8 Million Ways to Die [Blu-ray]

Director: Hal Ashby Hal Ashby

Overview

Jeff Bridges plays Matthew Scudder, an LA sheriff who loses his job due to his inability to stay away from booze. While attending an AA meeting, Scudder is invited to attend a party, where he meets the beauteous Sunny (Alexandra Paul). Also at the party is druggie Chance (Randy Brooks), an old enemy of Scudder's. It doesn't take long for Scudder to figure out that Chance is a pimp and Sunny is one of his hookers. She begs Scudder to help her break away from Chance. Not long afterward, Sunny is killed, and Scudder crawls back into the bottle. Eventually sobering up, he vows to avenge Sunny's death. Much blood is spilled before the killer is revealed; along the way, Scudder gets a new lease on life when he falls in love with ex-hooker Rosanna Arquette.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/20/2017
UPC:	0738329212162
Original Release:	1986
Rating:	R
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00

Special Features

Interview with Star Andy Garcia; Interview with Star Rosana Arquette; Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson; Trailer Gallery; Interview with Star Alexandra Paul; Interview with Writer Lawrence Block

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeff Bridges	Matthew Scudder
Rosanna Arquette	Sarah
Andy Garcia	Angel Maldonado,Daughter
Alexandra Paul	Sunny
Randy Brooks	Chance
Lisa Sloan	Linda Scudder
Christa Denton	Laurie
Vance Valencia	Quintero
Luisa Leschin	Hector's wife
Vyto Ruginis	Durkin
Chip Arnold	Homicide Detective
James Avery	Deputy D.A.
Jack Younger	Drunk
Zoaunne LeRoy	Nurse
Abigail Shelton	AA Member
Don Edmonds	Elderly Man
Phil Peters	Rugged Man
Michael Galindo	2nd Son,Actor
Miriam E. Schubach	1st AA Speaker
Lois Gerace	2nd AA Speaker
Jay Ingram	AA Member
Sue Rihr	Young Woman
Gene Ross	Actor
Tiny Lister	Nose Guard
William Marquez	Tip
Fred Asparagus	Mundo
Robb Madrid	Victor Padillo
Raegan Newman	Girl
Richard A. Michels	Player
Arie Gedis	Gambler
Rosalind Ingledew	Tote Lady
Arthur Ervin	Waiter
Frank Dent	Boot Salesman
Henry Lewis	Po' Boy's Market Manager
Roberto Jimenez	Jamie Rodriquez
Victor Rivers	3rd Angel Heavy
Danny De La Paz	Angel Heavy
Oliver Farley	Ollie
Gil Parra	Actor
Loyd Catlett	Buster
Art Fransen	Cop
Wilfredo Hernández	Hector Lopez
Peter Galindo	Son
Lynn Stalmaster	Actor
Victor Podillo	Actor
Gilbert O. Parra	Gil
James Newton	Composer
James Howard	Composer

Technical Credits

David Lee Henry

Oliver Stone

Hal Ashby	Director
David Lee Henry	Screenwriter
Oliver Stone	Screenwriter
Phil Corey	Special Effects
Charles Mulvehill	Producer,Producer
Stephen J. Roth	Producer
Mario Roberts	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

Hal Ashby's final film is not a masterpiece - but it's also better than its poor critical reputation suggests. The script for Eight Million Ways To Die angered fans of the novel by taking substantial liberties with the storyline but what is there works as a pseudo-noirish 1980's crime story, even if at times it feels like a particularly seedy two-part episode of Miami Vice. Ashby's direction is solid, with a nice attentiveness toward its performances. It seems he wasn't too interested in the more action-oriented parts of the story (a gunfight finale is handled in a pro-forma way) but he's able to convey the character moments with great skill. For instance, a scene where Jeff Bridges and Rosanna Arquette reflect on the wreckage of their lives has a raw, honest power that is free of cheap melodrama or Method-style showiness. It also helps that the performances are stellar: Bridges is sympathetic as a loser trying to get straight (he really uses his physicality to sell the character's alcoholism), Andy Garcia is scary as an always-grinning but sociopathic dealer and Arquette is steely yet alluring as the quietly wounded soul caught in the middle. The end result isn't perfect but the performances and the sympathetic direction that guides them make Eight Million Ways To Die worth a look.