Permanent Midnight (1998)

59% of critics liked it
(51 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(5,357 ratings)

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… More 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). For the TV series "Mr. Chompers" (inspired by ALF), Stahl meets with sitcom exec Craig Ziffer (Fred Willard) and puppeteer Allen (Charles Fleischer). For freaky freebasing, Stahl hangs with mumbler Nicky (Owen Wilson) and druggie Gus (Peter Greene). Stahl himself can be seen in a cameo as the methadone clinic doctor. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: David Veloz
Written By: Jerry Stahl, David Veloz
Genres: Documentary, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 16, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Feb 23, 1999
Studio: Artisan

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie gets credit for not making the high life seem colorful or funny.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
As enveloping as it is darkly cautionary!
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz
Wicked sense of humor!
Robert Horton, Film.com
Rollicking! A high-energy adaptation!
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
A movie to slit your wrist to.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

William D

"Permanent Midnight" is one of the shallowest movies I've ever seen. It is also bizarrely off in tone and pitch. It is based on a memoir about massive drug addiction, but it's directed as if it's a comedy. Ben Stiller gives an atrociously nonchalant,… More
"Permanent Midnight" is one of the shallowest movies I've ever seen. It is also bizarrely off in tone and pitch. It is based on a memoir about massive drug addiction, but it's directed as if it's a comedy. Ben Stiller gives an atrociously nonchalant, smirky performance as the drug addict. A couple of female characters stand around in the background with absolutely nothing to say. Owen Wilson also appears every now and again with nothing to say. I imagine that the memoir upon which the film is based has some value. My guess is that the film version fell apart not because the book was so bad but because the project fell into the hands of first-time director David Veloz, who not surprisingly has never done another film. Veloz just seemed to have no idea how to handle material like this. Perhaps he was trying to do something radical by approaching it tongue-in-cheek. But it is a colossal failure.
Michael G

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

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… More
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!
Kevin L

Unlike a movie Ben Stiller has ever been in.He is of course best known for his stupid humor style of comedy.Permanent Midnight brillantly showcases his more serious/darker side.He plays a heroin who writes comedy,go figure.. Being a drug movie it wasnt all that dark. Sure certain… More
Unlike a movie Ben Stiller has ever been in.He is of course best known for his stupid humor style of comedy.Permanent Midnight brillantly showcases his more serious/darker side.He plays a heroin who writes comedy,go figure.. Being a drug movie it wasnt all that dark. Sure certain scenes where like when he shoots up in front of his infant daughter. However the scene when he's tripping on drugs,pitching his ideas to his boss at work,well lets just say I was having a hard time not pissing my pants,haha There were certain scenes that stuck out to me. The sex scene with the German,the way it was shot...loved it. Its diffucult to discribe its power( they were intoxicated with heroin while they were screwing. For an independent film there are alot of well known faces. Of course at the time they were fairlly unknown. Owen Wilson plays Stiller's drug friend,we get the beatifull Brit Eilzabeth Hurley,and one of favortie blondes Maria Bello ;) I recommend this film too anyone that thinks Stiller is a one-track actor. He might surprise you with this....
Christopher B

Saw this at TIFF and had to be at the theater by 9 in the morning. This is after working the 4 to midnight shift for years, so I didn't even know what 7 in the morning looked like unless I was still awake. But the movie sounded awesome, the biography of the writer of Cafe Flesh… More
Saw this at TIFF and had to be at the theater by 9 in the morning. This is after working the 4 to midnight shift for years, so I didn't even know what 7 in the morning looked like unless I was still awake. But the movie sounded awesome, the biography of the writer of Cafe Flesh and Alf? Tell me where to sign up! Turns out I should've slept in.