Against All Odds is a neo-noir 1984 film, a remake of Out of the Past. The movie was directed by Taylor Hackford and features Rachel Ward in a variation of Jane Greer's original role, Jeff Bridges filling in for Robert Mitchum, and James Woods in a version of Kirk Douglas's part. Supporting players include Greer (portraying the mother of her original character), Alex Karras, Richard Widmark, and Dorian Harewood.
The movie's soundtrack, nominated for a Grammy Award, featured songs from Big Country, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Stevie Nicks, and Genesis breakout stars Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, and Phil Collins. Collins sang the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award and was one of the top-selling singles of 1984.
Plot
Pro football player Terry Brogan is cut from his team, the (fictitious) L.A. Outlaws. Aging, injured and in need of money, he agrees to help an old acquaintance, the shady gambler Jake Wise, find his girlfriend, Jessie Wyler (daughter of the Outlaws' owner).
Jake says that Jessie assaulted him, stole money and fled. Terry reluctantly takes the job, getting $10,000 immediately and promised the same when he returns with her.
Terry goes to Mexico, where he finds Jessie living in Cozumel. She is suspicious at first but the two unexpectedly fall in love. Well aware that Jake will send someone after them, Terry lies and says he hasn't yet found her.
Jake pays the Outlaws' team trainer, Sully, to locate them. When he attempts to bring Jessie back at gunpoint, a fight ensues and he is shot by her. Frightened and knowing things will only get worse, she disappears, leaving Terry to hide the body.
Terry returns to Los Angeles to find Jessie has returned to Jake. Blackmailed over the disappearance of Sully, he agrees to break into his former agent Kirsch's office to retrieve detailed files on his clients that Jake badly wants.
Terry breaks into the office and finds Kirsch dead. A security guard has been hired to kill Terry and make it look like he has murdered the agent, but Terry escapes. He persuades his agent's secretary, Edie, to go back to the office and help him get the files.
Terry gets in touch with Ben Caxton, a prominent businessman and associate of Jake Wise, arranging to meet at the site of a new construction project. Jake has been handling bets on the Outlaws using information he's been given by Sully, the trainer, and Kirsch, the agent. A shootout occurs and Jake is killed by Jessie.
Guilty of murder, Jessie must agree to terms set by Caxton to avoid going to jail. They include returning to her estranged mother's side and ending her relationship with Terry.
Weeks later, Terry attends a publicity function just so he can see Jessie one last time before beginning a new job with the Miami football team. All he can do is stare at her from a distance.
Cast
Soundtrack
Production notes
- The film featured cameo appearances by stars of Out of the Past on which the film is based. Jane Greer, who was the star of Out of the Past plays Rachel Ward's mother. Paul Valentine, who played hood Joe Stephanos in the first film, played a councilman in Against All Odds. The movie includes extensive footage of the Mayan city Chichen Itza as well as Tulum but the exteriors and interiors don't match the actual location.
References
External links
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