Hello! Welcome to the FREE Monday newsletter where I give you my unsolicited movie recommendations! This week, I’ve rewatched a couple of comedy classics and caught up on another. Without further ado:
Midnight Run
The best thing about Midnight Run is not the pitch perfect Charles Grodin brand of comedy that is the tea v. coffee scene. It’s not the unexpected emotion of De Niro seeing his daughter for the first time in nine years. It’s not even De Niro’s last line (a perfect, perfect last line). In any other movie, any one of these things would be the best thing in the movie, but that’s the beauty of Midnight Run – the only way you get all of these things is achieving the real most impressive thing about this movie, which is the casting. I just listened to the Blank Check episode about this movie, and one of the hosts mentions that on paper, none of these jokes are nearly as funny as they are when they’re said out loud. Grodin’s constant needling and De Niro’s reticence come together to create something truly special, and truly hilarious.
What’s Up, Doc?
I love everything about this movie, but upon this rewatch, I was mesmerized by the organized chaos of the last 30 minutes. It’s a spoof of Bullitt, but its spoofiness, does not take away from the incredible stunt and action work at play here. From the beauty of that first fight scene in the mansion (where everybody punches everybody except for the person they were aiming for), to the plate glass stunt, and everything in between – there is nothing better.
Some Like It Hot
Forgive me, but I must say – given a choice between these two, I would 100 times out of 100 marry Jack Lemmon (me and Osgood Fielding III have that in common). But as much as that is true, I don’t know if anyone has ever been as good at on screen kissing as Tony Curtis in this movie. It’s sort of a Herculean feat, if I’m being honest. That last moment where Josephine/Joe kisses Marilyn and then says, “None of that, Sugar. No guy is worth it.” I mean! The heat! The passion! The gender dynamics at play! I am floored every time.
Thanks for reading!
Thank you Sammie for your perspective on these wonderful comedies. Charles Grodin, like Alan Arkin, brings such understated timing to all his roles.
Hi, Sammie! Boy, it’s been decades and decades since I’ve watched midnight run. I had forgotten all about the high-tech digital electronic gear they had back then….not! Thanks, Sammie!