Miracle Mile Movie Review

Miracle Mile (1988)

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Written by: Steve De Jarnatt
Directed by: Steve De Jarnatt
Starring: Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, Mykelti Williamson, Denise Crosby, Brian Thompson
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
A musician hears a chance phone call telling him that a nuclear war has started and missiles will hit his city in 70 minutes.

Verdict
A great concept that's rooted in '80s over the top cheesiness. I wish the movie left the question of pending disaster more ambiguous.
It depends.

Review
I heard about this on Jeff Goldsmith's podcast where he interviewed director/writer Steve De Jarnatt. I like the concept, but this takes a while to get started, and the overbearing music at the beginning gets annoying. Being the 80s I'll give the music a pass.

The title is derived from the Miracle Mile neighborhood that is the setting.

Anthony Edwards plays Harry.

Harry happens to answer a pay phone outside a diner and is told nuclear weapons are launching soon. While he's dubious, things get pretty wild. The diner cook pulls a gun on Harry and the customers decide to make a run for it.
Harry has to save a girl he just met to add some length to the plot. I'm doubtful he'd go to the trouble for someone he just met, it does help build the character.

The movie is over the top, but then again who knows how this would go. People are irrational when panicked. I like that Harry started all of this, all the pandemonium, and we don't know if he's right or not. The whole question of whether it's true or  causes a panic. I like how the city gets crazier, presumably as word spreads, yet there's been no confirmation.
The movie eventually confirms the nuclear bombs are real, but I wish it left it ambiguous. Could one person spread that much panic? While the missile launch seems to confirm the truth, it could be argued that's a preemptive strike against the rumor.