Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 6, 2023

Few filmmakers enjoyed a wilder career ride in the 1980s than Martin Brest. In 1982, the helmer was set to follow-up his 1979 offering, “Going in Style,” with “WarGames,” guiding the project through development and the beginning of principal photography. A few weeks into the shoot, Brest was fired, with his vision for the picture not matching up with producer and studio expectations. This would be a career-ending situation for most, but Brest endured such public humiliation, eventually securing work on “Beverly Hills Cop,” which already went through pre-production woes and tonal hesitation. Under Brest’s command, “Beverly Hills Cop” found its creative footing, becoming the highest-grossing movie of 1984, a year with an insane amount of hits. Brest went from being canned to becoming king in a matter of years, with all eyes on his follow-up project. 1988’s “Midnight Run” wasn’t nearly the hot release many expected it to become, but it capably sustained Brest’s ability to manage action and comedy, aiming to do something dense yet approachable with the screenplay by George Gallo (who’s been milking this credit for the last 35 years). There are hearty laughs and some thrills and chills in the effort, and Brest certainly has an advantage with his cast, with Robert De Niro refreshingly itchy and Charles Grodin capably dry as they take the lead roles, offering an appealingly strange take on buddy comedy chemistry while supporting players all find their grooves in this assembly of angry people and road trip antagonisms.

Jack (Robert De Niro) is a bounty hunter dealing with the shifty ways of bail bondsman Eddie (Joey Pantoliano) and pressure from professional rival Marvin (John Ashton). He’s an ex-cop with a lot of personal baggage, and he’s facing a major payday when Eddie requests his services to collect accountant Jonathan (Charles Grodin), who’s in deep with the mob after embezzling millions from a crime boss. Heading to take possession of Jonathan, Jack is faced with a major fight, dealing with a prisoner who can’t handle travel, forced to crawl his way from New York to Los Angeles, taking planes, trains, and automobiles as they’re pursued by Agent Mosley (Yaphet Kotto) and the F.B.I., a pair of mob enforcers, and Marvin, who’s looking to take Jack’s payday as a simple retrieval turns into a week-long fight.

For more information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2016 Blu-ray review.

Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

Shout Factory released a Blu-ray of "Midnight Run" in 2016, and they return to the title in 2023 with a UHD release, which offers a "new 2022 4K scan of the original camera negative." The viewing experience isn't consistent, but there's a sense of distance as the action travels across America, getting a feel for the open world, and Las Vegas tours are dimensional. Detail is good with facial surfaces from a variety of creased characters, and costuming remains fibrous. Interiors offer textured decoration. Colors are nicely handled, with a full sense of locations, securing desert lands and cityscapes. Primaries are healthy, and skin tones are natural. Highlights are satisfactory, with a nice sense of exterior lighting and urban signage. Blacks are generally deep. Grain isn't managed well, with a more processed appearance at times, losing natural qualities.

Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix carries a significant presence when it comes to musical moods, delivering sharp instrumentation and a big brassy sound. Surrounds push out scoring additions, along with mild atmospherics, but a sense of movement is present with more active engagements. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, offering balanced argumentative behavior. Low-end isn't robust, but some sense of presence is found with explosions and violent events. Sound effects are sharp.

Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Being Jack Walsh" (8:51, HD) is an interview with actor Robert De Niro. Well, kind of, as a narrator is present to deliver information concerning the "Midnight Run" production experience, and extended film clips are present to help cover for De Niro's rather famous reluctance to explore his own career and process, or even speak at all. The interviewee does discuss his thoughts on the comedic nature of "Midnight Run" and his relationship with director Martin Brest, whom he nicknamed "The Professor." De Niro explores his time with co-stars and the rewrite process on the picture, with screenwriter George Gallo hanging out on set to constantly rework the material. Numerous location changes are highlighted, including a stop in New Zealand to work with warmer raging rapids.

• "I'm Mosely" (7:36, HD) is an audio interview with actor Yaphet Kotto, who charts the development of his career, reaching a point where auditions are no longer required. Responding to the different tone of "Midnight Run," Kotto enjoyed a curious relationship with director Martin Brest, who demanded multiple takes for everything shot. Co-stars are assessed, and the shooting experience is recalled, with many location changes and medical concerns for Kotto, who was committed to working on his unusual character.

• "Hey Marvin" (17:23, HD) is an interview with actor John Ashton, who initially developed trust with director Martin Brest on "Beverly Hills Cop," working with co-star Judge Reinhold to expand their parts in the picture via improvisations. Ashton shares his audition story, tasked with impressing Robert De Niro, and he shares his inner drive to work past his "Beverly Hills Cop" success, fighting typecasting. Researching the role, the interviewee spent time with a bounty hunter, learning the business and the coarseness of the participants, which helped to inform the "f**k meter" of the shoot. Describing "Midnight Run" as the "best film experience" he's ever had, Ashton remains enthusiastic about character and Brest, enjoying the helmer's way with actors and material.

• "Moscone Bail Bonds" (14:19, HD) is an interview with Joey Pantoliano, who credits the creative arts as his support while dealing with some behavioral issues, charting a course to become a character actor to keep working. With "Midnight Run," the interviewee was challenged to impress co-star Robert De Niro, looking to grab the part when the competition couldn't handle the pressure. More De Niro appreciation is offered, praising his ways with comedy.

• "Midnight Writer" (24:43, HD) is an interview with screenwriter George Gallo, who charts his early career moves, scripting "Bad Boys" and "Wise Guys," finding his way into a bounty hunter story with "Midnight Run." The production experience is recounted, with director Martin Brest a committed leader, and casting is celebrated, bringing in actors capable of doing something special with their characters. The writing process is also deconstructed, with Gallo putting major events into the script not understanding how anything would be realized, learning more about his job during the shoot. The interviewee briefly recalls the release of "Midnight Run," which was expected to be one of the sleeper hits of the summer, only to open on the same day as "Die Hard."

• "We Got the Duke" (12:24, HD) is an interview with actor Charles Grodin, who was asked to participate in a screen test to land his part, checking his chemistry with co-star Robert De Niro. Grodin discusses his blunt manner and dry humor, which hasn't always helped his career. Talk of acting experiences and "Midnight Run" moments are offered, and Grodin goes off on a few tangents, examining personal relationships.

• Vintage Making-Of Featurette (7:26, HD) offers the EPK experience to viewers, which combines film clips and cast and crew interviews to help sell "Midnight Run" to the masses. Of interest is BTS footage, offering a brief glimpse of the production in motion.

• And a Trailer (1:12, SD) is included.

Midnight Run 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Midnight Run" has some issues, including some editorial indifference in the final act, allowing the film to wear out its welcome with overlength. The feature's initial energy and attention to performance largely carries it through to the conclusion, offering a tour of richly agitated acting and profane banter, which is pretty relentless. "Midnight Run" found its audience on cable and VHS, with many considering it to be Brest's best directorial effort, and he offers a confident approach to a potentially messy assignment, juggling the players in this sustained chase across America, providing distinct environments to visit and prime discomfort from De Niro and Grodin, who make a great team for this amusing and periodically exciting assembly of cinematic misadventures.