When it comes to movies about Americans who have been caught in some remote country and ended up in a filthy jail after they tried to smuggle drugs, I'm always very cautious. The main reason for that is because too often this kind of (TV-)movies tries too hard to show what a good guy the smuggler actually is and how bad and corrupt the people and the justice system in that particular country are, that a great injustice has been done to that poor man/woman, that this person didn't know that he/she was smuggling drugs because some bad guy switched bags without telling,... I'm very sorry, but I don't like that kind of drama's. It's not believable and it's my opinion that when you do the crime, you'll have to sit the time. However, I'm also convinced that not all movies in the genre are as bad as that and this "Midnight Express" may well be the best example to prove it.
When the young American tourist Billy Hayes is about to return home from his holiday in Turkey with his girlfriend, he's caught smuggling drugs out of the country. The prosecutor wants to make an example of him and asks a life sentence, but thanks to some bribes and a lawyer who knows his way in the court rooms, he gets a much smaller sentence. However, the prosecutor isn't all too happy with that and goes into higher appeal. Because the government wants to set an example, they decide to change the previous four years of jail time - which he already has served except for 53 days - in at least thirty. Hayes isn't able to cope with that extra setback and starts to decent into complete insanity, also partially caused by the severe treatment given to him and his 'friends' by the jailers. Because he can no longer count on any opportunities for a swift release, he sees no other but to take 'the Midnight Express', which is jail-slang for escaping...
If you are looking for some nice images about Turkey or want to learn something about its culture, its people,... than this isn't the movie that you are looking for. This certainly isn't a nice documentary about the country, but should be seen as some kind of warning to all people that think about smuggling drugs out of the (often Asian and / or Muslim) countries where they spent their holidays. If I read some other comments, than I get the feeling that this isn't alway very clear to some people. They believe that this movie doesn't show the real Turkey, that the country has a lot more to offer than what we see in this film. I couldn't agree more with that statement, but this is still a prison movie, showing prison life, not the daily lives of the ordinary Turks. This movie shows how drug smugglers were treated in Turkey in the 1970's and it has to be said that it does a good job. It has become a surprisingly powerful movie that isn't too corny or too black-and-white. Sure, it shows that life in a Turkish jail wasn't a pleasure (and for as far as we hear over here, still isn't - one of the reasons why they aren't allowed to the European Union is because they don't care all that much about human rights), but it also shows that Hayes wasn't just a victim. If he hadn't taped those drugs on his body, he would have been able to get out of the country as a free man. He chose to take the risk and he lost.
Next to the interesting story, this movie is also worth watching for the very nice performances by Brad Davis, Paolo Bonacelli, John Hurt, Franco Diogene, Norbert Weisser,... They all did a very good job, lifting this movie even more above the average in the genre. Take for instance Franco Diogene. He's really excellent as the corrupt lawyer who can arrange something for a little price. The man does not only act like a real one, he also looks like such a lawyer. Really very nice.
All in all this is an excellent movie for all those people who don't mind to see a not so nice view on Turkey and who are looking for something extra in the average court room / drug smuggling drama. I didn't expect it before watching this movie, but I really liked it. That's why I give this movie a rating of 7.5/10.
When the young American tourist Billy Hayes is about to return home from his holiday in Turkey with his girlfriend, he's caught smuggling drugs out of the country. The prosecutor wants to make an example of him and asks a life sentence, but thanks to some bribes and a lawyer who knows his way in the court rooms, he gets a much smaller sentence. However, the prosecutor isn't all too happy with that and goes into higher appeal. Because the government wants to set an example, they decide to change the previous four years of jail time - which he already has served except for 53 days - in at least thirty. Hayes isn't able to cope with that extra setback and starts to decent into complete insanity, also partially caused by the severe treatment given to him and his 'friends' by the jailers. Because he can no longer count on any opportunities for a swift release, he sees no other but to take 'the Midnight Express', which is jail-slang for escaping...
If you are looking for some nice images about Turkey or want to learn something about its culture, its people,... than this isn't the movie that you are looking for. This certainly isn't a nice documentary about the country, but should be seen as some kind of warning to all people that think about smuggling drugs out of the (often Asian and / or Muslim) countries where they spent their holidays. If I read some other comments, than I get the feeling that this isn't alway very clear to some people. They believe that this movie doesn't show the real Turkey, that the country has a lot more to offer than what we see in this film. I couldn't agree more with that statement, but this is still a prison movie, showing prison life, not the daily lives of the ordinary Turks. This movie shows how drug smugglers were treated in Turkey in the 1970's and it has to be said that it does a good job. It has become a surprisingly powerful movie that isn't too corny or too black-and-white. Sure, it shows that life in a Turkish jail wasn't a pleasure (and for as far as we hear over here, still isn't - one of the reasons why they aren't allowed to the European Union is because they don't care all that much about human rights), but it also shows that Hayes wasn't just a victim. If he hadn't taped those drugs on his body, he would have been able to get out of the country as a free man. He chose to take the risk and he lost.
Next to the interesting story, this movie is also worth watching for the very nice performances by Brad Davis, Paolo Bonacelli, John Hurt, Franco Diogene, Norbert Weisser,... They all did a very good job, lifting this movie even more above the average in the genre. Take for instance Franco Diogene. He's really excellent as the corrupt lawyer who can arrange something for a little price. The man does not only act like a real one, he also looks like such a lawyer. Really very nice.
All in all this is an excellent movie for all those people who don't mind to see a not so nice view on Turkey and who are looking for something extra in the average court room / drug smuggling drama. I didn't expect it before watching this movie, but I really liked it. That's why I give this movie a rating of 7.5/10.