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Permanent Midnight (1998) DVD Review
Permanent Midnight (1998) DVD Credits:
Permanent Midnight (1998) Directed by:
David Veloz
Permanent Midnight (1998) Written by:
Jerry Stahl, David Veloz
Permanent Midnight (1998) Cast:
Ben Stiller, Maria Bello, Jay Paulson, Spencer Garrett, Owen Wilson, Elizabeth Hurley, Janeane Garofalo, Lourdes Benedicto, Fred Willard, Chauncey Leopardi
Permanent Midnight (1998) Released by:
JD Productions
Region:
1
Permanent Midnight (1998) DVD Release Date:
28th July 2008
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Permanent Midnight (1998) Synopsis:

In the 1980s, Jerry Stahl was young, hip, and a successful Hollywood writer raking in money writing for the hit television shows, thirtysomehing, Moonlighting, and Alf. He was also a heroin addict. In this powerful, graphic, and witty memoir, Stahl lays bare his soul, detailing his sordid fall into addiction and his miraculous climb back to sanity.

Permanent Midnight (1998) DVD Review:

Permanent Midnight is the 1998 film based on the book by the same name written by Jerry Stahl. The book and film depict Jerry Stahl’s meteoric rise to success from a small time comedy television writer about to an enormously successful writer where he earned $5,000 a week. Jerry’s success and acceptance into the Hollywood circle was only overshadowed by his rising drug addiction. A habit that soon reached the $6,000 a week

The film Permanent Midnight stars Ben Stiller (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Starsky and Hutch) as Jerry Stahl. Jerry falls backwards into a writing opportunity working on a television series that stars a puppet alien named Mr. Chompers (based loosely on ALF, the television series Jerry Stahl wrote for). Due to his rising drug problems Jerry was fired from that show. Jerry tries t go into rehab, but instead graduates to crack cocaine.

The film also stars Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Bedazzled) as Jerry’s green-card searching wife Sandra, Owen Wilson (The Darjeeling Limited, You Me and Dupree) as his friend and drug buddy Nicky, Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Big Trouble), and Maria Bello (A History of Violence, The Cooler) as the fellow rehab patient to whom Jerry relays his drug addled life story to.

Permanent Midnight and Ben Stiller both earned an enormous amount of critical success. Despite this, the film never found legs and did not perform well at the box office. Regardless, Permanent Midnight has found a large cult following. Ben Stiller give a performance that is painful to watch, in the best way possible. It is hard to watch his character throw away an amazing opportunity due to a drug addiction. Stiller’s Jerry Stahl is raw, intriguing and difficult to swallow. Permanent Midnight proves that Ben Stiller is a highly capable dramatic actor with the chops to take on such a difficult role.

The film is co-written and directed by screenwriter David Veloz (Natural Born Killers, Behind Enemy Lines) marking his directorial debut.

Permanent Midnight was originally released on DVD in 1999. The film will be re-released on DVD on July 29, 2008. Despite the “re-release” of the film, no changes appear to have been made to the DVD. The only noticeable changes evident to this new re-release of the film, is the addition of a cardboard sleeve, featuring edgier artwork from the film. Despite the new sleeve and a sticker over the original ISBN number, the DVD appears to be the exact same release as it was nine years ago, as if the distribution company had a surplus of DVD copies and decided that a snazzy new sleeve would qualify it as a whole new DVD release.

The new release of Permanent Midnight features an anamorphic widescreen version of the film as well as a 5.1 stereo surround soundtrack. The DVD also includes a feature length director’s commentary with David Veloz as well as deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, production notes and cast and crew information.

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Permanent Midnight (1998) DVD review written by: Andrew Mattson

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