Do you want to see ‘Permanent Midnight’?

Permanent Midnight (1998)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 21

Aimless storytelling undermines the gripping, unsettling subject of this film.

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 4

Aimless storytelling undermines the gripping, unsettling subject of this film.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 5,293

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

David Veloz made his directorial debut with this drama adapted from the autobiography of comedy writer Jerry Stahl (Ben Stiller), 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 (Maria Bello), who listens patiently to Stahl's flashback. Other women in Stahl's life are his British wife Sandra (Elizabeth Hurley) and his agent Vola (Lourdes Benedicto).

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Documentary, Drama

Directed By: David Veloz

Written By: Jerry Stahl, David Veloz

In Theaters: Sep 16, 1998 Wide

On DVD: Feb 23, 1999

Artisan

Permanent Midnight Trailer & Photos

Cast

Ben Stiller
Jerry Stahl
Elizabeth Hurley
Sandra
Maria Bello
Kitty
Owen Wilson
Nicky
Lourdes Benedicto
Vola
Peter Greene
Gus
Cheryl Ladd
Pamela Verlaine
Fred Willard
Craig Ziffer
Charles Fleischer
Allen from "Mr. Chomper...
Janeane Garofalo
Jana
Jerry Stahl
Dr. Murphy
Daniel Hartley
Liz Torres

Critic Reviews for Permanent Midnight

All Critics (65) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (21) | DVD (7)

The trouble is that it's hard to care!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Stiller's attempted image makeover, though admirable, doesn't make it.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Glenn Lovell

Variety

Top Critic

Unsettling and-yes-often scorchingly funny!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Top Critic

Wicked sense of humor!

January 1, 2000 Comment

Kevin Maynard

Mr. Showbiz

Top Critic

A movie to slit your wrist to.

October 10, 2005 Comment (1)

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Permanent Midnight

View All

Pretty well done, but incredibly dry. The scene where Stiller is having sex with the German woman is surreal.

November 26, 2006

Michael Gildea

Super Reviewer

Parts of this movie were really shocking, such as Stiller's character bringing his baby daughter on drug runs and driving her around while high. I thought Stiller did a phenomenal job in his portrayal of Jerry Stahl - very convincing. It showed he can do more than comedy. Good cast and great story!

January 22, 2011