Miracle Mile (1988)

The only place to begin this blog with a film I have championed for many a year. Can a legendary script, a nearly as legendary B-Movie cast, a soundtrack by Tangerine Dream and an end product crammed to the hilt with irony possibly fail? No, and this wee movie never gets anything other than my full attention everytime I see it. They say actions speak louder than words but for the sake of a link I'll prove that wrong for now by linking to the Miracle Mile script. I will probably link to some trailers for many of the movies added here but not this one, even though the trailer is out there. I urge you to watch this without advance warning which is why there aren't any giveaways in my write up. You'll be all the better for it..

A treasure trove of delights are revealed on many, many viewings

The film begins at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles ensuring from the very start it's rich irony, the movie going full circle, like mankind has threatened all too often. The voice over in the museum before the opening credits roll is very important in the light of what man is capable of doing in the twinkling of an eye. After an opening 20 minutes which seems to be ambling along nicely as a romantic comedy, but is crucial to what follows, we are taken in a very different direction far removed from your typical Meg Ryan vehicle. Miracle Mile is littered with unforgettable but often very simple dialogue, fitting of the characters throughout. On-the-spot reporter Brian Jones has one of my countless favourite lines: 'We're not people anymore'.
Simple and at the same time perfectly summing up what's going on. For film buffs the cast is a real treat with so many B-faces and some scenes of utter delicious madness. Look for Jeanette Goldstein(Vasquez from 'Aliens') on the roof dolled up but still packing a big gun, Lou Hancock (Henrietta, the human form of the witch in the cellar from 'Evil Dead 2'), the rats that suddenly appear on a car bonnet after a tree is bumped, Harry and Julie so perfectly placed in the clock department of a large store when time is the one thing they haven't got, and so much more I could write a blog on the movie. That day will come.

Everything in the film focuses on the ordinary folk, the underdog, no gloss, no big names. One of the film's many, many important lines comes at the start uttered by Harry: "Love sure can spin your head round". It certainly does ordinarily let alone extreme circumstances. Many folk have rightly likened this movie to another great film, After Hours(1985), in terms of mood and the central character's predicament but if you are one of those who thinks because a name director such as Scorsese means it must be better all round than MM then you're a pretentious twat so move along.

Another Tangerine Dream score perfectly fits the mood

Tangerine Dream were responsible for some memorable movie soundtracks. Two of these, The Keep(1983) which has arguably my favourite soundtrack of theirs, and Three O'Clock High(1987) will make their appearance here at a later date. Their music is just perfect for this movie carrying us along on the ride almost without noticing. First time out director and writer Steve De Jarnett held firm on his beliefs as to how it should be done and the end product is a low budget film which is a classic at any amount.

The ending of this truly fantastic movie is beautiful, poetic and very ironic. Utterly compelling and harrowing. A must see.

Miracle Mile IMDB page