Midnight Run(1988)
One very underrated, under appreciated Robert De Niro Movie for me is Midnight Run, remains one of my all time favorites of his.
De Niro plays a bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, who has to capture Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas( TV Actor Charles Grodin), an accountant working for the Mob,who has embezzled their money. Walsh needs to hand over The Duke to the Las Vegas mob boss, and it does seem a simple task, aka a "Midnight Run".
Things however go topsy turvy, when the Duke refuses to fly with Walsh, due to his fear of planes. What results is one hilarious, cross country stretch, with both the Mob and the Feds after the duo. Add to it the rather laconic Walsh,just can't seem to get along with the talkative Duke.
Midnight Run references a whole lot of genres, the buddy movie, the road movie, plain cops and gangsters tale. It is an action comedy thriller with all parts mixed up quite well.
Robert De Niro, takes a break from his more intense roles, and shows he is adept at comedy. De Niro's dead pan, droll style of humor, his tendency to fly into a rage at the slightest provocation, make for some great comedy. The best part though is his interaction with Charles Grodin, especially the later's talkative nature.
Add to it, the movie has some really great pieces of dialogue
Jack Walsh: I can't keep you cuffed on a commercial flight, and I gotta check my gun with my luggage, but you fuck with me once and I'm gonna break your neck.
Jonathan Mardukas: I can't fly.
Jack Walsh: What?
Jonathan Mardukas: You heard me, I can't fly.
Jack Walsh: No, no, no. You're going to have to do better than that, pal.
Jonathan Mardukas: No, I don't have to do better than that, because it's the truth, I can't fly: I suffer from aviaphobia.
Jack Walsh: What does that mean?
Jonathan Mardukas: It means I can't fly. I also suffer from acrophobia and claustrophobia.
Jack Walsh: I'll tell you what: if you don't cooperate, you're gonna suffer from "fistophobia
Also the chemistry between De Niro and Charles Grodin, who provides a perfect foil, is another big plus for the movie.
The movie also has a great supporting cast, Yaphet Kotto as the Fed Agent, Dennis Farina brilliant as the mob chief, Joe Pantoliano as Eddie Moscone who hires Jack for the assignment.
Add to it some good ole fashioned chase scenes, double crossing, twists in the plot, you got one really good entertainer to chill out with.
Submitted July 07, 2022 at 10:25PM by LoneWolfInCyberia https://ift.tt/kdeBzTc
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