Review of Against All Odds (1984) by Daniel A — 14 Apr 2011

In my review of Sharky's Machine (which actress Rachel Ward also was in) I noted that a crusial plot twist was borrowed from the 1940s Film Noir classic Laura. This film doesn't lift a crucial plot twist from a 1940s film noir classic; it is a 1980s remake of a film noir classic.

The film being remade is 1947's Out Of The Past with Jeff Bridges in the Robert Mitchum role, Rachel Ward in the Jane Greer role, and James Woods in Kirk Douglas role. Jane Greer, from the original, is on hand to play Ward's mother along Richard Widmark (who wasn't in Out Of The Past but was in so many other Noirs) playing Greer's business partner.

Instead of playing a cynical private investigator, Jeff Bridges is a cynical pro-football player whose injuries have sidelined his career. Since this movie was directed by the director of An Officer And A Gentleman, the studio execs downplayed the Neo-Noir aspects of the plot and emphasized the romantic relationship between Bridges and Ward's characters.

The VHS of this film featured the photo of its attractive costars embracing on a beach, and the Phil Collins promotional video only hints at the murder and mayhem in the plot. Hey, this is a 1980s Neo-Noir with James Woods playing the heavy, there is going to be murder and mayhem.

Worth a look, but do check out the original film this is based on...