The film that won Oliver Stone his first Academy Award, 'Midnight Express' is an exercise in what not to do when visiting a foreign landscape: extract illegal narcotics. The landscape here being Turkey, circa 1970. While the film is most remembered for it's Oscar-winning score, it's message carries on throughout the years.
By no account is this a perfect film. The flaws are few and far between, but one stands out far more than any other. It involves a gay romance inside the Turkish prison that seems forced, almost laughable. The story could of done without it all together, nothing would be missed.
But the good greatly outweighs the bad. The script is very compressed. Maybe the best Stone's written in his vast career. The opening scenes at the Customs area would impress the master of suspense himself. Brad Davis, the actor who plays Billy Hayes, the main character, is nothing short of spectacular. It's really a sad thing when a young man with so much potential dies so young.
Give this movie a watch, but don't expect a mindless popcorn flick. This movie is a life lesson. A must see for any movie lover.
By no account is this a perfect film. The flaws are few and far between, but one stands out far more than any other. It involves a gay romance inside the Turkish prison that seems forced, almost laughable. The story could of done without it all together, nothing would be missed.
But the good greatly outweighs the bad. The script is very compressed. Maybe the best Stone's written in his vast career. The opening scenes at the Customs area would impress the master of suspense himself. Brad Davis, the actor who plays Billy Hayes, the main character, is nothing short of spectacular. It's really a sad thing when a young man with so much potential dies so young.
Give this movie a watch, but don't expect a mindless popcorn flick. This movie is a life lesson. A must see for any movie lover.