Welcome to the second installment of Movies You Missed; you can check out the first installment here.
Miracle Mile, the second feature from director Steve De Jarnatt, only hit my radar a few years back. That’s unfortunate because this 1988 suspense-thriller seems tailor-made for me.
The prospect of nuclear war has always fascinated and terrified me. I’ve also always been fond of films that take place over the course of a single night. Miracle Mile captures both of these elements and delivers a product that is completely engrossing.
That said, let’s take a look.
Miracle Mile: The Lore
This film is a good example of how long the process of moving from screenplay to film can be. The screenplay (penned by De Jarnatt) was named one of the top ten unmade screenplays in 1983. The writer’s unwillingness to compromise on the film he wanted to make kept the project in purgatory for years.
De Jarnatt eventually optioned the script himself and struck a deal with Hemdale Films. With the backing of a studio that didn’t seek to neuter the stark tone, production began in March of 1987.
Meet Harry
As the film opens, we’re introduced to Harry Washello (Anthony Edwards), a musician who is currently in Los Angeles. While visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, Harry meets—and falls for—Julie Peters (Mare Winningham). The two hit it off and the two spend the afternoon together.
The pair plan to meet up after Julie’s shift ends at midnight but a power failure leads Harry to oversleep. Once he wakes up and realizes the time, he rushes down to the diner where Julie works only to find out that she’s long since left. Using the payphone outside (remember, this was 1988) he calls to apologize and is met with an answering machine.
As he turns to head back into the diner, the payphone rings, and Harry answers. The caller, a young military man named Chip who is stationed at a missile silo, frantically states that they are 70 minutes from all-out nuclear war. A confused Harry dismisses it as a joke; Chip, who misdialed while trying to warn his father, pleads with Harry to tell his family.
Harry hears men enter and question Chip as to what he is doing, sending the young man into a panic. Gunfire erupts and another man comes on the line and tells Harry to forget what he’s just heard.
Dazed, Harry goes back inside the diner, where his behavior grows increasingly erratic. He eventually gets the attention of Landa (Denise Crosby), a mysterious woman who appears to verify what Harry is saying. What’s more, she has connections that can ferry the handful of people at the diner to Antarctica, possibly the only safe haven after a large scale nuclear attack.
Last Night
The group—using the diner’s catering truck—set off to meet Landa’s associates. Upon realizing that they are driving away from Julie’s apartment, Harry jumps from the vehicle. Another car approaches and he quickly holds the driver at gunpoint.
Reluctant to tell the truth to the man, named Wilson (Mykelti Williamson), Harry opts for a story involving a meltdown at a local power plant. After a few miscues, the pair reach Julie’s apartment complex. Harry tells Wilson to wait in the car until he returns. Wilson protests, saying that he has to get his sister, but ultimately relents as Harry sets off.
Harry finds Julie and the pair warn her grandparents of the impending danger. They then find out that Wilson is gone, leaving them without a means of meeting the others at the airport. The pair set off through the streets of Los Angeles and Harry begins to wonder if he’s played the role of Chicken Little.
With the sun rising and more of the city’s inhabitants begin to wake, panic escalates. As Harry and Julie rush towards salvation, they’re met with rising chaos in the streets. Civilization is unraveling at a frightening speed.
Why You Should Watch
If you have any interests in films depicting nuclear conflict, this is definitely one worth checking out. The tonal shift once Harry answers the fateful call can be jarring but the film ultimately pays it off.
Edwards and Winningham do very well in their roles. The rest of the cast can be hit or miss, the acting never diminishes the experience. The biggest shortcoming is that De Jarnatt’s script is so ambitious that the film’s $3.7 million budget proved inadequate.
That said, the film stands on its own and tells a compelling story, one wrought with suspense, romance, and worldwide apocalypse. I won’t give away the ending aside from saying that it ties everything up and does so in a satisfying way.
Where To Watch
Miracle Mile is currently available on Prime Video and iTunes.
You can check out the trailer here:
Until we meet again…
-Jeb