Themes: Murder Investigations, All Washed Up, Redemption
Main Cast: Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Alexandra Paul, Randy Brooks, Andy Garcia
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
Plot
Jeff Bridges plays an LA sheriff who loses his job due to his inability to stay away from booze. While attending an AA meeting, Bridges is invited to attend a party, where he meets the beauteous Alexandra Paul. Also at the party is an old enemy of Bridges', druggie Randy Brooks. It doesn't take long for Bridges to figure out that Brooks is a pimp and Paul is one of his hookers. She begs Bridges to help her break away from Brooks. Not long afterward, Paul is killed, and Bridges crawls back into the bottle. Eventually sobering up, he vows to avenge Paul's death. Much blood is spilled before the killer is revealed (it isn't who you think); along the way, Bridges gets a new lease on life when he falls in love with ex-hooker Rosanna Arquette. An enormous flop, 8 Million Ways to Die is redeemed by Jeff Bridges' powerful performance. One hopes that the orignal Lawrence Block novel wasn't quite as confusing as the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Chip Arnold - Homicide Detective; Fred Asparagus - Mundo; James Avery - Deputy D.A.; Loyd Catlett - Buster; Danny De La Paz - Angel Heavy; Frank Dent - Boot Salesman; Christa Denton - Laurie; Wilfredo Hernandez - Hector Lopez; Jay Ingram - AA Member; Zoaunne Le Roy - Nurse; Luisa Leschin - Hector's wife; Henry Lewis - Po' Boy's Market Manager; Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr. - Nose Guard; William Marquez - Tip; Sue Rihr - Young Woman; Victor Rivers - 3rd Angel Heavy; Gene Ross - Slim; Vyto Ruginis - Durkin; Lisa Sloan - Linda Scudder; Lynn Stalmaster; Vance Valencia - Quintero; Jack Younger - Drunk; Don Edmonds - Elderly Man; Art Fransen - Cop; Phil Peters - Rugged Man; Arthur Ervin - Waiter; Oliver Farley - Ollie; Michael Galindo - 2nd Son; Peter Galindo - Son; Elva Garcia - Daughter; Arie Gedis - Gambler; Lois Gerace - 2nd AA Speaker; Rosalind Ingledew - Tote Lady; Roberto A. Jimenez - Jamie Rodriquez; Robb Madrid - Victor Padillo; Richard A. Michels - Player; Raegan Newman - Girl; Gilbert O. Parra - Gil; Miriam E. Schubach - 1st AA Speaker; Abigail Shelton - AA Member; Victor Podillo
Credit
Mark Mansbridge - Art Director, Cheryl Beasley Blackwell - Costume Designer, Gloria Gresham - Costume Designer, Tony Scarano - Costume Designer, Hal Ashby - Director, Robert Lawrence - Editor, Stuart H. Pappe - Editor, James Newton Howard - Composer (Music Score), James Newton - Composer (Music Score), Jeff Wexler - Musical Direction/Supervision, Barry Coffing - Songwriter, Miguel Cruz - Songwriter, Scott Cutler - Songwriter, Tim Drummond - Songwriter, Will Jennings - Songwriter, Lonnie Mack - Songwriter, Cynthia Weil - Songwriter, Emery Williams, Jr. - Songwriter, Pete Altobelli - Makeup, Nedia - Makeup, Michael Haller - Production Designer, Stephen H. Burum - Cinematographer, Elliot Davis - Cinematographer, Charles B. Mulvehill - Producer, Stephen J. Roth - Producer, Barbara Krieger - Set Designer, John Thomas Walker - Set Designer, Phil Corey - Special Effects, Mario Roberts - Stunts, David Lee Henry - Screenwriter, Oliver Stone - Screenwriter, Lawrence Block - Book Author
Alcoholic cop Matt Scudder ends up in a drunk ward, suffering from booze and blackouts, damaging his career and his relationship with daughter and estranged wife. A prostitute named Sunny comes to him for help. Scudder is introduced to drug dealer Angel Moldonado and his woman, Sarah, who is a friend of Sunny's.
Sunny is found dead and Scudder falls off the wagon. Sarah tries to tempt him with alcohol and sex while Scudder attempts to infiltrate Angel's business, posing as a dirty cop. This results in a warehouse shootout involving Angel and a mutual friend, "Chance" Walker. A final confrontation occurs on the tramway of Angel's hillside home.
