Well, I have to
say this movie kept my attention from the very start. It’s one of those films
where, while watching, you keep wishing the suffering would just end. The movie
faced heavy criticism for its portrayal of Turks, which was different from the
actual experience.
It’s based on Billy Hayes’ 1977 book Midnight Express and was adapted
into a screenplay by Oliver Stone. The film stars Brad Davis, Randy Quaid, and
John Hurt.
The movie is a
true-life account of Billy Hayes, a young American student sent to a Turkish
prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. The film’s title, Midnight
Express, is prison lingo for an inmate’s escape attempt.
The movie’s
portrayal of Turks is concerning. While watching, I kept thinking, “If this is
how these guys treat prisoners—or people in general—I’d rather stay away from
Turkey.” But then again, no prison is inviting. Movies might make prison look
like a place to meet interesting people and reinvent yourself, but I don’t buy
it. I’ve never been to prison myself (thank God), and I don’t think Hollywood
is being realistic.
There are many
differences between the book and the movie. For example, in the movie, his
girlfriend is with him when he’s arrested, but in the book, he was alone.
Another difference is the reason he was sent to a psychiatric hospital in 1972.
The movie claims it was because Hayes bit off someone’s tongue, which never
happened. Also, the scene where Billy attempts to escape from the Turkish
police and is recaptured by Tex didn’t happen either.
Contains Spoiler
In the end, Hayes’ successful escape happened when he was moved to another
prison on an island. From there, he eventually escaped by swimming across the
lake, traveling by foot and bus to Istanbul, and then crossing the border into
Greece. This is very different from what’s shown in the movie.
The movie was
both a critical and commercial success. It won Academy Awards for Best Music
(Original Score) and Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another
Medium, by Oliver Stone). It also earned nominations for Best Actor in a
Supporting Role (John Hurt), Best Director (Alan Parker), Best Film Editing,
and Best Picture.
My final take on
this movie is that it’s truly worth seeing, and I enjoyed it. I believe you
will too—just keep in mind it has an R rating.
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