Miracle Mile (1988)

"Forget everything you've just heard, and go back to sleep"
Harry Washello (Anthony Edwards) have been in search for the woman of his dreams for most of his life, and when he finally get the chance to meet her (Mare Winningham), it is love at first sight. However, fate seems to have other plans in motion for the two lovebirds, as upon their third date Harry ends up oversleeping due to an power failure and as an result he misses out on their midnight rendezvous. But the worries of not being able of catching up with his girlfriend fades away the very moment he decides to pick up a phone call from a distressed man claiming that judgment day is approaching the City of Angels and fast.

I do not think its been less than a week or more since I actually first heard or read about this movie, and I almost "stumbled" upon it by accident through a neat and very informative review on Youtube which featured Miracle Mile (1988) along several other 70s, 80s and early 90s post-apocalyptic themed films and this one I had never seen before, but I knew right away that I wanted to do something about that.
Skip a few days forwards, and suddenly there I stand with this beautiful looking Blu-ray & DVD combo released by Arrow Video in my hands at a music store downtown, and even though it was probably the most pricy film I have bought for a long while, I was very, well not exactly too confident but still very hopeful that it might be a great deal.

I could not wait to see it and finally, for once an impulse buy which actually ends up rewarding me and in such a pleasant and surprisingly great way.
I am not sure of how to describe the film but the first two titles which was brought to my mind when seeing it, were the New Zealand sci-fi/drama The Quiet Earth along with Martin Scorsese's After Hours (both 1985).
There is a fantastic combination of romance, drama, action, comedy and suspense and where many films often fails when mixing in so many different genres and setting, this film only kept on building onwards to a fantastic anti climax, always making sure that the viewer never really knows what gonna happen around the next corner and by adding in an impressive and very colorful gallery of characters.

The film do start up almost like an "ordinary" boy meets girl, girl meets boy romantic sappy 80s love fairytale but that soon turn for the different when our anti hero gets a phone call which turns not only his but everyones life completely around within the next hour.
I have usually only seen Anthony Edwards in either smaller parts or in b-movie, well if one ignore titles such as Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and his small cameo in the sequel, but I have always thought he was one of those who deserved a better shot at becoming a leading man as he always seemed to deliver solid work in no matter what kind of movies or roles he put on, but in Miracle Mile he is on fire as the quirky but likeable everyday man and jazz musician Harry Washello, whom have been in search of finding that special someone for 30 years, and when he finally does so it is through the sweet waitress Julie (Mare Winningham) and the two catches on and fast.
However, their third date is gonna be a rather memorable one, and maybe not all how they had it planned out.

The film then introduces us to a whole gallery of strange, eccentric and downright crazy characters all coming together in this extremely well made and original sci-fi-thriller which to my very postive amazement was directed by Steve De Jarnatt who also did another post-apocalyptic favorite of mine, Cherry 2000 (1987) of which I started up a thread in the Action and Adventure section a few month ago.
It is kind of sad to learn that such a talented guy only did two films, but with two such fun and enjoyable titles behind him, I guess it does not look that bad after all.
One already know from before having seen the film, that by adding the german electronic synth wizards that is Tangerine Dream, you just know you are in for someting special and they sure did not let me down this time either.
Few can dish out so beautiful, hypnotical and atmopsheric scores as these guys did during the 80s and here we get another classic one with a pulsating and moving, almost like in a dreamlike manner soundtrack which fits perfectly into all of the weird and strange things taking place in the movie.

Beside a very impressive leading role played by Anthony Edwards, and the always cute and reliable Mare Winningham, we also have a large section of familar faces who decides to show up: Mykelti Williamson, Denise Crosby, Kurt Fuller, Earl Boen, Brian Thompson, Robert DoQui, Diane Delano and O-Lan Jones is just some of the many we do get to meet throughout the film.

All in all a beautiful made movie, and one which really hold you tight until the very end and never lets go and hopefully also one of those which I am sure might benefit better from being seen a second time around.
I am damn sure glad I decided to pick it up, as I might just have found a new favorite sci-fi/cult movie and one which I hope I will get much more joy out of seeing again and again. Also, note to myself: Be sure to find a copy of the stunning Tangerine Dream soundtrack.