There Are Eight Million Stories In The Naked City...
Scudder is a detective with the Sheriff's Department who is forced to shoot a violent suspect during a narcotics raid. The ensuing psychological aftermath of this shooting worsens his drinking problem and this alcoholism causes him to lose his job, as well as his marriage. During his recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, he meets a mysterious stranger who draws him back into a world of vice. In trying to help this beautiful woman, he must enter a crime-world of prostitution and drugs to solve a murder, while resisting the temptation to return to his alcohol abuse. (from IMBd)
Just watched this highly entertaining thriller, based on the book written by Lawrence Block. Oliver Stone, David Lee Henry and Robert Towne did the screenplay. Starring Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Andy Garcia, Alexandra Paul and Randy Brooks.
Bridges is great, Arquette and Garcia are also very good. I was shocked by Alexandra Paul though! Very brave role from her, we are talking about full frontal nudity here
The score composed by James Newton Howard is also enjoyable.
I don´t know why they haven´t released this movie on dvd yet. Any fans?
[ 21. February 2012, 00:15: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
Posts: 7053 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2008 | Site Updates: 7
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I haven't seen this one yet. But it looks awesome, so I'm gonna watch it and get back to you. Thanks for the write-up Posts: 929 | From: Deb to Tone | Registered: Dec 2004 | Site Updates: 37
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oneyedwilly
The Dread Pirate Rewind....
Member # 8730
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atomik - i like your taste in movies...these big cheese action movies are just so raw..two thumbs up for this but i dont have it.
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
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Drawn to it by the title years ago.. underrated thriller. Jeff Bridges is great as a trainwreck of a character, but the performance of Andy Garcia is what sticks out most for me. I haven't seen it in years, but remembering enjoying it at the time.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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Anyone seen another Jeff Bridges/alcoholism/amnesia flick called "The Morning After" (1986)? I don´t own it yet but will buy the dvd asap.
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So I watched this one last night, and it wasn't bad. I liked it, but I think they could've developed the connection between Matt/Chance/Angel better. It seemed glossed over to me as they just launched into the action. It didn't seem to flow naturally at a few parts. Anyway, pretty good performances from Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette and Andy Garcia. I enjoyed the chemistry between Arquette and Bridges, they had some good scenes together. The scene with Matt accusing Angel of Sunny's murder was good too. Always lots of tension when there's cocaine and whores on the line!
Posts: 929 | From: Deb to Tone | Registered: Dec 2004 | Site Updates: 37
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quote:Originally posted by aTomiK: I have to watch Cutter´s Way soon.
Anyone seen another Jeff Bridges/alcoholism/amnesia flick called "The Morning After" (1986)? I don´t own it yet but will buy the dvd asap.
Yes. I liked that too. I don't think Bridges really gives bad performances, and he seems to pick scripts that are at least 'ok'. 'Morning After' is more of a Jane Fonda flick, but it's pretty good.
Bridges was something of the 'ladies choice' in the mid-eighties with films like 'Jagged Edge' and 'Against All Odds'. He'd always been a good looking guy, but that was the period he actually (briefly) seemed to embrace his leading man status.
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
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I have a soft spot for this messed up film--written by Oliver Stone and Robert Towne; director Hal Ashby got fired, and Stone left--though it is so different from the absolutely brilliant Matt Scudder books by Lawrence Block. First, they are set in NYC, not California. Second, as good as Bridges is, he's all wrong for the part. I asked Block once who he thought of for Scudder and without missing a beat said, "Robert Duvall." Garcia is hilariously over the top as drug dealer Angel (he pronounces it "On-heel"). Rosanna Arquette pukes on Bridges (how often are you going to see that in a movie?). The warehouse scene with all the yelling and overacting by Garcia cracks me up every time. (I used to re-enact it for the amusement of the small number of friends who had seen it.) And, of course, you have Alexandra Paul, a bathroom, moonlight, and a shocking and funny line of dialogue. It's not a bad way to spend the evening.
[ 20. October 2010, 20:13: Message edited by: Crash ]
Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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I demand a recount: I believe there are only 7,999,997 ways to die.
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Although it's not perfectly balanced, and there are some flaws in the story, I liked this movie. (Neo-)noir is one of my favourite genres, especially when it's combined with a California-setting. Think The Long Goodbye or To Live and Die in L.A. This movie has a few amazing scenes, like the 2 violent confrontations in the end. The reservoir-shootout with all the confusion and shouting is brilliant. The cinematography is beautiful , and Horner's score captures the athmosphere perfectly. Bridges is one of my favourite actors, and he did very well in this one. I would rate it a solid 7,5 / 10.
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i didnt really care for this one or the morning after or agaisnt all odds. something seem lacking in all of them, nothing to do with bridges.
Posts: 1605 | From: Lake Chicamocomico | Registered: Feb 2011 | Site Updates: 0
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I agree with you, GP. "The Morning After" is fairly dull and uninvolving, a rare misfire from the great Sidney Lumet. "Against All Odds" also misses for me, probably because the Robert Mitchum original,"Out of the Past," is so good. "Odds" has Bridges, James Woods, Rachel Ward, a good car race, and a catchy Phil Collins song, and yet Taylor Hackford couldn't put these nice elements together to save his soul. Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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i watched 8 million ways to die the other week for the first time in a good few years and got to say i thought it was a really good movie.
it was a race to see who could finish there snow cone first,jeff bridges takes the lead followed by andy garcia.
jeff bridges was utterly convincing as the alchoholic cop as was andy garcia as a low life pimp/drug dealer.
poor rosanna has got brain freeze and has had to drop out of the race.
always liked rosanna arquette and alexandra paul's part is a lot different here to what i last saw her in a few months back and that is the hanks/aykroyd comedy dragnet.
i watched it on the fairly new u.k second sight dvd release,great picture transfer,i remember the last time i watched it was the old u.k cbs/fox vhs release so i definitely noticed an upgrade in picture.
the u.k dvd artwork is identical to the scandinavian release.
[ 14. August 2012, 06:15: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
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Jeff Bridges really was a top rate actor back then, able to switch from complex and layered characters to fairly shallow types, desperately out of their depth. If you like that high-end, west-coast 80s fashion and scenery look, his mid 80s pictures ('Odds, 'Die, 'Edge) have got it in spades.
Nice clear screen-shots. Underlooked film these days it seems. I'll try dig out some lovely artwork I have for it another day.
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