Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Cutter's Way Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 23, 2022

1981’s “Cutter’s Way” is an adaptation of a novel by Newton Thornburg, which uses the lure of mystery and murder to offer a highly detailed character study and commentary on the eroding American Way. It’s a post-Vietnam War study of broken men lost to cynicism and disappointment, handed to director Ivan Passer (“Born to Win”) and screenwriter Jeffrey Alan Fiskin (“Revenge”), who examine behaviors and relationships, with the story almost secondary to the endeavor. “Cutter’s Way” has crunchy personalities and fine performances, but it’s a little unsteady when it comes to finding its way around the tale, which begins with a defined place of unrest and gradually loses focus on much of anything.

Bone (Jeff Bridges) is a womanizer quietly pushing away from the demands of adulthood and conformity. One night, after dealing with a busted car, Bone witnesses the actions of a mystery man in an alley, and the body of a young girl is soon found in that location. Bone doesn’t understand what he saw, but he recognizes influential oilman Cord (Stephen Elliot) as the possible killer. Cutter (John Heard) is Bone’s friend and a ruined Vietnam vet losing his mind to alcoholism and conspiracy theories, living with wife Mo (Lisa Eichhorn). Cutter believes in a connection between Cord and the murder, urging his friend to do something about it, soon working with the victim’s sister, Valerie (Ann Dusenberry), to come up with a blackmail scheme to solve all of their problems.

“Cutter’s Way” presents three main characters in different stages of distress. The writing is devoted to exploring their ways, with Bone a directionless man attempting to keep away from responsibility, coasting on his good looks. Cutter is corrupted, hiding behind war injuries as he lashes out at everyone, pretending to be a clear thinker and worldly man, only to end up at the bottom of a bottle whenever possible. Mo is his codependent spouse, lost in her own confusion and bitterness, managing growing depression. The trio make for a fascinating study of angry types unwilling to deal with their issues, and “Cutter’s Way” offers extensive screen time to their individual situations and group denials, with Bridges, Heard, and Eichhorn careful and clear as they portray wildly unpleasant people.

A plot eventually forms in “Cutter’s Way,” with a dead body discovered and a suspect identified, putting Cutter into a frenzy as he lives for chaos, hoping to pull Bone into a blackmail plan meant to cause great disruptions in law and order, feeding into his self-destructive ways. Story points register as intended, but Passer isn’t always committed to investigative elements of the script, which peaks at the hour mark before returning to the characters and their hazy sense of reality, kneecapping a proper build-up to a final showdown conclusion.

Cutter's Way Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 35mm interpositive. The viewing experience is softer, but detail remains appreciable, exploring creased facial particulars and fried hair. Costuming offers some fibrousness. Town tours are reasonably dimensional, and interiors provide a sense of decoration and depth. Colors are acceptable, working with defined cinematographic moods, going colder with noir-ish experiences, and warmer with personal moments. Period hues are retained, and elements such as parade floats and greenery provide a bit more primary power. Skin tones are natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition.

Cutter's Way Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers clear dialogue exchanges, balancing hushed encounters and argumentative moments. Scoring supports with a gentle sound at times, preserving delicate instrumentation and more aggressive acts of suspense. Sound effects are appreciable, along with crowd atmospherics.

Cutter's Way Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) includes essays from Danny Peary and Margaret Barton-Fomo.

• Commentary #1 features author Matthew Specktor.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman.

• Commentary #3 features assistant director Larry Franco and production manager Barrie Osborne.

• Isolate Score is offered.

• "Mo's Way" (38:53, HD) is an interview with actress Lisa Eichhorn, who details her early interest in acting, trying to escape the troubles in her life, eventually making her way through collegiate programs and eventually the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, thanks to Alan Rickman. Early career adventures are recalled, including her casting in John Schlesinger's "Yanks," faking a British history to get the part. Talk turns to "Cutter's Way," with Eichhorn extensively discussing character work and motivations, along with her relationships with cast and crew. Themes are analyzed as well.

• "The Wound" (37:43, HD) is an interview with director Ivan Passer, who was looking into making "Cross of Iron," turning down the project for "Cutter's Way," sensing the potential of a noir film. Casting challenges are explored, with Passer urged to meet with Richard Dreyfuss, ending up drawn to John Heard instead. He also shares an extremely bizarre tale of Jeff Bridges's dog, who pit producer Paul Gurian during a meeting, inspiring the actor to take the movie no matter what. Adaptation changes are discussed, with Passer trying to respect the "spirit" of the original material. Technical challenges are detailed, along with the interviewee's interpretation of theme, focusing on the idea of friendship. Life experiences are shared as well.

• Interview (5:42) is an audio only chat about "Cutter's Way" with star Jeff Bridges, who offers various anecdotes about the making of the movie, including his perspective on the dog bite incident, his appreciation of co-stars and their "acting judo," and the growing appreciation for the picture.

• "Two Plus One" (17:41, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Jeffrey Alan Fiskin, who recalls his first contact with producer Paul Gurian, setting out to shoplift a copy of the book "Cutter and Bone" to see if he could manage the screen adaptation. Gurian turned out to be a unusual collaborator, and Fiskin also highlights his relationship with director Ivan Passer. Cast and crew are recalled, along with professional challenges dealing with writing demands. The interviewee examines different endings prepared for the movie, and the eventual critical response to "Cutter's Way."

• "Cutter and Bone to Cutter's Way" (11:16, HD) is an audio only discussion of United Artists Classics with ex-employee Ira Deutchman. The interviewee shares his early career with the company, creating content for catalogs, eventually taking a position in marketing, working to build the brand in different ways. One of his tasks was to reinvent "Cutter and Bone" after a dismal New York City release, transforming the movie into "Cutter's Way," giving it a proper relaunch. Deutchman also explores his time with "Heaven's Gate" and "Head Over Heels," with the latter reworked into "Chilly Scenes of Winter."

• "Gurian's Way" (26:21, HD) is a video conference interview with Paul Gurian, who recalls his initial interest in the "Cutter and Bone" book, working to secure adaptation rights. The journey to production is recalled, with Gurian fighting casting battles, including early interest from Al Pacino. The interviewee wanted Michael Douglas and Harrison Ford to play the eponymous duo, eventually finding his way to John Heard and Jeff Bridges. Budget fights are investigated, and technical achievements are celebrated.

• "Cut to the Bone" (11:55) is an audio only discussion of "Cutter's Way" with music editor Curt Sobel.

• "Cutter's Way" (26:27, HD) is an appreciation piece from director Bertrand Tavernier.

• Image Gallery (17:24) collects film stills, publicity shots, and BTS snaps.

• And Theatrical Trailers for "Cutter's Way" (2:44) and "Cutter and Bone" (1:53) are included.

Cutter's Way Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Cutter's Way" is hoping to provide a proper bang for the last sequence of the movie, but it strains to come up with a reasonable finale, with the conclusion reaching refreshing finality, but doing so with semi-comedic ideas. The ending doesn't deliver, but "Cutter's Way" provides a mostly compelling understanding of psychological decay, and if you squint hard enough while watching the feature, it almost plays like a dramatic version of "The Big Lebowski," with dudes, distractions, crime, and bad influences gathering to make life difficult again for Jeff Bridges.