Midnight Clear Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
For many people, the holidays are the loneliest time of year. Merry Christmas.
A recently homeless and jobless loser, a senior citizen estranged from her family, a mother of one dealing with her husband's brain damage, a gas station owner stuck in a job he hates, and a youth pastor feeling irrelevant face depression and loneliness on Christmas Eve. As they cross paths and experience random and minor acts of kindness, their lives are changed forever.
| Stephen Baldwin | Lefty |
| K Callan | Eva |
| Kirk B.R. Woller | Kirk |
| Mary Thornton | Mary |
| Mitchell Jarvis | Mitch |
| Richard Fancy | Pastor Mark |
| Victoria Jackson | Margaret |
| Richard Riehle | Tommy |
| Diane Delano | Trudy |
| Wren T. Brown | Dale |
| Dominic Scott Kay | Jacob |
| Loren Lester | Gordon |
| Patricia Rae | Samantha |
| Nikki Boyer | Megan |
| Ron Bath | Doctor |
| Dallas Jenkins |
7.20 out of 10 (10 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Very powerful movie
posted on 30 Aug 2009I, too, picked this up because of Jerry B. Jenkins name on it. The blurb on the back of the DVD sounded intriguing also. I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised and touched by this film.The story is about 5 people whose lives intersect randomly on Christmas Eve and how those intersections impact the lives of the other characters. Steven Baldwin and K Callan give the two strongest performances. They also had the most developed story lines, which, I am sure, helped their performances. Baldwin plays "Lefty", a down on his luck loser. K Callan plays "Eva Boyle," a woman whose family is nowhere to be seen and is living a life of quiet desperation and failing mental capacity. Both are at the end of their respective ropes.Kirk B. R. Woller does a fine job as "Kirk," the lonely owner of a convenience store in a very bad location.I felt the two weakest stories were "Mary," whose husband suffered brain damage in some sort of accident, and "Mitch", a youth pastor, who was somehow involved in that accident. The actors did the best they could with their material, but since their stories were never really fleshed out, they had a hard time with their roles, I think.I would have liked to have had more information on "Mitch" and more insight into his feelings of guilt and inadequacy. But even so, Mitchell Jarvis did a great job of portraying a young man who is unsure that what he is doing has any meaning or significance.The writing was very strong and showed how just random acts of kindness can have a major impact upon peoples lives. It also opens a window on why some people are not so ecstatic about the prospect of another Christmas Eve.Overall a very thought-provoking movie which makes you wonder just what you could do to impact someone's life positively.
Best Christmas movie in years!!!
posted on 30 Aug 2009By far the best Christmas movie I have seen in years and one of the best movies I have seen in a long time! I wish they made more movies like this!Simply told, and beautifully understated. A wonderfully told tale about five strangers whose paths cross one Christmas Eve and impact one another's lives in sometimes simple, yet rather astounding ways.Not your usual Hollywood-type Christmas film where everyone is smiling and a happy ending can be found around every corner. No, this film is about real people, with real problems, in the real world, where things don't always necessarily end happily ever after. And, during the course of the film, we're never quite sure just what the outcome is going to be.Honest, sincere, real, totally believable. I could readily and easily identify with each and every character. The performances are top-notch and are played to perfection. Every performance comes across as being completely genuine.I love the look and feel to this movie. Visually stunning, it's hard to believe this was shot on such a low budget and in something like only 18 days!Touching and deeply moving! The movie never feels forced or manipulative. And the ending is just right! (I just loved the character of Mitch). A most rewarding viewing experience indeed! My praise and highest compliments to all involved.I highly recommend this movie and will be looking forward to the next feature to come from Jenkins Entertainment!
Random Acts of Kindness: A Little Christmas Story
posted on 30 Aug 2009MIDNIGHT CLEAR is an easily overlooked film: the cover of the DVD is bleak, the description of the story sounds a bit corny, and the promotion of the film has been scant. But what is not expected for those viewers able to overcome the above negative aspects is a well-made little series of interlocking vignettes that poignantly address the impact of random acts of kindness in a world grown calloused. It is touching in the best sense of the word and well worth watching even beyond the Christmas season.The unnamed town gradually opens windows to some fairly sad people: an elderly woman Eva (K Callan) talks with her doctor on the telephone about her meds and we note that she may be facing the thought of suicide in her desolate life; a sweet woman Mary (Mary Thornton) and her young son Jacob (Dominic Scott Kay) visit their brain damaged husband/father in a rest home (the man was critically injured in an auto accident one year ago); a lonely many Kirk (Kirk B.R. Woller) stands in his isolated convenience store without patrons; a longtime drunk and lonely ex-husband Lefty (Stephen Baldwin) is fired from his menial job, despite a recent promotion, because of his consistent tardiness; Mitch (Mitchell Jarvis) works with kids for a church to assuage his guilt for having survived the auto accident that devastated Mar's husband's life, reluctantly agreeing to his pastor (Richard Fancy) to take his youth group caroling to the shut-ins on Christmas Eve.Each of these characters influences the others by a seeming random act of kindness: Kirk helps Mary and Jacob with their broken car, Eva is given a meals on wheels by a church lady (Victoria Jackson), Mitch and his carolers provide some needed money by means of a token gift that will allow Lefty and Eva to attend Christmas Eve Service, and Eva's 'meals on wheels' ends up providing midnight food for Kirk and Mary and Jacob. Writer Wes Halula and director Dallas Jenkins carve a story that, though at times suggests it may become cloying, is genuinely touching. The cast, especially Baldwin and Callan, is excellent, and each of the characters is well developed, leaving the viewer with a sense of a morality tale we sorely need. Instead of a big booming Hollywood finish, the film simply tapers off with suggestions of the importance of selfless acts that can make a difference. It is well worth watching, especially now, and especially during the Christmas season. Grady Harp
I just rented Midnight Clear. Simple story, simply told.
posted on 30 Aug 2009Most of the comments here sound professionally done. So this comment is from the common man (woman). I really liked the movie. The reason I picked it up at the video store was because it had Jerry Jenkins name on it(I'm a fan). Even though Stephen Baldwin was the main character, I liked all the characters. I thought the actors did a fine job portraying the hurt & disappointments we all face at some time in life. I thought the storyline of the youth pastor was great. The story of how each of us as human beings touch the lives, either negatively or positively, of every human being we come in contact with(actually that was pretty much the theme of all the story lines). It's also a reminder that sometimes we just need to suck it up & do things that we don't really want to do, like go Christmas Caroling!
Look past the errors
posted on 30 Aug 2009Honestly, if you wanted a big budget film you'd be watching big titles at a box office. Looking much past the flaws of this film, there's a bit of power behind every scene. You can put yourself in the positions of some of these characters and really feel their emotions; what they're thinking and how they feel. I haven't had a film do this to me since I saw Crash.It's a good-spirited film for anyone who considers themselves lost around Christmas (notice that I'm not trying to label this as a Christmas film.) Christmas doesn't have to be happy for everyone, but those who have something to be happy about should really think about it at this time of year.
Almost a total waste of time
posted on 30 Aug 2009I decided to check this movie out after reading all the positive reviews here. I hoped it would be at least half as good as what these people were saying. Boy, were they wrong.There are two very good performances in this film that manage to rise above the mind-numbingly poor script. K Callahan and Stephen Baldwin deserve medals for attempting to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse. Kudos to Mary Thornton for turning in one of the worst screen performances since Sharon Stone in Catwoman. It doesn't help her "acting" that she is saddled with perhaps the worst dialogue in this stinker of a script. Her whole storyline is laughably bad and should have ended up on the cutting room floor. But if one started cutting on this, where would they stop? If one could edit this film and cut everything out except the old woman and Lefty (Stephen Baldwin), this could be an outstanding film.
Quality Christmas character drama
posted on 30 Aug 2009This movie is a great character piece with quality performances from the established actors. I saw it at Cinequest.I recommend it to those who like character TV dramas -- "Six Feet Under," "Once & Again," "My So-Called Life" or recent films like "The Savages" or "Lars and the Real Girl." It had the ability to be moving, without being saptastic. It shows the holidays for what they can be - without the dark, Sundance festival-type cynicism.Who knew Stephen Baldwin had this performance in him. Kae is predictably good in her aching performance of a woman on the verge.This film should be seen beyond channels like Sundance and IFC - I'd love to see it on FX or AMC next Christmas.But definitely worth the price of the DVD.Dan
Great Movie To Ponder Life and Holidays By
posted on 30 Aug 2009Midnight Clear is a movie about hope from the depths of despair. The holidays are often a time where people are more depressed than any other, yet should be a time for celebration. This movie deals with five people in a world of hurt, who find themselves connecting with each other - and 'saving' each other (figuratively and literally) on the night before Christmas. Believably done, simply executed and well acted, this film is sure to tug your heartstrings.Nice performances by Stephen Baldwin and K Callen, the movie feels very minimalistic, but it helps to keep the focus on each of the five main characters. It's not a warm and fuzzy movie, but life often dances around the cold and messy, and this deals honestly within that realm.
Stephan Baldwin's Magnum Opus
posted on 30 Aug 2009Stephan Baldwin redeems himself by logging in one of the best performances of 2007; and no, no I'm not on crack.The story is simple: Lonely people on Christmas Eve. Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious, nothing deep, and yet it's the most amazing small film I've seen in a long time.The production values were on par with anything showing at your multiplex, the scriptwriting was very good, and Stephan Baldwin, wow. I thought the guy was a joke of an actor who had ridden on his more famous brother's coat-tails. How wrong I was, and boy oh boy do I owe him an apology. Stephan puts on a shocking performance as the helplessly pathetic Lefty; he practically runs an acting clinic during the entire film, and had this been released in theaters nationwide, I think he would have been in the running for some kind of recognition, ie Golden Globe perhaps.Yes it's a Christian film, but only by the hair of it's chinny chin chin, which is to say it's barely existent, and only for the last couple minutes of the film. If you didn't know it was Christian, you'd probably miss it because it's basically about mankind's need for companionship and redemption. That's it. No bible thumping, no preaching, no gospel.Is it the best film of 2007? No. Is it the best Direct to Video film of 2007, absolutely.
Pretty good holiday film that needs a better script
posted on 30 Aug 2009I saw this at the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan.This was an okay film, but I felt with a better script it could have been a lot more engaging. It takes place on Christmas Eve in a small town in Arizona. Following a lonely old woman, a jobless man, a gas station worker, a grieving mother, and a young depressed youth pastor, the film shows them crossing paths and experience the holiday evening in different ways.The problem with the film is that some of the story lines aren't as interesting as the others and some of them aren't as developed. I personally preferred the jobless Lefty (played by Stephen Baldwin, in a well acted dramatic role) and the old woman (wonderfully played by K Callan). There wasn't enough time spent on the youth pastor thus making his story seem unfinished. And there was too much time spent on the mother and the gas station worker, it wasn't a very interesting story.The ending was nice, in fact, a little too nice, it seemed like everything came together too perfectly. But it wasn't that bad of a film. If during the holiday season, you're looking for a film to watch, I'd recommend this film before recommending one of those studio films that get released every holiday season to make big bucks.
Good story, well told
posted on 30 Aug 2009I knew this was a remake, but I had not seem the short version. So I had no history for comparison. The script is strong. The performances are excellent, as is the direction. The primary characters are rich, but the lesser roles, particularly the plant security man are very well done. Knowing the limitations of a budget less than $1M, I was expecting to see production flaws. But I couldn't find them. The production values are extraordinary. That's true of cinematography, sound, lighting, score, sets, props, on and on. The movie gives some satisfaction, and leaves one saddened at the same time. Such is life. But it's a wonderful movie, one that everyone with family members and friends who are lonely at Christmas, should see.
5 stories-1 great 2 good 2 bad.
posted on 30 Aug 2009I just saw Midnight Clear at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose and there's a lot I like and a lot I don't. 2 of the stories are from the original short story (written by the director's father) and you can tell they have been constructed with a lot more time and love. Those two stories are of Lefty and Eva, lonely individuals contemplating suicide.The story of Eva is almost unbearably sad and acted perfectly. The Lefty story has a few campy lines, but is still passable. Another good story is that of Mitch, a leader of a youth group wondering if he holds purpose. It's probably the shortest story in the film and the one with the least satisfaction in the end. The other two stories are of a gasoline attendant and a mother, married to a brain dead man. The story of the gas attendant is fine at the start but suffers when the mother enters his story. The dialog for the mother is extremely hokey and cliché and brought the score down a good 2-1.5 stars. Overall I would say there's both great and horrible acting. The direction is the most consistent thing in the film. The script is well constructed but contains a lot of corny dialog. 6/10
Don't waist your time
posted on 30 Aug 2009This movie was absolutely horrible from start to finish. If you like watching movies that put you to sleep, this is a winner. The only thing good about this movie is that the name Baldwin is associated with it and that is not saying much.If you are a Stephen Baldwin fan and want to check this out anyway, be aware that he only has about 30 lines in the movie and ....I THINK HE IS THE STAR!Honestly, this movie goes nowhere. No action, No comedy, not much of a story and not much of a budget either.I just got through watching the movie and I am so mad that I wasted 103 minutes of my life on that crap. So, I just wanted to share this with the rest of you and hope that you trust me on this one.
When your soul needs uplifting
posted on 30 Aug 2009Honestly, I just rented this film on two whims. 1. I had recently co-starred in a film (Coyote County Loser) that had three principal actors from this movie as our leads and one of the crewmembers was actually our direction. 2. I absolutely love interconnecting storyline films. From Babel, Crash and Amores Perros, when I heard a Christian one (or at least Christian undertoned) was made I was more than happy. Usually interconnecting films have an extreme amount of violence, cussing, sex, etc. and their intense films for that reason but I was wondering if they could possibly get rid of that for this film.They did, and in a good way. The story follows five principal characters: Lefty, a recently jobless and homeless man in search of redemption in the wrong places; Eva, an elderly woman who feels she has nothing left to live for; Mary, a mother who is dealing with her husbands' brain damage after a car accident; Kirk, a gas station owner whose past dreams were shattered, and Mitch, a youth pastor who feels his existence in to the church is nowhere near relevant.K Callan as Eva and Mary Thornton as Mary were my favorite characters and actors, though all five did great. The women's emotions were kept well hidden throughout the film. You weren't sure how they were feeling until they let it out. Callan and Thornton's performances were stellar and completely rolled the story for the lack of development from Lefty, Kirk, and Mitch's stories. If they would've developed Kirk and Mitch a little more the movie would've been incredible, as it is, but among all audiences. I feel Eva and Mary were also the most interesting characters. Lefty had too much character, not enough was shrouded in mystery.Considering I had a terrible Christmas myself, to see the small acts of kindness the five people in this film do, causing them to intersect made me think of just how much one small thing you can do for a person might actually change their life. A lot of films never make me think about them afterwards but Midnight Clear has stuck with me. I just purchased the film and am loving it. You just think about it at a certain time in your life and when you watch. I would suggest this film to anyone who just needs a little uplifting. You could now.