I have just caught up with this movie on DVD. Stunning performance from Ben Stiller, but who decided to waste Owen Wilson ? The DVD Director's commentary indicates that he had specifically cast Wilson on the basis of his 'Bottle Rocket' performance, but then he seems to have had the better part of his performance cut. The DVD shows several extra schemes which include him and Stiller - all of which are great and really add to the story...in fact, without them, you get no feeling for their differing approach to the taking of drugs, how their friendship crashed and burned, nor how this further isolated the Stiller character. I particularly liked the (deleted) schemes where they bumbled into the party set up to be met by Elizabeth Hurley at her most glacial - acting like a couple of scolded kids- and the later one where Stiller is thrown out of Wilson's house for hitting on his girlfriend whilst under the influence. Adding in these scenes I would give it an overall 6 - without them, down to a 4...
Review of Permanent Midnight
