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It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling 2kg of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.
Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response that's powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker and Stone have proven the power--and danger--of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, and embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, and there's no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed and blessed with exceptional supporting performances (especially from John Hurt as a long-term prisoner). Still, it's obvious that strings are being pulled, and Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Without a doubt, the director achieves a great feat of film making with this movie; you feel like you are right 'there', in Billy's shoes, as he tries to pass customs & security to get on the plane with his undeclared goods, and right there in Turkey - you can almost smell the place. With godfathers of acting, such as John Hurt & Randy Quaid, staring in this movie, it delivers all that's promised, and more, and you will feel proud having this one among your 'classic' collection any day.
The only downside to the movie is that it is a bit hypocritical of the book e.g. In the film we see homosexuality rife in the Turkish Prison, which it is, but we see Billy tempted with it, then his strong (American) morals kick-in and he walks away from it. But the truth is much more moving & meaningful...
But, the blatant hypocrisy of the storyline isn't enough to mar the excellence of the movie. Enjoy...
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