Few authors are associated with a single period of film history as Hal Ashby with New Hollywood. In 1970s he made series of remarkable films, many of them now considered classics. In 1980s, after the end of New Hollywood, Ashby had serious problems adapting to new circumstances and his films were forgettable. That included 1986 crime thriller 8 Millions Ways to Die, which is now known mostly as his last film.
The film is based on eponymous novel by Lawrence Block, the fifth in the series about unlicensed private investigator Matt Scudder. The plot takes place in Southern California and the protagonist, played by Jeff Bridges, is Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy with drinking problem. After killing a man in front of his family during the raid, his drinking escalates to the point that he loses job and family. Months later, he tries to put his life in order and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, where he is asked to do a favour for call girl Sunny (played by Alexandra Paul). She works from elite club owned by Chance Walker (played by Randy Brooks), former criminal whom Scudder once arrested. Sunny offers money to Scudder to leave work and help her negotiate with some dangerous individuals. Before he has a chance to figure out what is really going on, she gets abducted and murdered. Feeling guilt, Scudder decides to investigate and the trail leads to Sarah (played by Rosanna Arquette), another call girl working from Chance’s club which is also frequented by Angel Maldonado (played by Andy Garcia), flamboyant drug dealer.
8 Million Ways to Die flopped at the box office, and this failure is remarkable because of many big names behind in front of camera. Oliver Stone and Robert Towne were among the scriptwriters and this was supposed to give this film noirish vibe, while setting it in 1980s was supposed to emphasise drugs and many aspects of drug trade to the audience. One such interesting idea is confronting reality of addiction (Scudder’s alcoholism and Sunny’s cocaine habit) with luxury enjoyed by drug dealers. One of the more interesting scenes is set in Angel’s house, which is designed after Antonio Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, and the famous architect is even mentioned by name. Michael Mann would have been perfect for such film but, unfortunately, he was too busy making Miami Vice at the time. Instead, film was directed by Ashby, an old, tired man whose personal problems with substance abuse matched those of the protagonist. Ashby was actually fired by producers following the principal photography. The film, which started with long aerial shot of Los Angeles, was overlong, with many scenes made without much of Ashby’s intervention and actors having to improvise dialogues and repeat the same lines over and over again. One example of Ashby’s ineptness is protagonist’s repeated references to his family, which is actually seen only at the beginning only to disappear.
What makes 8 Million Ways to Die watchable is the cast which does what it can under the circumstances. Jeff Bridges, in one of the first roles that doesn’t rely on his boyish looks, is solid in the role of a man who has clearly seen the better days. Rosanna Arquette, who was becoming one of the great stars at the time, also does solid job despite lack of chemistry with Bridges in unconvincing romantic subplot. The best role begins to Alexandra Paul, an actress and future star of Baywatch who, unlike Arquette, lacks big breasts but would nevertheless bravely appear naked in one scene. Her performance is most memorable for her acting talent, especially in scenes that portray seductiveness and vulnerability of Sunny’s character. Andy Garcia, who would later become star, is an interesting as increasingly sinister young villain and he makes the best of improvisations in long scenes. Despite the cast’s efforts, 8 Million Ways to Die is a failed film and rather sad final chapter in the career of great film maker. Decades later, Matt Scudder became protagonist of A Walk Among the Tombstones, much better film starring Liam Neeson.
RATING: 4/10 (++)
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