Movies
“Midnight Run” Speeds Into Immediate Recommendation Territory
Midnight Run (1988) is a combination of Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987) and The Nice Guys (2016). That should be enough to entice you to check it out.
“A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.”
Director: Martin Brest
Writers: George Gallo
Staring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano
Release Date: July 20, 1988
IMDB
Midnight Run (1988) is a combination of Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987) and The Nice Guys (2016). That should be enough to entice you to check it out.
Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) is a bounty hunter, and a damn fine out at that. He is sent out on a mission to find bail jumper Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas (Charles Grodin). The former mafia accountant has been hiding from the FBI, but he can’t escape Walsh. The former cop handcuffs Mardukas and begins that ticking clock in order to get his $100,000 finders fee.
There are more than a few road bumps as Walsh attempts to escort Mardukas from New York to Los Angeles. The federal authorities are looking for the cuff, and the mafia wants to get their hands on the Duke to ensure their financial history is safe. Walsh also contends with a frenemy rival bounty hunter looking to score big himself.
What makes Midnight Run work is the absolutely outstanding chemistry between Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. De Niro brings out his comedic chops and allows Grodin to steal the limelight at all the proper moments. Grodin’s deadpan delivery of sass as Mardukas matches perfectly with the blunt Joe Peschi-esq annoyance of Walsh.
The two poster characters carry Midnight Run to its final destination, but there are some great side character pit stops. Yaphet Kotto plays the part of Alonzo Mosely, the FBI agent that is tormented (and impersonated) by Walsh. Kotto is immediately recognizable as Parker from Alien (1979) for Ridley Scott heads. John Ashton plays the part of Marvin and is a wonderful lumbering oaf.
The best side act of Midnight Run is played by Joe Pantoliano. The man most known for Memento (2000) or The Matrix (1999) really enjoys screaming into the phone and is really good at it. Pantoliano plays the part of Eddie, the bondman who has hired Walsh to save his own skin. Credit to Pantoliano for making phone conversations in Midnight Run as fun as the frantic phone calls in The Matrix.
There really aren’t many poor things to say about Midnight Run. This is a buddy movie where the two buddies seem like genuine friends. The two-time Oscar winner seemed to keep his respect for Grodin when his co-star passed away in 2021. According to Deadline, De Niro went on the record saying ”Chuck was as good a person as he was an actor. Midnight Run was a great project to work on, and Chuck made it an even better one. He will be missed. I am very, very sad to hear of his passing.”
Do yourself a favor, open up Netflix and press play on Midnight Run. You will laugh and appreciate an underrated buddy movie escape.
STANKO RATING: A-
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