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Cutter’s Way (1981) - Opening Scene Included
The Hidden Treasure of a Counterculture Noir Quagmire.
Cutter's Way DVD - Find it on Amazon
Director: Ivan Passer
Writer: Jeffrey Alan Fiskin
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Heard, Lisa Eichhorn, Ann Dusenberry, Stephen Elliot, Arthur Rosenberg
Suffering from studio sabotage and short sightedness, Cutter’s Way is an ignored crime drama from the 80’s.
In essence a murder mystery, but beneath its noir in daylight tone and traditional plot is an exceptionally acted, individualistically executed thriller that strangely benefits from flawed ambiguities. It brims with subtle manipulation of convention and a deliberately metered storytelling that intrigues with obtuse character cliché.
Based on Newton Thornburg’s novel and set in the conflicting culture of Santa Barbara. Richard Bone (Jeff Bridges) is a handsome yacht salesman who has cruised through life and never had to commit to anything. He doesn’t have a home of his own and owes everything to his Lothario good looks.
His best friend, Alexander Cutter (John Heard) is a physically and emotionally handicapped Vietnam vet with a buccaneer personality. United these two hopeless individuals are complete, a pair of codependent failures that share a love for the same woman (Lisa Eichhorn) and a male bond that is unbreakable.
One night Bone is returning from a late night tryst when his beaten up Austin Healey breaks down in an alley way. Sitting in his car as rain pummels down a second vehicle pulls into the street. The lights are on, obscuring vision and when Richard gets out too ask for help is nearly run down.
Unaware that the body of a 17 year old girl has just been dumped in a trash can he heads off to meet his buddy Cutter. The next day a knock on the door from Johnny law informs him that he is the only witness to the murder.
Soon a wealthy oil tycoon becomes the prime suspect but rather than go to the police with information Cutter takes it upon himself to investigate and drags Bone into his obsessive desires for justice.
Jeff Bridges is forced to do it John Heard's way.
John Doe says:
Mesmerizing and assuming the audience sees everything, right from the hypnotic opening shots to the abrupt finale, this unusual specimen thrives on creative flair. Cutter’s Way may look like a buddy film, but it is the complex dichotomy of the characters that fascinates. Not so much a reinvention of the genre as an idiosyncratic telling, for all its 80’s pastiche the experience is driven by modern sensibilities and a sincere political subtext for a disillusioned generation.
Taking the title to heart, the film is Directed Ivan Passer’s (Born to Win) way with an ever shifting energy of head strong aplomb. In an according to Hoyle, text book sense it shouldn’t work but miraculously it does. Wringing every drop of emotional weight from the script onto the screen the Czech filmmaker achieves an unforced rhythm that provokes surprise within a familiar context.
The morose atmosphere is constant enabling Jeffrey Alan Fiskin’s seemingly impulsive pacing to feel natural even in the most flamboyant moments. The dialogue’s substance commands improvised perspective and the performances are what make it impossible to avert the eyes.
Just like much of this puzzling film, if it weren’t for the chemistry between the two leads we would be witnessing a complete dud. For Jeff Bridges fans this is truly an essential contribution to his filmography. You don’t have to squint to see that Bone is a pretty boy reflection of “The Dude” and the plot points echo The Big Lebowski. Exploiting those baby blues, the part puts a spotlight on all the actor’s strengths. The vulnerability and isolation matched by an over compensated confidence of inaction.
John Heard (After Hours, Rambling Rose)has never been better than in the exuberant role of Alex Cutter. The character could easily be an over the top, ham fisted, eye patch wearing annoyance. What Heard manages to do is inject humanity to this disillusioned alcoholic idealist. The frustrated wit, the disabled emotions all balanced by his counterpart.
No less impressive is Lisa Eichhorn (King of the Hill) as Mo, a neglected, desperate victim of her affections that completes an unconventional love triangle. Refusing to be simplified her mixed feelings are found in every pained expression and the complex relationship with Bone and Cutter is always understandable courtesy of intuitive choices that make malfunctioning romance an important ingredient.
Ever since the final credits rolled on Cutter’s Way an obsession was born for John Doe. Confused at why the film is effective, the usual analysis, the things that he looks for in quality entertainment are conflicted and haphazard. Many of the major events can have duel meaning and much is unexplained with no concrete solutions. Possibly happy accidents or blind luck, either way the end result is a cult gem that demands repeat screenings and will forever fascinate any film geek eager to dissect outside the box techniques and vision.
* Interesting Fact: The film was initially titled "Cutter and Bone" but the studio believed people would think it was a surgical comedy!
No trailer to be found. Here is the opening 7 minutes of Cutter's Way
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Film & TV on DVD
Cool that you have seen it. I always wanted a copy but it was never released on DVD or VHS in Oz so i had to wait till I moved to the US to finally score it. Glad I did.
Film & TV on DVD
Hi Shaun,
The film is an anomaly. What seems like clumsy plotting and cliched devices somehow worked for me. Its a film that's flaws elevate instead of hinder the experience.
I have been obsessing all week about why I found it so fascinating and continue to scratch my head...it really should be a dud!
I'm curious to see if it works for you
Film & TV on DVD
Hi David,
As I said in the review it vexes me that the film worked because it has so many flaws that should detract but in the end fascinate despite the clumsiness.
The performances will certainly entertain you and yes John Heard is a talent never respected appropriately.
Film & TV on DVD
Hi Matt,
I'm not sure if it is solid or not, only that it entertained me long after the final credits...normally i know exactly what i like and don't about a film, what works and doesn't, but with this its different.
Great to see some John Heard affection in the comments.
Also didn't mention that Lisa Eichhorn brings a Bridget Fondaesque presence to her role.
(1) One of the great anti Vietnam metaphors in cinema (referreing to the My Lai massacre, perhaps?) was Cutter shooting up the penny arcade stuffed doll in the water from the boardwalk after learning that Bone didn't make the payment to Cord. An incredible violent/non-violent image; powerful cinema.
(2) Jorden Cronenweth's (forgive spelling) cinematography, the costume design and the set design. None of it has dated. Superbly spot on - a film about the 70s that looked like the early 80s but never outdated. How do you do that?
(3) Jack Nitschke's score - haunting; magnificent. Listen to the dialogue/sound mix when Bone is walking towards Cord's building with the blackmail note. "C'mon Rich", Bone chides (and I'm doing this from memory here - haven't seen the film for at least 15 years), "You're just the mailman/messenger. And through rain, and sleet, and snow ..." (a fading chuckle as the music takes over).
(4) The moment when Cutter and Bone finally reach the same page for the last hoorah ... they have gatecrashed Cord's party, Bone looks like he has chickened out but reconnects with Cutter when he dumps a leg of chicken on Cutter's plate. Cutter's response: "Bone!" Come on, it doesn't get much better than that.
(5) John Heard. Should have won the Oscar, or some kind of award that ensured he became a leading man in the same league as Bridges.
Film & TV on DVD
Cutter's Way has so many memorable little touches that emerge upon repeat viewings.