Midnight Express (1978) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictNot Woke

Midnight Express1978

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

Midnight Express is about as non-woke as Hollywood gets. Its focus is raw human experience, not identity politics or social engineering. It may be rough around the edges by today’s standards, but that's why it stands out as an unfiltered product of its time.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Not Woke

What is this?

Midnight Express focuses closely on its protagonist's harrowing journey, without shoehorning in modern identity or representation politics. Characters are developed around the grim realities of their environment, not ideological checklists. The story puts realism and personal struggle front and center.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Not Woke

What is this?

This film is a product of its era, portraying masculinity, family, and morality through classic, sometimes gritty, lenses. There are no signs of contemporary subversion of traditional roles, and cultural traditions mostly serve as narrative background for the protagonist’s journey.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Not Woke

What is this?

While 'Midnight Express' takes a critical (arguably exaggerated) eye to the Turkish penal system, it does not push a modern woke worldview, nor does it villify dissenting perspectives along the lines of today’s ideological orthodoxy.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.