Midnight Express


Starring: Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Randy Quaid, John Hurt
Directed by: Alan Parker
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
1978

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An American (Brad Davis) is arrested at an airport in Turkey for trying to smuggle hashish back to the United States. He is sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison- only to have his sentence extended as he nears his end day. This causes him to try a desperate attempt to escape.

Review:

Tim: Midnight Express is a controversial movie that is loved by some and hated by others. Those that love it believe it is an emotionally powerful, horrifying look at life in a Turkish prison. Those that hate it believe it is a manipulative, xenophobic movie that strays from the facts. I loved this movie. I wholly admit that everything about this movie is manipulative- the script, characters, and dialogue are all designed to create emotions in the audience. I understand I was being played, but I loved the ride anyway.

Yes, I do wish that this movie had been closer to the actual truth of the real life story of Billy Hayes, and his truly tough prison sentence in Turkey. I believe "based on a true story" should try to follow the facts as much as possible. However, I understand that real life doesn't always equal a great movie, so I am able to overlook some of these liberties. I also wish this movie wasn't so blatantly manipulative, obviously tugging on the heartstrings as often as possible. Still, these flaws were fairly minor.

I loved Brad Davis in this movie. Davis is terrific in every single scene, and the vast majority of this film's success depended on his performance. He is emotional, believable, likeable, and entertaining. I also enjoyed Randy Quaid and John Hurt, both of whom are very good. I especially loved the performance of Hurt. At the beginning of the film, I was lukewarm on Hurt, but as the movie progresses, he becomes more and more effective, until you realize how impressive a performance he actually gave. The cast in this film was top notch.

While this movie does play up the "Us v. Them," "Americans v. the barbaric Turks," it is hard not to get involved and emotionally invested in the story. The torture and brutality which Hayes faced in prison is startling and horrific, and forces you to take a side. The movie expertly plays all the right notes, building in intensity until the powerful conclusion. This movie is a terrific example of how important good direction is in creating a great movie.

Midnight Express is definitely not a universally beloved movie. I was one that really enjoyed it. I loved the story, the gritty realism of the prison, the emotions, the character development, and the cinematography. I thought this was a beautiful, hard movie to watch. While I see the other side of the argument, I strongly disagree with it. This is a great movie, and one of the most powerful, unforgettable ones you'll see.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Shawshank Redemption, Birdman of Alcatraz, The Great Escape