The Getaway Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

The Getaway Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 7, 2024

Roger Donaldson's "The Getaway" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Icon Film Distribution. The only bonus feature on the release is a vintage theatrical trailer. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Someone else's money

If all remakes were as good as Roger Donaldson’s film, they would have a near-perfect reputation. Am I implying that Donaldson’s remake is as good as Sam Peckinpah’s classic film that inspired it? No. However, it is a terrific film, better than ninety-nine percent of all action films Hollywood produced during the 1990s.

Walter Hill’s touch is instantly recognizable. (It is in Peckinpah’s film, too). There is no fat, and the math is as crystal-clear as it needs to be so that the players and their game look legitimate. Also, after the opening credits disappear, Donaldson immediately begins directing as a NASCAR pro with an immaculate control of speed and precision.

Somewhere in the boonies, Rudy Travis (Michael Madsen) meets Doc McCoy (Alec Baldwin) and his wife Carol (Kim Basinger) and convinces the former to do a risky job. Soon after, they form a crew and free a young Mexican criminal (Daniel Villarreal) from an American prison. To get paid, they travel to Mexico, but when their employer cheats them, Rudy abandons Doc and he ends up behind bars. Some weeks later, Carol visits Doc, and he instructs her to meet and tell Jack Benyon (James Woods), a crooked high-roller with plenty of powerful friends, that he is ready to work with him if he gets him out and back to the States.

In Arizona, Doc, Carol, Rudy, and his partner (Philip Seymour Hoffman) successfully rob a greyhound track, but first Rudy decides to cheat and then Jack changes his mind and tells Doc that he plans to keep Carol for himself. Forced to improvise to stay alive, with the money from the heist still with them, Doc and Carol head toward Mexico, but Rudy and Jack’s executioner, Jim Deer Jackson (David Morse), begin tracking them down.

While inevitable, a comparison of the films Donaldson and Peckinpah directed is meaningless because they produce unique characters that give both completely different personalities. Yes, certain developments, like the heist and the chase, remain crucial elements of their narratives, but the special chemistry between the leads effectively renders all other similarities, big and small, irrelevant.

In Donaldson’s film, all characters of some importance are played by terrific actors. For example, Jennifer Tilly and James Stephens brilliantly play an odd married couple whose rapidly deteriorating relationship becomes one of the biggest delights. Despite having a limited time in front of the camera, Woods gives a marvelous performance and leaves a lasting impression, though one could easily argue that for an actor of his caliber, this is hardly surprising. In the final act, Morse looks great as the unhinged executioner with delusions of grandeur. And right before the final credits appear, the charismatic Richard Farnsworth pays tribute to Slim Pickens’ classic character in the best possible way.

One area where the superiority of Peckinpah’s classic film becomes undeniable is the management of the humor. It has better-timed, sharper one-liners and funnier exchanges that charge it with a wonderful positive energy. Donaldson’s film produces darker material of the kind that flourished in many neo-noir films that emerged during the same period.

Donaldson and cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. shot on location in Arizona, which has proven to be the ultimate destination for action films whose protagonists are on the run.

The soundtrack combines original music by Oscar-nominated composer Mark Isham and David White. As the final credits appear, Richard Marx’s hit “Now and Forever” can be heard, too.

The Getaway Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 10890p transfer, The Getaway arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Icon Film Distribution.

The release is sourced from the same older master that Universal has had in its vaults for years and offered to various boutique labels. I would describe it as decent. However, its age shows, plus it does not have the consistent organic appearance some similar older masters that have emerged from MGM's vaults have. Indeed, while most close-ups, and especially darker ones, look quite good, most of the outdoor panoramic footage struggles to convey proper delineation and depth. As a result, on a larger screen, a lot of backgrounds tend to look rather flat. There are no troubling surface anomalies. However, a brand new 4K master, like the one Kino Lorber used for Roger Donaldson's No Way Out, will easily reveal a superior, much more attractive grain field. Color balance is very good. Yes, some primaries and supporting nuances can be rebalanced and saturation improved, but the color temperature of the visuals is correct and there are no troubling anomalies. Image stability is good. I did not encounter any distracting cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames to report. (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).

The Getaway Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

The 5 1 track is very good. It is very potent and has a fine range of nuanced dynamics. Admittedly, the film has plenty of wonderfully shot action material that makes it easy for the lossless track to impress, but I think that mixing is to be credited too. The dialog is very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. I did not notice any anomalies to report in our review. However, the lack of optional English SDH subtitles is very disappointing. Universal has a subtitle file that has been used in the past. Shout Factory's release has optional subtitles as well. So, why were optional subtitles not included on this release?

The Getaway Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for The Getaway. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

The Getaway Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While inevitable, a comparison of the two films Roger Donaldson and Sam Peckinpah directed is meaningless because they produce unique characters that give both completely different personalities. I think that both are great, which is most definitely not a popular opinion. This recent Blu-ray release offers a mostly decent technical presentation of Donaldson's film and is Region-Free, but does not have any meaningful bonus features. Hopefully, in the future, a gorgeous 4K master will be prepared, and the film will finally look as good as it can. RECOMMENDED.