8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE
US, 1986, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Alexandra Paul, Andy Garcia.
Directed by Hal Ashby.
8 Million Ways to Die is a police thriller, Los Angeles setting, familiar material, quite well done. The film was co-written by Oliver Stone (Midnight Express, Salvador, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July). The film was directed by Hal Ashby who had great success in the 70s with such films as Bound for Glory and Coming Home).
Jeff Bridges is believable in the central role of the alcoholic policeman leaves the force, is drawn into drug circles - and re-asserts himself. Rosanna Arquette and Alexandra Paul are effective as two call girls. Andy Garcia (The Untouchables, Godfather III) appears as a sinister villain and is commanding in an early role. The film reflects the interest in police thrillers of the 80s as well as the world of drug dealing.
1. Interesting police thriller? Drug world? Usual themes? Differences?
2. The opening comments by Jack, the various ways in which people die, Los Angeles and the title of the film?
3. The city settings, the police precincts, the world of alcoholics and apartments, the wealth and the clubs? The warehouse finale? Songs and musical score?
4. Jeff Bridges as Jack, his skills, confrontations, stake-outs, the Hispanic drug dealers, the home, the shooting? His drinking, the despair of his wife, love of his daughter? Criticism by police authorities for shooting?
5. His collapse, the emotion in his AA speech? Drying out? The separation of his family? Living alone?
6. The messenger after the AA meeting, going to the party, meeting Sunny? Willy, Angle? the club, the gambling, the drugs? Jack and his knowledge of Willy, suspicions?
7. Sunny as the call girl, seductive, her fears? Her relationship with Willy? Domination by Angel? Wanting Jack's help? Her performance in his apartment? The phone calls, Willy and disbelief? Her wanting to get away, going shopping, her being kidnapped - and her death?
8. Willy, his criminal background, his work, the club? Angeland, the Hispanic connections? Sarah and her disdain of Jack? Jack listening, the deals? Jack and his drinking after Sunny's death, in the hospital? Contact, possible deals? Encounters with Sarah, the truth? His decision about the final setup and confrontation? Willy and the discussions on the golf course, going along with Jack, the warehouse, concern about Sarah, his death?
9. Angel and the slick drug dealer, his wealth, his home - and the architecture of Antonio Gaudi? Pretensions to culture? His Hispanic henchmen? Using Willy and his market? Sunny and the callgirls? His vanity, the clash with Jack, the deal and Jack finding out the truth, taking his cocaine? The set-up, the confrontation, Sarah with the gun? The drugs alight? His desperation? Return to his home - and the shoot-out with Jack?
10. Sarah, her story of poverty, becoming a callgirl, making Money? Disdain for Jack? Meeting him again, going out, drinking, his being a gentleman, her being sick? The latter warnings? relationship with Willy? the gun at her head? being used? The end walking, along the beach with Jack - some freedom?
11. The sketch of the police, their stake-outs, detective work? Pro and anti Jack? The collaboration on the raid?
12. Jack and his family, the separation from his wife, from his daughter?
13. Jack and his experience, the detective in him, the confrontation with Angel, support of Tilly, the set-up in the warehouse? Coming alive again and walking along the beach?
14. The blend of the personal story, the AA background, family separation, the world of vice, police and detective work?
