This week saw the unconfirmed box office success Date Night, starring television superstars Tina Fey and Steve Carell, where the married couple decide to go out and have fun for just one night and end up getting caught in a crazy adventure. In honor of Shawn Levy’s latest film here are my Top Ten ‘One Crazy Night’ Films.
Let it begin:
10. After Hours (1985) (dir. Martin Scorsese)
After Paul gets a good feeling from this girl he meets in a diner late at night he decides to head downtown to hang out with her. Eventually things aren’t working out but it becomes a night in hell and his evening ended up involving a kinky sculptress, annoying cocktail waitress and an angry mob with flashlights and a ice-cream truck before the night was over.
9. Dazed and Confused (1993) (dir. Richard Linklater)
In the final days of school we follow numerous teens as they run around town and end up at a party to follow their dreams and have fun with some social experimenting. Linklater takes us back to the 70s in a good way. I personally love watching Mike (Adam Goldberg) and Fred (Ben Affleck), even though most remember this movie for the role of David (Matthew McConaughey).
8. Collateral (2004) (dir. Michael Mann)
Max (Jamie Foxx) is a regular guy grinding out a regular pay check with a dream. Until this one night where he happens to pick up Vincent (Tom Cruise), who turns out to be a hit man doing a slew of jobs tonight and he wants Max to be his getaway specialist. Max tries throughout the night to get out of Vince’s way without putting anyone in danger including himself. One of my favourite Michael Mann films that definitely is worth a mention here.
7. 25th Hour (2002) (dir. Spike Lee)
Monty (Edward Norton) is enjoying his final day before he has to go to prison. He decides he’s going to spend it with his closest friends and family and at the same time try to figure out where he went wrong and who could’ve given himself up. It definitely isn’t as crazy a night as the other films on this list, but as a movie the scope is the one night (and a little day). It’s quality as a great story makes it sneak into the list. I’ll never forget the scene of his father driving Monty out of town and the whole new life he would have if he fled from the law, or the famous ‘fuck you’ monologue.
6. Before Sunrise (1995) (dir. Richard Linklater)
This is one of the first movies that introduced us to a crazy one night romance that I actually believed. There are so many films of this genre which play themselves as the unbelievable over the top ridiculous comedy – like I’m sure Date Night does – while this movie made me realize that I could actually believe the story given to me is true.
5. Superbad (2007) (dir. Greg Mattola)
Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are on the quest, with the help of their retard/supernerd friend Fogell (aka. McLovin) (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) to get themselves crazy drunk and even better, some summer girlfriends and a lot of sex. It’s a night of adventure as they all need to get the alcohol for Jules’ (Emma Stone) party that will be their in to getting laid.
4. In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007) (dir. Alex Holdridge)
It’s New Year’s Eve in LA and Wilson (Scot McNairy) decides, in a moment of lonely desperation to put up an ad on Craig’s List that he’s looking for a date. In walks Vivian (Sara Simmonds) and an adventure on one of the most magical evenings you will ever see on screen.
3. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004) (dir. Danny Leiner)
Yes, it is the best pot movie I’ve ever had the great fortune of seeing. Even though it’s sequel didn’t come anywhere near close to the original, this still holds a special place in my heart for Kumar (Kal Penn) and Roldy (John Cho) who go on an adventure to get themselves some White Castle burgers. It ends up involving a guy covered in warts, a tiger ride across town and Doogie Howser stealing their car.
2. Blind Date (1987) (dir. Blake Edwards)
Walter (Bruce Willis) has been set up on a blind date with Nadia (Kim Basinger). He ends up signing up for an adventure and a half the moment he goes and decides to give Nadia a drink.
1. Four Rooms (1995) (dir. Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino)
Ted (Tim Roth) is just a guy minding his own business who got stuck with working the hotel alone on New Year’s Eve. However, the evening didn’t end up being as quiet as he hoped. The night proceeds with him trying to deal with a psychopath who wants to shoot his cheating significant other, a group of sex addicted women looking for a man to fertilize them, a father looking for a babysitter for his troublesome children and a man from Hollywood that needed an unbiased party to help solve a bet that had something to do with chopping off a finger. It is four short stories all intertwined by location and time all directed by four different people. A must-see if you ever want to claim that this is a genre for you.
What are you favorite “One Crazy Night” films?