Amazon.co.uk Review
Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think it's one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, and those who abhor its manipulative tactics and alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker and Oscar-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone's interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes.
It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling 2kg of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.
Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response that's powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker and Stone have proven the power--and danger--of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, and embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, and there's no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed and blessed with exceptional supporting performances (especially from John Hurt as a long-term prisoner). Still, it's obvious that strings are being pulled, and Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
AN EXCELLENT FILM - Good acting - is it Jaime Carragher in disguise!! .......2007-07-20
A true classic movie drama, that whilst dated 1978 comes across exceptionally well and holds your attention to the very end. Whilst the Turkish prison is bad it,s nothing compared to bangkok!
An excellent moving drama about Billy Hayes, foolish enough to smuggle cannabis. As is expected with countries like Turkey the legal system has a mind of it's own, and this is portrayed very well in the film.
Well worth watching.
Great acting, but..........2007-04-11
Yes, the acting is superb (most of all John Hurt) and the cinematography is interesting enough, bet let's please not forget one thing: this guy is NOT imprisoned for his beliefs! He was stupid enough to try and smuggle a lot of drugs out of 1970s Turkey, get caught, run away, and get caught again. There is no doubt about the awfulness of the prison, the cruelty of the guards and the harshness of the situation - but would life in an American prison of the time have been much better? For a white man - maybe... And most importantly: it was the US who put pressure on the Turkish government punish drug offenders more harshly. So not much sympathy, I'm afraid!
Very thought Provoking........2006-04-25
I have just watched Midnight Express again for the 30th or so time and I can only say what a production. This has to be one of the best and most intense Prison Dramas ever prodouced. This particular edition is the 20th anniversary edition and I can remember seeing it for the first time in the cinema when it was released. Brad Davis plays the part of Billy with a passion and really brings the film to life. The first time I saw John Hurt was in this film and he delivered an outstanding performance. The piece of music entitled ''The Chase'' has stayed with me for years and still remains a firm favourite. Highly Recommended.
Rambling reviews.......2006-02-01
After reading all the rambling reviews for this production, Just remember one thing. If you have a son or daughter who intends to travel the world. Introduce them to Midnight express. I can assure you they will NOT dare think about any type of drug smugling!
Let's Get Real.......2005-11-27
As someone who spent five years in Turkey, and subsequently a shorter time behind bars in the Middle East, I think I have some claim to be heard.
Midnight Express is a great, riveting film - but it diminishes once you think a bit.
First, the prison - is it really so bad? I don't have experience of American prisons, but I've spoken to some who have, and I've read accounts such as that of Tom Wolfe in A Man in Full, and it's quite plain that Bayrampasha is a much more liveable place. The reviewers who said homosexuality was rampant and forced seem to be watching a movie in their own heads - in Midnight Express it's there if you want it, which the hero apparently didn't. Do inmates of American prisons have a similar choice?
Now this speech the hero made: 'You're all pigs, you're a nation of pigs' etc. - did, or does, anyone pause to think of its effect on the efforts of those Turks who were trying very hard in the face of public hostility and official indifference, to improve prison conditions in Turkey? These Turks would have had the carpet pulled from under them, for Turks are very patriotic people and this blanket abuse would be the worst possible approach. Why can't so many Americans see, or care, about the effect of their actions in other countries?
Fair enough, the asylum part of the prison looked like hell on earth, but the ending - come on... Just after the hero resolves to get out, the head guard, rape-fixated (at last) gets his head spitted in such a way as to kill him instantly and leave a clean uniform - isn't it a bit too much of a coincidence?
Amazon.co.uk
Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think it's one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, and those who loathe its manipulative tactics and alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker and Oscar®-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone's interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes. It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling two kilograms of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.
Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response that's powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker and Stone have proven the power--and danger--of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, and embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, and there's no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed and blessed with exceptional supporting performances (especially from John Hurt as a long-term prisoner). Still, it's obvious that strings are being pulled, and Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.co.uk Review
Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think it's one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, and those who abhor its manipulative tactics and alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker and Oscar-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone's interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes.
It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling 2kg of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.
Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response that's powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker and Stone have proven the power--and danger--of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, and embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, and there's no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed and blessed with exceptional supporting performances (especially from John Hurt as a long-term prisoner). Still, it's obvious that strings are being pulled, and Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
AN EXCELLENT FILM - Good acting - is it Jaime Carragher in disguise!! .......2007-07-20
A true classic movie drama, that whilst dated 1978 comes across exceptionally well and holds your attention to the very end. Whilst the Turkish prison is bad it,s nothing compared to bangkok!
An excellent moving drama about Billy Hayes, foolish enough to smuggle cannabis. As is expected with countries like Turkey the legal system has a mind of it's own, and this is portrayed very well in the film.
Well worth watching.
Great acting, but..........2007-04-11
Yes, the acting is superb (most of all John Hurt) and the cinematography is interesting enough, bet let's please not forget one thing: this guy is NOT imprisoned for his beliefs! He was stupid enough to try and smuggle a lot of drugs out of 1970s Turkey, get caught, run away, and get caught again. There is no doubt about the awfulness of the prison, the cruelty of the guards and the harshness of the situation - but would life in an American prison of the time have been much better? For a white man - maybe... And most importantly: it was the US who put pressure on the Turkish government punish drug offenders more harshly. So not much sympathy, I'm afraid!
Very thought Provoking........2006-04-25
I have just watched Midnight Express again for the 30th or so time and I can only say what a production. This has to be one of the best and most intense Prison Dramas ever prodouced. This particular edition is the 20th anniversary edition and I can remember seeing it for the first time in the cinema when it was released. Brad Davis plays the part of Billy with a passion and really brings the film to life. The first time I saw John Hurt was in this film and he delivered an outstanding performance. The piece of music entitled ''The Chase'' has stayed with me for years and still remains a firm favourite. Highly Recommended.
Rambling reviews.......2006-02-01
After reading all the rambling reviews for this production, Just remember one thing. If you have a son or daughter who intends to travel the world. Introduce them to Midnight express. I can assure you they will NOT dare think about any type of drug smugling!
Let's Get Real.......2005-11-27
As someone who spent five years in Turkey, and subsequently a shorter time behind bars in the Middle East, I think I have some claim to be heard.
Midnight Express is a great, riveting film - but it diminishes once you think a bit.
First, the prison - is it really so bad? I don't have experience of American prisons, but I've spoken to some who have, and I've read accounts such as that of Tom Wolfe in A Man in Full, and it's quite plain that Bayrampasha is a much more liveable place. The reviewers who said homosexuality was rampant and forced seem to be watching a movie in their own heads - in Midnight Express it's there if you want it, which the hero apparently didn't. Do inmates of American prisons have a similar choice?
Now this speech the hero made: 'You're all pigs, you're a nation of pigs' etc. - did, or does, anyone pause to think of its effect on the efforts of those Turks who were trying very hard in the face of public hostility and official indifference, to improve prison conditions in Turkey? These Turks would have had the carpet pulled from under them, for Turks are very patriotic people and this blanket abuse would be the worst possible approach. Why can't so many Americans see, or care, about the effect of their actions in other countries?
Fair enough, the asylum part of the prison looked like hell on earth, but the ending - come on... Just after the hero resolves to get out, the head guard, rape-fixated (at last) gets his head spitted in such a way as to kill him instantly and leave a clean uniform - isn't it a bit too much of a coincidence?
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