Midnight Run

Review by James Anthony

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I've done it again. God knows why - possibly the huge number of big-title DVDs coming out - but, once again, I've let a gem of a movie go for too long.

This time around it's Midnight Run where Robert de Niro is Jack Walsh, a bounty hunter assigned the easy task of escorting a bail-jumping accountant back to Los Angeles.

Little does he know, however, that Jonathan Mardukas (Charles Grodin) was an unwitting accountant for the Mob and stole $15 million from the gangs and gave it away to charity. Needless to say the Mob is also after him and a insider with the bail firm has pointed hitmen in Walsh's direction.

What follows is a classic mis-timed chase movie where the constantly arguing bounty hunter and accountant accidently stay one step ahead of the Mob as they travel across America.

Throw in additional elements involving a rival bounty hunter (John Ashton) and the FBI, led by an outmanouevred-at-every-turn Yaphet Kotto, and you have the potential for a hugely enjoyable yarn.

And Midnight Run turns that potential into a real winner with a crackling script and some excellent interplay between the main characters. This is helped by the fact that not one of them likes any of the others and, in many cases, loathe each other to the max.

The storyline, which is filled with twists and turns, rarely falls in to a lull and while you can guess the general direction of the plot there are some genuine surprises in store.

Midnight Run is excellent viewing and will keep you smiling all the way through - between the laughs that is.

Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 0%

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