Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 10, 2021

Joe Pytka's "Let It Ride" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailer for the film; exclusive new program with the director; deleted scenes; and exclusive new audio commentary by film historian Scott Harrison. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Regio-Free.

I am not gambling, folks, I am winning!

If you are a recovering gambler, do not view Joe Pytka’s Let It Ride because it will ruin your progress. This film is very, very funny but speaks fluently the language that hardcore gamblers love to use when they destroy their lives and end up in the gutter.

Middle-aged cabbie Jay Trotter (Richard Dreyfuss) and his wife Pam (Teri Garr) have struck a deal -- he has promised to stop gambling and she has agreed to give their marriage a second chance. The deal is their final opportunity to grow older together. No ifs or buts, no excuses of any kind, both are all in. If the deal fails, it’s a wrap and they will head in different directions. Pam, who is the bigger skeptic, has already discussed a contingency plan with her lawyer and taken notes to ensure that, if needed, she would transition into her new life as quickly and painlessly as possible.

To show that both are equally committed to the deal, Jay and Pam arrange a most romantic encounter that ought to produce spectacular fireworks, but The Man upstairs decides to test them in a slightly different way. While Pam is putting on her most arousing negligee, Looney (David Johansen), Jay’s best pal, casually mentions that he has taped two men fixing a race in his cab, and just like that a trip to the local track becomes a lot more important than the preplanned romantic encounter. Half an hour later, while sweating profusely, Jay bets fifty bucks on the horse that is mentioned on Looney’s tape.

He wins -- and then much to Looney’s astonishment makes another bet, which quickly transforms him into an even bigger winner. A couple of hours later and with well over sixty grand stashed in a metal box, Jay declares what just about everyone that knows him on track has come to realize as well -- it is his day, because no matter how he bets, he can’t lose. Then he rushes to share the news with Pam and tell her that they will have an even better date than the one they missed, but after years of being burned by his lies, she refuses to believe him.

Pytka did a very interesting exclusive interview for this release and one of the biggest revelations that emerges from it is his claim that in its current form Let It Ride isn’t the great film he shot in 1989. Apparently, crucial footage about Jay’s recovery that was initially in the film was removed, and some additional but unspecified edits were made quite some time after the original complete version of the film was screened to studio hotshots as well as Dreyfuss and his agent. (The deleted scenes that are included on the release cover some of the content he addresses, but it sounds like there is supposed to be more). So, the current version of Let It Ride isn’t even a compromise, but a studio offering of sorts.

If all of the above is true -- and just to be perfectly clear, there is no reason to speculate that it isn’t because Pytka’s statements are very particular and the raw/deleted footage is precisely as he describes it -- then Let It Ride ought to be considered the greatest blunder of the last decade because even in its current form it is a terrific film. This isn’t an exaggeration. As it is, the film not only feels complete, but it has a very unique rhythm that works in perfect synchrony with the evolution of its character arcs, so it is unclear what areas could have been expanded and improved. Jay’s past? The intimate dinner in the beginning of the film reveals everything there is to know about it -- he has hit the bottom, his marriage is in shambles, but Pam is giving their marriage a second chance. It does not feel like more is needed. The only other area where Pytka could have done more is Jay’s standing amongst the regular losers in the bar, but this material would not have altered the audience’s perception of him either.

Dreyfuss is on fire, and in a perfect world where the studio had handled the film’s publicity right, he likely would have earned an Oscar nomination for his contribution to it. It is simply astonishing to watch him gamble and crush the naysayers around him with the type of energy he exudes. A young, very sexy and witty Jennifer Tilly nails her character as well. (A few of her classic character lines that often get quoted when her name is mentioned are from this film).

The soundtrack features original music by Giorgio Moroder (Midnight Express) as well as classic tunes by Don Gibson (“Oh Lonesome Me”), Jim Reeves (“He’ll Have to Go”), and Huey "Piano" Smith (“Don’t You Just Know It”), amongst others.

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Let It Ride arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. While it is easy to tell that the film can look fresher, more vibrant, and healthier, the current presentation is good. Its main strength is the lack of problematic digital work. Close-ups look most convincing, but there are also a few panoramic shots that hold up quite well. The weakest areas feature footage with restricted light -- virtually all of the bar footage fits the description -- but during outside footage delineation and depth can be improved as well. It is possible that with an all-around stronger encode select areas could look slightly better, but the age of the master will still show. Colors are stable. However, a proper new 4K master will introduce superior saturation levels and better nuances. Some areas with delicate shadow nuances and highlights will see additional improvements as well. Image stability is very good. Lastly, a few small dirt spots and white flecks pop up here and there, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, blemishes, warped or torn frames to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Even though most people will likely choose the 5.1 track, I viewed the entire film with the 2.0 track. It is clean and stable, boasting a good variety of dynamics as well. I did not encounter any age-related imperfections either. However, it does sound a bit 'thin' at times and my guess is that a modern remix might and likely will address this particular limitation of the current mix.

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Let It Ride. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• The Finish Line: Directing Let it Ride - in this exclusive new program, director Joe Pytka explains how his film was mishandled by the major studio that financed it, how it was cut and edited without his approval, what it was like to work with Richard Dreyfuss and the rest of stars, and how key locations were selected. It is a fantastic program, so if you enjoy the film, do not miss it. The program was produced in 2020 for Via Vision Entertainment. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Deleted Scenes - a collection of deleted scenes that were taken from a master tape of the director's workprint of Let It Ride. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Audio Commentary - in this exclusive new audio commentary, film historian Scott Harrison shares plenty of information about the background of Let It Ride, its reception, the careers of the people that made it, etc.

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is pretty clear that Paramount mishandled Let It Ride and in its current form it is simply not the film Joe Pytka had envisioned. However, I am going to respectfully disagree with Pytka and state that it is still a great film. Perhaps there are a few areas that could have been expanded, and specifically as Pytka describes them, but I am unconvinced that there is room for sizeable improvements. Everything clicks really well in it, which is why while I was viewing it I kept thinking that it is a close relative of Glengarry Glen Ross. Obviously, it emphasizes humor instead of brutal competitiveness, but its theatrical quality as well as the manner in which Richard Dreyfuss and the rest of the stars shine are just as effective. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from an older but good master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures and features a very nice exclusive new program with Pytka. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.