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Midnight Run is a 1988 film starring Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto and Dennis Farina. It was written by George Gallo and directed by Martin Brest. It shows De Niro in a non-mafia role, working as a bounty hunter. The bluesy score is by Danny Elfman.
Storyline
Jonathan Mardukas (Grodin, "The Duke") is an accountant who has embezzled 5 million dollars from Chicago gangster Jimmy Serrano (Farina) and was bailed out after his initial arrest. He is hiding in New York when his Los Angeles bail bondsman hires Jack Walsh (De Niro), a former policeman living rough, to bring the accountant to trial.
Shortly after accepting the assignment for $100,000, Walsh is stopped by the FBI agent Kotto (Alonzo Moseley), who wants to arrest the accountant independently and use his testimony to bring Serrano to trial. Walsh promises not to obstruct the investigation.
After tracing Mardukas, he is incapable to transport the latter to Los Angeles due to his professed fear of flying. The couple make a wild tour of the United States, relying on various modes of transportation and being chased by the FBI and Serrano's men, who are instructed to retrieve the money that Mardukas embezzled. During this chase, the men - who are highly incompatible in character - develop a hesitant friendship amidst fierce arguments.
A fellow bounty hunter finally snatches Mardukas from Walsh' control, and Walsh clinches a deal with the FBI that leads to Serrano's arrest and Mardukas' release. It is then revealed that it was Serrano who has caused Walsh to lose his police job in Chicago, also sealing the fate to his marriage.
Walsh finally frees Mardukas upon arrival in Los Angeles, having met his aims but having formed a bond of friendship with the accountant and wanting to retalliate against the bail bondsman that had doubled him so often.
Themes
There are many themes in the film, but the main one is the clash between the rough Walsh and the middle-class Mardukas. Discussions about diet, smoking, financial responsibility and other topics spin out of control as prejudices fly.
Trivia
Robin Williams and Bruce Willis are reputed to have been considered for Grodin's role.
External link
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