Miracle Mile
by Steve De Jarnatt
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Edwards, John Agar, Lou Hancock, Mare Winningham, Mykelti WilliamsonDirector: Steve De Jarnatt
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Cinematographer: Theo van de Sande
Writer: Steve De Jarnatt
Editor: Kathie Weaver
Producer: Derek Gibson
Producer: Eileen Stringer
Producer: Graham Cottle
Producer: John Daly
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of Miracle Mile
Movie Review: A generally undiscovered gem of a film...
Summary: 5 Stars
A long, long time ago, in a past life far, far away, I casually watched this film, having rented it on VHS (say what?) mainly out of interest in the subject matter, but unlike other rented videos in those days, I was so impressed that I watched it a few times (rare back then) before having to take back my rental. For it seemed this was not only a really good movie on a topic of interest to me (possible nuclear war). but took place in an area I was so, so familiar with. The "Miracle Mile." A stretch of strangeland in LA basically west of La Brea, east of La Cienega, north of Olympic, and south of Beverly.
A bit later, it appeared on cable, and I taped it, sans commercials and uncut and uncensored. At that time, I was collecting dozens of favorite movies on many cheap, blank VHS tapes, all of which I eventually threw away upon various Los Angeles moves. However, of the many such films on VHS I had collected but later discarded during various moves and other events in my life, this one always held a special place in my heart and mind and soul and memory and I've seen it at least a dozen times or more. Though it has almost NEVER been shown on TV since for so long, fast forward and only recently has it popped up again on digital cable, which has given me a chance to revisit it, and validate my original feelings that this film is really something unique and special and sadly, unknown to most movie/film lovers.
I must admit that, besides the actual content and quality of this film, my own personal connections to it and its general philosophical and political drift, just so happens to match up very closely with me, and within exactly the extended neighborhood (and mindset) where I spent more than half of my nearly 14 years as a resident of the big Orange. It thus, remains special and always will. The area in LA generally called the "Miracle Mile," and its surroundings, I was and am in memory of, and oh. so familiar with. And the subject matter is still close to my concerns, two or even three decades later.
While the movie itself, regardless of where it was filmed, might make do for most, I actually lived in that very area of LA for so many years, and so, it all makes this one-of-a-kind flick especially special to me personally. Regardless of the title, and of what eventually happens in the movie which takes place in the "Miracle Mile" section of Los Angeles, all of this was conceived and filmed very close to my former "home," and so touches upon and directly hits upon so much of my own experiences and thoughts of what the area and the times were all about, back then. Sadly yet, so much of this film still rings true, to this day.
This is a film which remains and has remained compelling from start to finish, back when it was released and to this day, even for those who never lived where I lived, or experienced what I did, or to this day, still don't understand that the possibility of sudden nuclear war and the end to all we know is alive and well these days. It deals with a topic which should be among the main concerns of everyone living on this planet present day. If anything, the low-tech vision of it all presented here (witness the "pay phone booth" and bulky "cell phone" used by two of the characters) was, and is just a warning which society and civilization has seemingly ignored many years later. in this age of designer cell phones and the net.
While this film presents as highly credible a vision as it did for its time of possible nuclear holocaust, the reality of today is probably a lot more depressing, and I suspect the "warning" which would precede such an event for most of us, would be even less on a timescale that is depicted in the movie. That is to say, no real warning of all, at least as far as time is concerned. And that would go for various other disasters, including biological, chemical, germ, and other such concerns. Still, the "terrorist" threat in this movie, comes home-grown, and is very well still possible today, and if ever there was a visualization of a "nightmare," this film ranks right up there with any other "end-of-the-world" attempts. In fact, I would be hard pressed to think of a film which more closely resembles an unfolding "nightmare" as this.
I would never reveal to those who have not seen this or who are reading this prior to first seeing the film, the ending, or how it all proceeds to that ending, but needless to say, this "nightmare" of a film starts out in a more positive light, as I suppose most people's nightmares might begin, but which turn swiftly sour. In this case, we have a modern-day Romeo and Juliet starting out under the most positive and hopeful circumstances, only to see it all decay into something which quickly turns into irrational chaos, fear, and eventual, possible doom.
One of the great things about this low-budget, but still great movie, is that the possibility of eventual doom isn't really answered until the very end of the film. In fact, from beginning to end, this is one movie which keeps you, and even the characters, guessing about the outcome, until the finish. A finish which refers back to the very start of the film, and eventually posits that events and circumstances beyond our usually egoistic fantasy of control of our own lives and fates, most probably still lays within the actions of others and other things, in nature and evolution. And within the fact that we are just a small little insignificant part of this thing called "civil society," the powers of which to affect our lives can never be underestimated or under anticipated.
This is a great movie, though it is rather short (under 90 minutes), does have a few flaws now and then as to minor character developments and plot contrivances and circumstances which may seem implausible. Still, it all works beautifully because there is more than enough believability in the common nature of the characters and how it all unfolds during the bewitching pre-dawn hours in which most of it takes place. In a strange place called Los Angeles, and in one of that place's strangest places, the "Miracle Mile."
The acting here is first rate, top to bottom, the writing and direction superb, and the pacing, virtually in real time on the screen, is amazing. This is a film, if you have any social consciousness at all, which will grab you and stick with you in your afterthoughts, long after you see it. Repeated viewings, despite knowing the end, can be equally enlightening, which makes this a must-buy for anyone who sees this for the first time and loves it as much as I did when I first saw it, long ago and far away when I lived in the "Miracle Mile." For those with the bread to purchase favorite-film DVD's of course and for collectors of same.
Hopefully, with this review, I have been obtuse enough to interest others into at least checking this out without giving away too much about a movie which is pretty much unlike any other Hollywood film I've ever seen and which you've ever seen. This is a film which is hard to compare to others since it is so unique and deals with a subject which has rarely been dealt with past, present, and alas, future. It is filled with memorable moments, and is consistently excellent throughout. And all props to the unforgettable musical score, by the synth-heavy "Tangerine Dream," which adds so much to the final mix and essence here.
A fantastic film, even though the landmark 24/7 coffee shop "Johnies," and the May Company department store at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, have long since disappeared. Truth is however, this could've taken place just about anywhere in Anytown, USA, and it would still be just as great. The fact that it takes place where I spent so many years, makes it extra-special to me, but actually, even back in those days, the Miracle Mile always had this underlying strangeness to it. This film only amplifies that notion, but does so in a manner which makes it accessible to all. Without hesitation, highly recommended...
Summary of Miracle Mile
What would you do if you knew you only had an hour to live? This intense, "eerily euphoric" (TheNew York Times) romantic thriller stars Anthony Edwards ("ER") and Mare Winningham (Georgia) in a frighteningly plausible story that "yanks you by the lapels and draws you onto a high-velocity roller coaster" (Houston Post)! After 30 years of searching, Harry (Edwards) has finally met the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, before they even have a chance to go on their first date, Harry intercepts some chilling news: WWIII has begun and nuclear missiles will destroy Los Angeles in less than an hour! Not sure if this is a prank or an omen, Harry races through LA, fighting angry mobs of terrified people in a desperate search for Julie (Winningham), the one person with whom he wants to spend the last moments of his life.What do you do when you're given the deadline for the end of the world? Steve De Jarnatt's insidiously clever and utterly gripping nuclear thriller begins as a romantic lark--amiable swing trombonist Anthony Edwards meets girl of his dreams Mare Winningham--and turns into a nightmarish vision of society out of control. It all turns on the chance pick-up of a ringing pay phone at 4 a.m. and a panicked voice breathlessly warning Edwards that World War III has been launched. Genuine wake-up call or elaborate prank? De Jarnatt plays his hand close to the chest, which only increases the unnerving tension as word spreads like a contagion. Future E.R. star Edwards is perfectly cast as the everyman driven to reckless desperation and director De Jarnatt creates wonders on a small budget. His vision of L.A.'s Miracle Mile gripped in the blind panic of a careening traffic jam is both believable and chilling. --Sean Axmaker
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