Permanent Midnight

Updated February 11, 2017 | Infoplease Staff

To be sure, Permanent Midnight does not glorify drugs or the lifestyle of addicts. Based on the 1995 memoir of television writer Jerry Stahl, whose credits include thirtysomething, ALF and Moonlighting, the film follows Stahl (Stiller) as he struggles to work while under smack's cruel spell. If some of his inane utterings don't make much sense, try figuring out why his marriage of convenience to a British actress (Hurley) becomes a true union. Stiller, usually cast in comic roles, gives a harshly realistic performance of a man trying to stay afloat while being pulled under by a force most often stronger than man.