8 Million Ways To Die

Disappointing mess from director Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude, Coming Home) features Jeff Bridges as an alcoholic detective who drowns his life in drink because of his guilt over killing an addict. When a prostitute is murdered, Bridges hooks up with steam-queen Rosanna Arquette, and the duo stalk the killer. Along the way, the plot, which involves a high level narcotics ring, takes many more twists and turns than the viewer is willing to assimilate (mainly because the characters haven't been properly set up, so we don't care what happens to them). Multiple chase scenes and shoot-outs ensue culminating in one supremely ludicrous showdown in a cavernous warehouse that will provoke more giggles than shivers. In all fairness to Ashby, this really isn't his film. The producers took it away from him in post production and moved the emphasis away from the human story, playing up the thriller side--with the results being two underdeveloped ideas which never mesh into a whole. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray/DVD Review—June 27, 2017—Kino Lorber, 115 min., R, DVD: $19.95, Blu-ray: $29.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1986's 8 Million Ways to Die features a solid transfer and a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack on the Blu-ray release. Extras include audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson, and interviews with writer Lawrence Block (14 min.), and actors Andy Garcia (19 min.), Alexandra Paul (11 min.), and Rosanna Arquette (6 min.). Bottom line: although it looks better in high-def, this is still a lame thriller.]