MIDNIGHT RUN
US, 1998, 126 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Charles Grodin, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Philip Baker Hall.
Directed by Martin Brest.
Midnight Run was a comedy hit success of 1988. It is an excellent vehicle for Robert de Niro to show his skill as a comic talent. He is well-matched by Charles Grodin with his extremely laid-back style.(The screenplay is humorous, but relies a great deal on swearing rather than wit, perhaps a style of de Niro's improvisation in comedy.)
The film draws on a great number of American genres: the unlikely buddy, the strange odd couple, the defiant ones handcuffed together, the mishaps in travel with planes, trains and automobiles, the police and FBI chase, Mafia thrillers. It combines elements of each excellently as the screenplay makes its way from New York across America to Los Angeles.
There is a good supporting cast with Yaphet Kotto as an exasperated FBI agent, John Ashton as a slob bail-bond hunter, Joe Pantoliano as a frantic bail-bond boss, Dennis Farina as the Mafia chief.
The film has more to say than the usual comedy of this kind - mainly because of the strength of the two central characters, their interactions. Direction is by Martin Brest (Going in Style, Beverly Hills Cop).
1. Successful adventure comedy: buddies movie, a new Defiant Ones, a new Odd Couple, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Mafia? Police chase?
2. A piece of Americana: from New York to Los Angeles, by train, plane, car, bus, walking? Ohio, Chicago, Amarillo, Arizona, Las Vegas and Nevada, California?
3. The importance of the pace, the editing? Stunts and chases? Musical score and songs?
4. The differing styles of the stars and their forming an effective odd couple? Working well together, improvising? The question of wit and swearing humour?
5. The opening and Jack at work, his bail bond work, capturing the criminals, punching Marvin to distract him? Relationship with Eddie, his office, the job?
6. Jack and the offer of $100,000 to go to New York and get the Duke? Mosley and the FBI warning him off, his joking with them, taking Mosley’s identification? in New York and rapidly finding the Duke: the tap on the phone, discerning the phone number, the address, arresting him, despite the dog?
7. The introduction to the Duke: the story of his job, taking the money, millions to charity, as a type and personality, the accountant, quiet, his ingenuity?
8. Jack taking him to the plane, the Duke realising he was not FBI? The enjoyment of the tantrum about not being able to fly? Transition to train, the Duke in the toilet, the arrival of Marvin, trying to take the Duke, Jack defeating him?
9. The phone calls to Eddie, Eddie and his exasperation, Jerry listening in, going for doughnuts and ringing the Mafia? The FBI tapping the phone and informed? Eddie and his double-dealing and getting Marvin to go on the job?
10. Interviews with Jack, chasing him, interviews with Marvin and taking his cigarettes, exasperated, following the trail, the helicopter, the final deal with Jack, his nervy waiting, ultimate success? The irony of Jack using his identification?
11. The ride on the bus, the serious talk between Jack and the Duke, the explanation of the watch, the story of Jack's wife, Chicago and the heroin dealer? The arrival and the gunfight at the terminal? Jack and the Duke getting away? The decision to go and see Gail, seeing her after nine years, the story, her marriage, police corruption? His absence? Seeing his daughter grown tip? Asking for the money, the daughter and offering her baby-sitting money? Gail giving him the car? The later explanation of his place in the Chicago police, the Mafia boss being the reason for his leaving?
12. Hiring the car, the arrival in Amarillo, no breakfast? The thugs catching up and going to shoot them? Marvin's arrival just in time, taking them, the helicopter chase, the dives into the river? Jack defeating Marvin and cuffing him? The FBI catching up?
13. Hitching the ride, the Indians, the Duke trying to take the plane, Jack chasing him? Taking the Indians' truck at gunpoint? The need for money, the Duke's routine about being FBI and the fake $20 bills? Buying the food, jumping onto the train and being seen? The fight between the two, jumping out before the station? Taking the car, the number of police cars chasing, strewn over the countryside? Marvin's shrewdness in waiting, taking the Duke? Jack alone in the middle of nowhere, rescued by Mosley?
14. Phoning Eddie, phoning the Mafia, the plan about the cassette, the deal with Mosley, monitoring the situation? Marvin and the Duke in the hotel, taking the photo, the thugs arriving and taking the Duke back? Marvin at the airport and intruding and spoiling the set-up? Jack, discussion with the Mafia chief, the FBI's edginess, Marvin's interruption, the confusion, the satisfactory ending?
15. The sketch of the Mafia chief, his influence in the Chicago police, not being able to corrupt Jack, warning him off? The various legal advisers, the thugs and their following of Jack ? and staring at hint? Their revenge? Jerry in the pay of the Mafia and arrested?
16. Jack getting the Duke to Los Angeles on time, the decision to let hint go? motives? Integrity? The irony of the Duke offering hint the money belt? No change of $1000?
17. Charles Grodin's portrait of the Duke, as an accountant, his discovery, the decision to take the money and give ?*it to charity, self-preservation, his fear of the Mafia chief killing him? he and Jack both victims of the same man? His appeal to Jack for integrity and understanding the situation? His idiosyncrasies, clean living, trying to persuade Jack to live cleanly? Their range of discussions, about Gail, about food?
18. Jack and Robert de Niro's skill at creating him as a human and humane character, idiosyncrasies, perspective, integrity?
19. Law, the police, justice, jobs, money, ethics and integrity, the blend of comedy and adventure?
