearing in guest roles including Landis himself who portrays one of the Iranian terrorists. Paul Mazursky is a Hollywood producer and Roger Vadim is the French criminal. There are also appearances by such directors as Daniel Petrie, David Cronenberg, Jack Arnold, Paul Bartel, Don Siegel, Jim Henson, Amy Heckerling, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Demme, Colin Higgins. It is an amusing device for those in the know.
Apart from the novelty, the film is a competent caper entertainment.
1. Entertaining caper film? Thriller, comedy? A thriller for film buffs?
2. Los Angeles and its atmosphere, especially the night for the insomniac central character? Ordinary Los Angeles, affluent, the world of gangsters? Special effects, editing and pace, chases, violence? The inclusion of the songs?
3. The cast and the audience enjoying the cast, the stars, the guests?
4. A fantasy caper - the insomniac and his waking dreams? The Hollywood style treatment?
5. Ed as an ordinary American, at work, friends, Herb and his advice, his relationship with his wife, the daily routines, the traffic jams etc.? The discovery of his wife and her affair? Going to the airport during the night? The humorous encounter with Diana, the beginning of the adventures: the chase, being swirled along, the homes, the gangsters, the Iranians? Charlie and his Elvis cult? Diana and her pressures? The world of television? Fights? Chases? Criminals? Jack Caper and his invalid status, his wife? The finale at the airport, the shootout? His finally going to sleep? Diana's disappearance, the jewels - and her reappearance?
6. Ed's world - work, traffic, Herb and his theories, an unfaithful wife and her deception?
7. Diana and her hectic pace, the chases, the adventures, reality and unreality, Jack Caper and his wife, Diana's relationship, the tender sequence with Jack? The Iranians, the airport and the money? What made her come back?
8. The world of criminals, toughs, stand-over men, gangsters? Colin Morris and David Bowie’s style? The fights with Ed? His deadliness? Roger Vadim and his French style as the European criminal?
9. Jack Caper, his wealth, relationship with Diana, with his wife? His wife's hold over him? The scene in their house, the clash, Diana's farewell to Jack?
10. The Iranians and the American comment on relationships with Iran, eastern style, terrorists, blood, the vengeful aunt and Irene Papas enjoying herself in this role?
11. The world of television, Christy and her friendship with Diana, the jewels, her death? The television producer and his lifestyle?
12. The FBI and their pursuit, crookedness?
13. The popularity of the caper film - entertaining variations?
