Midnight Run – 1988 – Action, Comedy, Crime
Directed by: Martin Brest
Written by: George Gallo
Main Players: Robert De Niro; Charles Grodin; Yaphet Kotto; John Ashton; Dennis Farina; Joe Pantoliano; Philip Baker Hall

Narrowly avoiding being blasted in the face, ex-cop and now bail bond bounty hunter Jack Walsh (De Niro) chases his man out of an apartment and through the back alleys, where another bounty hunter Marvin (Ashton) sweeps in for the score. A quick right to the jaw and Jack has his man back.
He collects his meager payday, delivering his criminal capture to the station. Next up, he gets a new offer for a bit more cash from bondsman Eddie Moscone (Pantoliano). He is to find and escort accountant Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas back to L.A. The Duke embezzled $15 million from mob boss Jimmy Serrano (Farina) and skipped out after posting bail. The only chance at Moscone recouping any cash is finding Mardukas.
Jack is tired of getting shot at and drives a hard bargain, upping his fee to $100 thousand. Eventually an accord is reached, and Moscone concludes it’s an easy job, a midnight run. While Jack sets off to find his man, he is quickly spun up into a storm of cops, mobsters and bullets. Good thing Jack is pretty sly, and has a storied past. Will he find his man and get him back?
Midnight Run is totally fun. It’s an “odd couple” buddy-type movie with some danger and ample good lines. It plays just as well today as when made in the late 80s, primarily due to a great cast and a competent and funny script. The danger comes from many angles, and the plot is fun to watch unfold. De Niro gets to be a bad ass and crack wise, and Grodin is excellent.
Go on the run.
See This If You Liked:
48 Hrs.; Beverly Hills Cop; Bad Boys (1995); Lethal Weapon; Narrow Margin; The Whole Nine Yards; The Nice Guys; Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent; Pineapple Express; Tango & Cash; Bulletproof; Money Talks
Score:
8.0