Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of Turkey. The Turkish courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express".
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Reviews
Very best movie i ever watch
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Blistering performances.
It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
It does not reflect the truth. Anti Turkish propaganda.
Billy Hayes, an American college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison. Midnight Express is a film that was surrounded by a huge buzz for decades and to be honest after watching it i can't understand the big deal about it or how it was exactly shocking there's like 2 scenes where some inmates and Billy himself get beat up and a scene where Billy cut the ear of this snitch the rest of the film is people talking and talking all the time. The first 2 acts of this film were really boring and i didn't find anything interesting about it some actors got totally wasted it here John Hurt and Randy Quaid were good but their characters were easily forgettable the best performance in the film is Paul L. Smith as Hamidou he was ruthless and menacing as for Billy himself Brad Davis was alright in some scenes like in the court or when he basically turned insane the 3rd act was easily the strongest part of the film although i don't get it why he basically loved both his girlfriend and also cheated her with a guy. Anyways moving on this film barely had anything shocking i've seen shocking and that is called The Green Mile or Lock Up those films had something shocking in them but this one? It was barely memorable except some good but forgettable performances, the ruthless way that the Turkish are being portrayed and some good moments the movie is easily a disappointment and probably one of the most overrated films of all time and i will give it an 4/10
"Midnight Express" means the way of escape from a prison. Many Turkish people dislike this movie, except I. There is no doubt Turkey was shown barbaric; in this movie, Turkish people characterised as foolish and cruel. Actually both Alan Parker and Oliver Stone agreed that the movie criticised Turkish people unfairly. Anyway I can confirm that the movie is one of the best prison- themed movie I have ever seen. Especially Paolo Bonacelli acts terrific as "Rifki." His fluent Turkish inspired me a lot despite he holds Italian passport. Also the Turkish folk themes which were sang by Asik Reyhani who is the father of the Turkish lament content songs were extraordinary. If you like and seek a prison-themed drama, do not hesitate to watch this amazing film.
As bleak as most prison dramas usually are, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS is probably one of the most harrowing of all time. The reasons for this are that a) we watch some totally appalling things go on, b) the acting is exceptional and makes us care for the characters, and c) the realism of the film means that it's easy for the viewer to think "this could happen to me...", as it wouldn't be the first time drugs have been planted on an unsuspecting holidaymaker. The prison in this film is definitely the dirtiest I've ever seen, miles away from the hi-tech surveillance compounds of Britain and America.Brad Davis has the central performance, as the film follows his teenager right from his arrest to his eventual escape (seven years later!). He's excellent, creating a believable character who goes through a realistic change as the years progress. In one scene, Davis memorably snaps and goes insane, a haunting and extremely powerful moment. Supporting him are John Hurt, who gives a memorably twitchy performance, and poor young Randy Quaid. The things that happen to Quaid will make you cringe.This is definitely an adult film in nature, containing as it does some very explicit and horrible violence. The prison guards in Turkey have a thing about whacking their batons against the soles of the feet of offenders, scenes which are nearly as difficult to watch as those in MISERY. In other graphic moments, a man has his tongue bitten and ripped out of his mouth, and a prison guard gets his just desserts when he falls against a coat hook with fatal results. For a film so depressing and harsh, it's a must to have an uplifting ending, which this thankfully has, but not before Davis has undergone all manner of ordeals. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS is a film that every potential holidaymaker should be made to watch as a warning, and will remain in your memory long after viewing.