Miracle Mile (1988)

“There are 70 minutes to the end of the world. Where can you hide?” Poor Harry! The nerdy jazz trombonist (portrayed by Anthony Edwards, fresh from his cameo in Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise) finally finds the love of his life, “Julie” (Mare Winningham, sporting one of the all-time worst ‘80s haircuts!), and then he picks up a random call in a phone booth and discovers that the world is about to end – or is it? Could it all be an elaborate prank? Harry starts spreading the rumor anyway – leading to total panic and chaos on the streets. The film follows Harry’s frantic efforts to track down Julie, find a helicopter pilot and get the hell out of town before the imminent apocalypse. Most of the action takes place in and around the legendary Johnie’s Coffee Shop, which was located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. A box-office bomb, Miracle Mile has gained a cult following over the years. The film costars John Agar, Denise Crosby, Brian Thompson and Edward Bunker. Written and directed by Steve De Jarnatt, Miracle Mile features music by Tangerine Dream and would make a great double feature with Night of the Comet (1984). It’s got that same ‘80s vibe – a wacked out, offbeat thriller with some dark comic overtones. Bunker, an ex-con who served time in San Quentin, portrayed “Mr. Blue” in Reservoir Dogs (1992).

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