8 Reasons You Will LOVE This Film

Hal Ashby means a lot to me and I'm guessing that this film had a real personal connection for him, as he battled alcohol for much of his life.

I didn't know that. Oliver Stone has stated that he wrote a very faithful screenplay based on the novel; he wasset to direct it, too, but the studio execs went back on their word, and the screenplay went through all sorts of writers and revisions, thus rendering the conflict with alcoholism more or less a moot point. Bridges has made it well known that this was not the film he or Ashby set out to make -- he claims the film was taken away from Ashby before he got to do what he did best, which was to edit.

The performances are the usual Ashby brilliant with Roseanna Arquette never better (I am not a fan!)

I was a fan at the time and still thought Arquette was no more than 2-dimensional. (Her best work was in The Executioner's Song.)

though the real giants are Jeff Bridges who uses his physicality to create a perfect wounded beast (not unlike in "Starman" / "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" and later in "The Fisher King") in Matt Scudder.

Agreed. He's superb, as usual.

Andy Garcia also uses this work to announce himself as a major movie star and the scene at the LA Coliseum with his mouth orange from snowcones is as good as any he has ever shot.

Yeah, he's dynamic (he was runner-up in the Best Supporting Actor category of the New York Film's Critic's Circle), it's just a shame, though, that he's playing a character who wasn't even in the novel!

This work is uneven and flawed (think Magnum PI)

It's very flawed -- and this is coming from someone who still recommends the film.

BUT ... it is worth the ride for any fan of the LA film noir.

Can't argue too much with that.

There is more than meets the eye here

Really? And what is that? It's not like it's a complex film thanks to all the dang studio interference.

I also must suggest you read Lawrence Block's entire Matt Scudder series. They are set in New York City and offer wonderful writing amidst their eloquence upon the themes of violence and the redemption that recovery can offer.

You don't need to convince me, for the book Eight Million Ways to Die ranks as my favorite piece of fiction for all-time.

There is absolutely nothing to NOT love about this film. Bridges is always good, Arquette is pretty decent in this, Garcia is wonderfully menacing, the gangster mentality is believeable, great soundtrack. Number two in my all time fave movie list, to be honest.

One reason: Rosanna Arquette.

it is worth the ride for any fan of the LA film noir. If you liked "Heat" , "To Live and Die in LA" "the Big Fix" or "The Long Goodbye", you will treasure this ride. There is more than meets the eye here and if you love redemption as a theme, this'll KILL you!

Yup that's heavy grouping! LA Confidential is a personal fave along with some
others like Jack N's Chinatown & Mul Drive. Was considering giving this one a
shot, so to speak. Will spare some opening minutes to see how it goes.
Mixed feelings about Jeff B's films and concept is sorta over done.
Oh throw in The Professional and The Transporter I & II.

tillzen, I'm with you: 8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE comes close to being a classic. Have always thought that if the production company had not taken the film away from Ashby and had left him alone, a classic if certainly would be. But still, what they delivered retains enough of the Ashby touch that we can enjoy it nonetheless.

Just 8...Why not 8 million? 