Cutter's Way - Incisive Ambiguity

[@andycampbell4420]

Bravura performance by John Heard worthy of an Oscar!!

[@tonybush555]

Too good for an Oscar. Way better than that. Thanks for commenting, Andy. T.

[@leetaylor3099]

Not sure I've ever heard of this, meaning if I have, I don't remember, and I've certainly not seen it. But based on yet another supremely articulate review, my appetite to view it is truly whetted.

[@tonybush555]

Should you watch it, Lee, let me know what you think. Many thanks. T.

[@williamblakehall5566]

I credit John Heard with a rather daring filmography. He appeared in Betrayed, a very problematic movie about FBI undercover work, but I appreciated the spotlight it put on the Amerifascist underground long before the Oklahoma City bombing. He also appeared in Mindwalk, which I appreciated for just about everything except the title.

[@tonybush555]

Heard had great potential that Hollywood failed to realise and capitalise upon. Unfortunately. Thanks for commenting, William. Appreciated. T.

[@ninfilms]

Great film very underrated

[@tonybush555]

Agreed, John. Thanks for commenting. T.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

yet another film i've had on my list, it's incredible how similar our tastes are T❤

[@tonybush555]

You may well be right, Streed. Many thanks. T.

[@pamboskourtoulos5239]

Like most people in the UK, I saw this film by renting it. It came and went in a flash on the big screen in Manchester. I think why this film did not do anything at the box office was because.....you have to think, listen to the story, stop eating the pop corn and talking to your mates....watch the effing film. Few Americans can do that. The film focuses on the three main characters and we really don't need any background, its happening now. This was John Heards" best role, jeff Bridges was rising with every film since Thunderbolt and Lightfoot back in 74. There have always been noir films since the 40s this was just another. athe film could be placed in any time line if you wanted, because there was always a war to come back from. Thanks Tony, forgot all about this film.....

[@tonybush555]

Thanks as always for your response, pambos. Greatly appreciated. T.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Cutter looks like Snake Plissken for sure mate😁

[@tonybush555]

Got that resemblance, Wayne. No doubt.

[@graemewilson7975]

What a great review of truly astonishing little movie which I saw way back on vhs rental. Bridges shines Einhorn is beautiful and tragic but heard owns the movie. I saw this and cat people (Schrader version ) a week apart and knew Heard would become a star. Only briefly. His powerhouse nuanced performance is one of those that acting students should be made to watch. As you said the movie is deliberately elusive in detail and let's the audience actually think about what they see and don't see. Wonder if I can pick up on dvd anywhere. Great review

[@tonybush555]

The DVD retails on Amazon for £5.99 and there is a Blu-Ray version by Fun City Editions which is significantly pricier at £14.99. Thanks for commenting, Graeme. Appreciated.

[@graemewilson7975]

@@tonybush555 £15 definitely outside price range. May turn up in charity shop. Great review take care

[@graemewilson7975]

​@@tonybush555 sorry only saw dvd price this morning. Thanks T. U keep safe and looking forward to seeing next installment

[@tonybush555]

@@graemewilson7975 Next installment will be The Hard Way premiere on April 9th - a timely Easter gift (well, sort of). kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGrWkKZoorZpna8

[@LarryGonzalez00]

Great review. I love this movie. I heard one theory that has the security guard shooting Bone as the screen goes dark, but I always felt it ended the way you stated. Lisa Eichhorn is so hot in this. Oh, thanks for reminding me I should watch "Gimme Shelter" again. Keep up the great work Tony, your reviews are the best.

[@tonybush555]

Oh, the wonder of screen capture. There is one frame of Bone firing his gun which is really hard to catch and process when watching the film. Just before the screen goes black. Grateful thanks for commenting, Larry. Appreciated. (Plus, great documentary by Tom O'Dell - Days Of Rage: The Rolling Stones Road To Altamont - might appeal to you if you haven't already seen it www.imdb.com/title/tt11464046/ )

[@LarryGonzalez00]

@@tonybush555 Thanks for the recommendation. I just watched the trailer, I'll try to catch the movie this weekend.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

it brings me so much joy everytime you kick the shit out of wokeness🤘😎

[@tonybush555]

Let's be honest, if any cultural phenomenon or movement was ever asking for it. I mean, might as well come with a "KICK ME!" sign.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

agreed

[@normanby100]

@@AbrasiousProductions Wokeness only exists to have the shit kicked out of it.

[@delbertgrady413]

Your opening dialog on Hollywood is exacting and perfect! ❤

[@tonybush555]

Thank you for your kind comment, Delbert. Not one I'd overlook. Cheers. T.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

hey.. I know you, your the caretaker

[@Bugster987]

Never seen this. Looks interesting. I’d never have believed that was John Heard.

[@tonybush555]

Heard's career trajectory was an odd one. Thanks for commenting, Bugster987. Appreciated.

[@willrue]

SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ if you haven't already seen this incredible film. At the end Cutter was still holding the gun and Bone put his finger over Cutter's, aimed and pulled the trigger. Bone knew Cord was responsible the entire time, used Cutter to kill him. After the black out, Bone likely told the police that Cutter shot Cord, thus escaping responsibility. Bone used Cutter the exact way the government had used Cutter to fight their war in Vietnam.

[@tonybush555]

Er, thanks for that, William.

[@anrun]

Great summary and review. I have to admit the first and only time I watched this movie, it went over my head and left me quite underwhelmed. That very well-preserved woman at the beginning is really all I remembered from it. I should watch it again. Regarding John Heard, sad isn't seeing him in a fluff role in the Home Alones, sad is seeing his minute or so throw away part in In the Line of Fire.

[@tonybush555]

I can sympathise with you there, anrun. Took a while for me to get a grip on it also. It's the sort of film that demands repeat viewing. Thank you for commenting. T.

[@krispykreme3176]

Loved this movie mainly because of John Heard’s performance which is mind blowing, can only imagine the Daniel Day Lewis level of method acting that went into it. On a side note if Snake from Metal Gear is based off of Snake Plissken it’s reasonable to believe Snake Eater was inspired by Alex Cutter

[@tonybush555]

I'll take your word for it. Thanks for commenting. T.

[@CaminoAir]

Since your review of 'The Terminal Man', I've been thinking about what that studio could have done to try to promote that film. Film festivals was the only option that occurred to me. Hope it wins a prize or two, or at least generates buzz that can be mined. I really get the same impression about 'Cutters Way'. Regardless of the artistic merits of both films, if I'm a studio executive I don't know how to sell either movie to the public......and unless the marketing people have a genius moment......I'm probably going to cut my losses and hope another project scores (especially if I greenlit either film myself). I'm only talking in terms of sheer practical logistics and box office, not the worthiness of either film. John Heard's career always puzzled me. He seemed in the 1970's one of those actors who were guaranteed a series of good roles in high profile films. In the 1980's he just seemed to disappear.

[@tonybush555]

I think the key to marketing is knowing the film inside out, understanding what it's about, developing a sharp, accurate and minimalist strategy to engage the most likely target audience on an immediate level. The campaign for Alien - the original - strikes me as a benchmark of this sort of approach. It used imagery, editing and sound to great effect. And quotable taglines. At some point, when I can find the time, I'd like to put something together that uses Cutter's Way as an example. Don't hold me to that, as it's a maybe. Thanks for commenting, Numinous20111. I appreciate it. T.

[@CaminoAir]

@@tonybush555 That would be really interesting to see. I accept your point about marketing. It's just that 'Cutters Way' seems to not be constructed in a way that could be directed at any specific part of the cinema going audience. I can't see any obvious 'snag' on which it could be hung. It feels a bit diffuse to me. 'Chinatown' is the only downbeat and cynical movie I can think of that was also a big financial success. And apparently it still required a change of music score before test audiences responded positively.

[@tonybush555]

@@CaminoAir Finding out that Cutter's Way only got one test screening before being kicked out the door smacks of lack of faith in the film and an unwillingness to spend any money on making changes or promoting it vigorously. I've come up with a teaser trailer I've made which is little more than a rough thumbnail sketch of elements that would have caused the film to appeal to me and encouraged me to seek it out. I'll upload it soon. Many thanks. T.

[@tomsenior7405]

Bridges excels in this kind of film. Even when the film is not that great, Bridges is well worth watching. This is not one of my favourites, yet I liked the overused premise. A fairly standard plot which fits the genre nicely. Does this film have: An evil baddie? - Yes. A Hero? - Not really. Satisfactory conclusion? - You tell me. Lots of action? - Nope. Complex Characters? - Erm... They are well acted, I suppose. Cheers Tony. It has taken me a year to notice this review. KZbin holding-out on me again.

[@tonybush555]

Thanks, Tom. I don't know how the YT algorithm works, it's a mystery to me, but I get a fair few viewers and subscribers saying things like; "Have you considered reviewing such-and-such?" Often my response is, "yeah, three years ago (or whatever), done and dusted," and then sending them a link to the review which has been sitting there for ages. I think because Killer Film Reviews is a very minor and niche channel, the content doesn't figure prominently in the searches. Especially when there are other similar vids with thousands and thousands of views. I've searched for stuff I've done and got literally nothing back. Who knows?

[@tomsenior7405]

@@tonybush555 KZbin only cares about profit. It sucks. On a different matter, I finally got round to watching "The Long Good Friday". At least you are doing your job right. You are correct, the film is a classic. Thank you for your recommendation.