Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Let It Ride Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 18, 2022

Joe Pytka's "Let It Ride" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Paramount Home Media Distribution. The only bonus feature on the release is a short archival program with cast interviews. In English, with optional English, English SDH, Spanish, German, and French subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

I am not gambling, folks, I am winning!

The text below was initially used in our review of Via Vision Entertainment's release of Let It Ride from 2021.

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 Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Last year, we reviewed this Australian release from Via Vision Entertainment which is sourced from the same master this release is. Even though this isn't a brand new master and has some obvious limitations, I like it. Why? Because it is not digitally manipulated and has fine organic qualities. For example, delineation and depth range from good to very good, and even though in some areas highlights can be better balanced, layered nuances are pretty good. The master's age shows the most during darker footage where shadow definition can and should be superior. What about color reproduction and balance? If the film is proper remastered in 4K and then properly graded, there would be some meaningful improvements in terms of saturation that would expand different ranges of nuances as well. However, the current color balance is good and convincing. Image stability is very good. Finally, this release is encoded slightly better, so if you have a very big screen, I would say that it is the one to own. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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 four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), German: Dolby Digital 2.0,, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0, and French: Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English, English SDH, Spanish, German, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

When I prepared the review for the Australian release of Let It Ride, I viewed the film with a lossless 2.0 track, so this time I had to view the film with the lossless 5.1 track. I don't think that there is a dramatic difference between the two. Perhaps some of the mass footage is opened up a little bit better on the 5.1 track, but the type of aggressive footage that is needed for make a 5.1 track shine is missing. Clarity and sharpness are very good, but it is possible that the audio could be a little bit better rounded.

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

• Behind the Scenes Featurette - in this archival program, Richard Dreyfuss, David Johansen, Robbie Coltrane, Robbie Coltrane, Michelle Phillips, and Jennifer Tilly quickly address the characters they play in Let It Ride. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

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. Paramount's release is sourced from an older but good organic master. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.