MovieChat Forums > Midnight Run (1988) Discussion > I dont like the way the movie ended.

I dont like the way the movie ended.

posted 14 years ago by bt-949-468344
27 replies | jump to latest

Why did jack let the duke go after all this? Did he think he doesn't have enough time to make it to a police station? I dont get it, all of a sudden jack became soft and gave up on the money?

[–] arabken 11 years ago

this is one of the most greatest and touching endings ever ! if you dont get it or like it then ya maybe need to have a word with yourself mate !

[–] geert-j-vankempen 11 years ago

I also think that it is one of the greatest and most touching endings! It's funny, warm and happy (without getting "over the top" or cheap), it fits the movie, and then the great music....

I think that Midnight Run shows that a great comedy movie can be real piece of art. Thanks again to everyone who was involved in making it!

Too bad that Dennis Farina is no longer there.... If there will be a sequel, it's a great pity that he will not be in it. I think he was great in a.o. Midnight Run, Striking Distance and Law & Order....

[–] LilsZoo2013 11 years ago

I love me some buddy movies, they are my fav and this one is at the top of my list. So, you must not have any buddys' at all, huh? Well, when you get some you will feel differently. It has to do with love and respect, yes they were different people, but diversity is THE stuff. Learn to love instead of hate and your life will turn out much better. Ya never know when someone you have never met before might just save your life, be it CPR at a restaurant when you are choking or you are in an accident and they pull you out of a burning car. It has been done before and I hope that strangers will continue to do the right thing when their chance comes up to be a hero. I hope you might think about stepping up for an unknown person in trouble. Ya never know when it's your turn to die or not. Some stranger may make the difference for you. Be grateful in advance.

[–] UN_Jefferson 11 years ago

He let him go because:

Serrano was caught and he got his revenge.

It screwed over Moscone who had double crossed him.

He now understood Mardukas and respected what he had done.

[–] ScopeWatcher 9 years ago

After reading through this entire thread, only UN_Jefferson mentioned one of the most important reasons why Jack finally let him go: for revenge against Moscone's massive double-cross of putting Marvin on his trail when the bondsman had already made a deal with Jack.

Of course, there was also that Jack and the Duke by then had developed a personal bond, along with the ex-cop coming to realize that the mob accountant was not a typical embezzler after all -- which was an important distinction for Jack's principles. But the last important detail, to me, is that in giving up his financial goal in favor of a middle-finger gesture to the backstabbing Moscone, Jack still brought the Duke all the way back to L.A. before setting him free, thus satisfying himself that he hadn't failed. (I like characters who, like me, prize their own consciences more than they do the opinions of people around them.)

As Mardukas tells Jack, "It's not a payoff. You already let me go." The beauty of the ending is that Jack had not known, in deciding to free the Duke, that he would NOT be walking away empty-handed after all that time, travel, trouble, energy, and pain.

We aren't always rewarded for making unselfish choices or just "doing the right thing," regardless of how much I (for one) wish it were a commonplace fact of life. But it sure is terrific when you can see it happen onscreen, at least -- and logically, rewardingly, capping off such a beautifully constructed story!

Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.

[–] JKDahl 9 years ago

I'd say the most important reason was Jack getting his revenge on Serrano, the man who ruined his life from the beginning. That was such a big relief he could do what's right and let the Duke go (and part ways with the old watch).

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

You're missing Jack's character development. He goes from being entirely self-focused to caring about what's right more than himself. He sacrifices his own life for that of his new unlikely friend. It's pointed out that he would've made it to the bondsman's (not the police; he could've turned The Duke in to the cops anytime) in time to collect his money but he states that to get to his destination has been his primary goal - the money has become secondary, symbolizing his recognition of what's right.