Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin star in this brilliant comedy road movie. Directed by Martin Brest in 1988, the best way to describe Midnight Run is that it’s a back-to-front buddy movie that takes a pretty hackneyed story and makes it absolutely shine. De Niro is Jack Walsh a hard-nosed, foul-mouthed ex-cop who earns a crust as a bounty hunter, while Grodin is superbly underplayed as Jonathan Mardukas, a softly spoken Mafia accountant whose treaties of conscience to Walsh are among the funniest exchanges in the film.
The pair share a hilarious trip across country; avoiding the FBI and local law enforcement – because Walsh wants to collect a bounty; and avoiding the mob – because if they fall into their hands they’ll end up getting clipped.
Strong comic support throughout comes from Yaphet Kotto as a frustrated FBI agent with anger management issues, Dennis Farina (pictured above, middle) as a brutal mob boss with anger management issues, John Ashton as a bungling rival bounty hunter with anger management issues and Joe Pantoliano – well you get the picture, everyone’s angry and everyone’s against them. Enjoy the ride!
Midnight Run – Sunday at 10.00pm on Sony (Channel 232).
