On M List of Movie Reviews

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Midnight Express (1978)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 2/06, 10/23

MidEsp
2/06: Wholly average, Midnight Express is a better and more aggressive picture than Brokedown Palace.

Papillon set the standard for this type of film, but Midnight Express falls short in comparison although it has one great scene when Billy Hayes tore out Rifki's tongue.

Although not right for the role in Midnight Express that's responsible for killing off Turkey's tourism industry which hadn't recovered since then, Brad Davis would be famous overnight, setting off a decade of heavy drug and alcohol abuse, only to be found dead from assisted suicide in 1991 at the age of 41 due to AIDS-related complications.

The story is interesting and all, but I've mustered no sympathy for Billy Hayes because he broke the law. Ever heard of the adage: "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime"? "Does the punishment fit the crime?" is irrelevant here because he's not in the United States anymore. Billy traveled to a foreign country where laws are different, no matter how illogical they are. Just respect them, don't cause problems, and leave quietly. Life is easier this way.

All in all, Midnight Express did a lot of irreparable harm to Turkey.

10/23: Midnight Express is a gritty picture about serving time in a foreign prison where anything goes just like its cuckoo criminal justice system.

Although shot on location in Malta, this is the notorious film that single-handedly ruined Turkey's tourism industry. I can see why. After all, who would want to go over there? Yeah, I don't sympathize with Billy Hayes. He broke the law and had to pay the price. What's not mentioned is that he was smuggling drugs from there for some while.

Great acting is evident, but the cinematography is more of a stunner. John Hurt may have been Oscar-nominated, but I think he did fine. Rather, it's Brad Davis who steals the show. He's famous for the film, rightfully so, because of the tongue-ripping scene. Having done nothing else of significance, Brad Davis died of assisted suicide in 1991 after he was diagnosed HIV-positive.

All in all, Alan Parker isn't a great director, but Midnight Express is the best movie that he has ever done.