Name: Retro Film Review: Permanent Midnight (1998)
Item: Permanent Midnight
Rating: 40
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

There are few TV shows that the author of this review watches regularly. Many years ago, when things like cable or satellite television weren't available, choice was very limited and this is the reason why I had opportunity to witness how certain shows like Moonlighting and Alf developed through different seasons. Explanation for some of the more baffling developments can be found in Permanent Midnight, 1998 drama directed by David Veloz.

The film is based on the autobiographic book by Jerry Stahl, writer who used to be one among the top television writers in 1980s Hollywood and whose successful career included work on shows like Moonlighting and Alf. The film begins with Stahl (played by Ben Stiller) flipping hamburgers for 5 US$ per hour and later telling his new girlfriend Kitty (played by Maria Bello) that not so long ago he used to earn 5000 US$ per week. The plot moves into past with Stahl as successful writer who arrived from New York to Los Angeles in order to start television career. Hollywood becomes hungry for his scripts, money is good and Sandra (played by Elizabeth Hurley), beautiful Englishwoman who he married for immigration purposes, falls in love and bears him a child. Few people notice and even fewer people care about Stahl developing heroin habit which requires financial resources even beyond his ridiculously high salary. After a while inevitable happens and Stahl's drug addiction starts affecting his personal and professional life.

This film, just like the book, is supposed to satisfy voyeuristic instincts of the ordinary audience. Common people who know that they shall never enjoy wealth, fame and privileges of celebrities are fascinated when such celebrities throw all that away. Permanent Midnight, film based on the book that described such descent with brutal honesty, also provided excellent opportunity for comedian Ben Stiller to show his dramatic ability. His role in this film is memorable and Stiller doesn't shy away from displaying most abhorrent and pathetic manifestations of drug addiction. Unfortunately, writer and director Danny Veloz is less successful in putting all that within the frame of coherent plot. Stahl's life before he became an addict is simply ignored, making his character less interesting. Drug abuse scenes, no matter how graphic, become repetitive over time. Subplot involving Kitty is also quite unnecessary. Permanent Midnight is disappointing film, but it nevertheless has certain educational value - it doesn't only show what drugs can do to people; it also points to some of the less appreciated aspects of creative processes in Hollywood.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 24th 2004)