8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 21, 2017

The 1970s were a creatively fertile period for writer/director Hal Ashby, who commanded such classics as “The Last Detail,” “Harold and Maude,” “Shampoo,” and “Being There.” The 1980s weren’t as kind, finding Ashby unable to sustain past inspiration for films such as “The Slugger’s Wife” and “Second-Hand Hearts.” 1986’s “8 Million Ways to Die” represents Ashby’s final effort before his death two years later, and it’s arguably his worst picture, though not for traditional reasons of bad choices and misplaced ambition, but for legal issues, with the helmer badgered during production and eventually removed from the project altogether after a dispute with the suits. Someone else cut “8 Million Ways to Die” together, and lord almighty, they did a terrible job.

L.A. cop Matt Scudder (Jeff Bridges) is an alcoholic, with drinking taking everything away from his life, including his family and, eventually, his job. Trying to piece himself back together, Matt is sucked into trouble when he meets Sunny (Alexandra Paul), a prostitute working a gambling party, with her insistent, enigmatic ways intriguing the ex-cop, who eventually elects to protect her when she admits participation in shady dealings involving Chance (Randy Brooks) and drug lord Angel (Andy Garcia). Murdered the next day, Sunny leaves behind clues pertaining to Angel’s underworld business, inspiring Matt to sniff around for something bigger, eventually caught up with another hooker, Sarah (Rosanna Arquette). Hunting for a way to nail Angel and save Sarah, Matt gets in over his head, coming across enormous amounts of cocaine, attracting the criminal kingpin’s undivided attention.

Character introductions are laughable in “8 Million Ways to Die,” finding the production favoring a “toss the viewer into the deep end of the pool” approach that fills the frame with people we’ve never met before and plotting that randomly occurs. The clearest idea in the movie is Matt’s alcoholism, with the diseased cop always drinking himself into a blackout, establishing one of many ideas the feature makes a point to introduce before never addressing again. Matt’s in bad shape, participating in Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve some sense of stability, but he can’t resist danger, accepting an out-of-the-blue invitation to a mansion party (the home is only accessible through a funicular) where he meets Chance, Angel, Sarah, and Sunny, who doesn’t know Matt but pretends to know him. For reasons not understood, he goes along with her game, setting up a connection between the pair that isn’t even remotely believable, but it’s all “8 Million Ways to Die” has to offer, finding the entire story hinging on the secrets of a woman who’s a complete blank.

Whatever Ashby and co-screenwriter Oliver Stone (adapting a book by Lawrence Block) intended to do with “8 Million Ways to Die” doesn’t make it on screen. Editing is baffling throughout, shaving characterization down to nubs of motivation, while dialogue is eventually replaced by ad- libbing, watching the actors play improvisational games with each other as scenes stumble in and out of view. Matt’s mission isn’t clear, risking his life for a woman he’s spent mere hours with, and time spent with Sarah is equally foggy, tolerating a demeaning, sloppy woman who barfs on his crotch when preparing to perform oral sex. Perhaps this was Ashby’s way of subverting the damsel in distress cliché, but Sarah is a bore, and in this edit of the movie, she only gets in the way of everything, finding Matt able to achieve more on his own than with her. Asides with Chance offer even less dramatic illumination, with the panicked crook more of a distraction than a critical piece of the puzzle.

“8 Million Ways to Die” is a mess, but one made barely tolerable by Bridges, who delivers a traditionally full-bodied performance as Matt, finding scenes of crippling intoxication vividly portrayed. He’s customarily excellent, and he enjoys lively scene sparring with Garcia, who’s wisely elected to exist in his own movie as Angel, playing up coke dealer cool with a teeny ponytail and limited patience as the snow cone-loving villain with a fondness for L.A. architecture. Garcia’s sharp and amusing, providing thespian electricity that never shocks the production back to life, but offers it refreshing moments of combustibility. For maximum appeal, the entirety of “8 Million Ways to Die” should’ve focused solely on Bridges and Garcia.

8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is promoted as "mastered in HD," which is perhaps too vague a description to work with. It's an appealing presentation but not an especially fresh one, looking a bit aged while still tending to the essentials of a Blu-ray event. Detail is strong overall, isolating facial particulars, with Bridges especially textured throughout, finding illness and euphoria easy to read. Distances are preserved and urban adventuring is compelling. Hues are acceptable, with colors most confident on costuming and L.A. atmosphere, offering blue skies and adequate greenery. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfying, protecting frame information. Source is in good shape, with only mild speckling and a few hairs detected.

8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't break through with any sort of particular personality, but the basics of the picture are preserved without distortive extremes. Dialogue exchanges are secure, managing screaming matches and hushed encounters. Scoring supports as intended, delivering a clear synth vibe that preserves the movie's 1980s appeal, offered with strong instrumentation. Atmospherics with street life and echoed interiors are preserved, and sound effects are sharp.

8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Interview (5:34, HD) with Rosanna Arquette is scattered conversation with the actress, who doesn't remain on any single topic for very long. Arquette shares some memories of the drama on set, her research into the world of prostitution, her love for her co- stars, and vaguely recounts some of the legal issues that killed the film in post-production. Frankly, she doesn't seem all the interested in talking about the movie, wistfully recalling future plans with director Hal Ashby.

• Interview (19:08, HD) with Andy Garcia is clear-eyed conversation about "8 Million Ways to Die," benefitting from the actor's sharp memories from the making of the feature. Garcia recounts his odd audition process, where he arrived in-character to impress Ashby, going out of his way to freak out the room with his intensity. Even more interesting is Garcia's perspective on script issues, building his own backstory for Angel, while eventually doing away with scripted lines altogether, with much of the movie creating through ad-libbing. The actor is complimentary to co-stars, bonding intensely with Jeff Bridges, and he provides a necessary understanding of the legal issues that destroyed the picture, clinging to his appreciation of Ashby's production philosophies, which makes Garcia very emotional during the chat. Great actor, great interview.

• Interview (11:00, HD) with Alexandra Paul is notable for its candor, with the actress sharing her displeasure with the picture, at least during its initial theatrical run. She deconstructs script issues and recalls her audition, trying to alter typecasting by performing topless to secure a highly sexual part. Paul also mentions her effort to understand this world of drugs by practicing the snorting of cocaine using powered vitamins. Faced with an unfinished script and a confusing character, Paul admits the feature didn't have a chance to work, but remains pleased with the divisive reaction it receives to this day.

• Interview (13:54, HD) with author Lawrence Block covers his literary history, including early efforts to launch a book series concerning the exploits of Matt Scudder. Approached by screenwriter Oliver Stone early on in the "8 Million Ways to Die" adaptation process, Block turned down a chance to collaborate, which effectively ended his connection to the film version. Block recalls his single visit to the set, describing movie production as "watching paint dry," and shares some thoughts on Ashby, describing him as one of the "saddest people he's ever encountered."

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

8 Million Ways to Die Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If Ashby was intending to make a noir-ish detective drama, it doesn't come across here. If he wanted to make an intimate character study, nothing gels as expected. If he wanted to make a largely improvised episode of "Miami Vice," well…that's close to what "8 Million Ways to Die" offers, only with less style, a less inspired soundtrack, and violent showdowns that look as though they were choreographed mere minutes before cameras rolled.