Permanent Midnight (1998)

A comedy writer struggles to overcome his addiction to heroin.

Director:

David Veloz

Writers:

Jerry Stahl (book), David Veloz (screenplay)

Stars:

Ben Stiller, Maria Bello, Jay Paulson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Stiller	...	Jerry Stahl
Maria Bello	...	Kitty
Jay Paulson	...	Phoenix Punk
Spencer Garrett	...	Brad / Tim from Mr. Chompers
Owen Wilson	...	Nicky
Elizabeth Hurley	...	Sandra
Lourdes Benedicto	...	Vola
Fred Willard	...	Craig Ziffer
Chauncey Leopardi	...	Jerry at 16
Mary Thompson	...	Grandma Whittle
Connie Nielsen	...	Dagmar
Charles Fleischer	...	Allen from Mr. Chompers
Liz Torres	...	Dita
Douglas Spain	...	Miguel
Janeane Garofalo	...	Jana Farmer

Storyline

Comedy writer Jerry Stahl, whose $6000-a-week heroin habit had him taking his infant daughter along on his drug runs and doing smack during TV script conferences. Departing detox, Stahl explores memories with survivor Kitty, who listens patiently to Stahl's flashback. Other women in Stahl's life are his British wife Sandra and his agent Vola. For the TV series "Mr. Chompers" (inspired by ALF), Stahl meets with sitcom exec Craig Ziffer and puppeteer Allen. For freaky freebasing, Stahl hangs with mumbler Nicky and druggie Gus.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | habit | flashback | detox | heroin | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive graphic drug use, strong sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1999 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

A nap árnyékos oldalán

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$260,562, 20 September 1998

Gross USA:

$1,171,001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,171,001

Company Credits

Production Co:

JD Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Fleischer, best known for voicing Roger Rabbit, has the small role of Allen from "Mr. Chompers". According to the book, Permanent Midnight, Jerry Stahl wrote an unaired television pilot as a vehicle for Fleischer.

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Goofs

After Jerry picks up his daughter from Sandra to babysit her (at approximately [1:01:40]), he can be seen driving down the road sitting on the right hand side of the car. This is not consistent with other scenes in the movie and furthermore, the driver is clearly not Ben Stiller.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jerry: You know what's mortifying? Smack is like the leisure suit of the nineties. Instead of wrecking dad's Buick on prom might, these little suburban fucks are coping habits and OD'ing in the rec room.
Kitty: And you're different, because?
Jerry: I never got to the prom.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD features 3 deleted scenes:

• A wasted Jerry hitting on Owen Wilson's character's girlfriend and being thrown out.
• A long haired Jerry working for Hustler magazine.
• A stoned Jerry buying a muffin and being beaten with a baseball bat by the store clerk.

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Connections

References Mad Max (1979)

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Soundtracks

I LOVE A PARADE
Written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Published by S.P. Music Co./Warner Bros. Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Underrated Film, Fantastic Performance

Permanent Midnight, while certainly not the best film ever made about heroin addiction, is a very solid film that was largely over looked by both critics and the public. The brightest jewel in this film's crown is Ben Stiller's performance as Jerry Stahl. I found it interesting that while Stiller got loads of attention for getting his "package" caught in his zipper in "There's Something About Mary" (which is a very funny moive) hardly an eye was blinked when he gave the performance of his career in "Midnight." I think this film proves the theory that often comedic actors give the best dramatic performances. Do yourself a favor and rent it.