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Cutter's Way (1981)

Director: Ivan Passer

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

In Hollywood, decades aren’t so much periods of time as states of mind. So, just as early-’70s moviegoers might have been fooled into thinking it was still swinging 1967, cinema in the early ’80s was still suffused with the doubt and melancholy which had defined the preceding decade. One of the archetypal figures in that mood-shift was Jeff Bridges, his keen, frisky but oddly lonesome persona defined in new-Hollywood masterpieces like ‘The Last Picture Show’ and ‘Fat City’. By 1981, Bridges was showing signs of wear and tear, but this only enriched his performances: sadder even than a lonely teenager is a lonely thirtysomething who still tries to live like one.

‘Cutter’s Way’ feels like a farewell to the ’70s: to honest political activism, social responsibility, excessive but essentially good-natured drug and alcohol abuse, Vietnam, California and the young Bridges. His character, Richard Bone, clings to his fading prime the way his best friend and mentor, crippled war veteran Alex Cutter (John Heard) clings to his walking stick. Together, the two men attempt to solve a murder, but that’s window dressing: this is a tale of friendship, endurance and loss, and one of the saddest movies ever made.

Everything in the film feels tuned to capturing this spirit: Czech director Ivan Passer’s use of late-summer light is rich and entrancing, while Bridges and Heard give their all: the latter delivers a performance of spectacular rage and intensity. The result is nothing less than a modern masterpiece, and a film ripe for rediscovery.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2131: 22 – 28 June, 2011

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User reviews of this film

Tom from the Southland said...

Posted on Feb 08 2012 15:21 These negative comments on CUTTER'S WAY are at once terribly sad and darkly hilarious, as they're clearly the work of moviegoers who grew up in an era of cookie-cutter claptrap (rather Ian Anderson-esque phrase, that last, and thus fitting for TIME OUT LONDON) put together by people who know nothing other than what they've read in Bob McKee's book -- and my guess is that's the people here who've actually seen maybe a handful of adult dramas, not the ones who only flock to movies based on toys, video games, and old TV shows. Hey morons, here's a couple of other brilliant movies from the '60s and '70s that you no doubt won't begin to understand: THE EASY LIFE, VIRIDIANA, BYE BYE BRAVERMAN, THE FORTUNE COOKIE, TWO FOR THE ROAD, BELLE DE JOUR, PETULIA, INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION, PERFORMANCE, THE GO-BETWEEN, LE BOUCHER, THE CONFORMIST, JUSTE AVANT LA NUIT, THE LAST DETAIL, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, SHAMPOO, and DOG DAY AFTERNOON. Rent them, watch them, and then leave your cocoon of ignorance and try to figure out why you have so far from a life that you can't remotely recognize one of any depth or complexity when it's depicted on screen. And don't let your 3-D glasses bang against your brainless dome on the way out -- or as Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood said, "But then again, your head's got nothing in it, and by the way you left without your hat."

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RobAshton said...

Posted on Nov 13 2011 23:32 Ok, so I would rate this film: 7+/10
I thought it was very good, but nothing special - Good performances, paced along nicely, and I can't say there was anything there to give it anything less than a 3 star. I have only given this a 5 star rating on this site because I think it is unfair how many 1 stars there are in the comments! Come on, it wasn't that bad! So yeah: 7+/10

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Phil Ince said...

Posted on Jul 17 2011 23:20 Huddleston tells us: " ... one of the saddest movies ever made."
Be warned, cinema-goers!: pay for a ticket and you may well cry your eyes out.

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Phil Ince said...

Posted on Jul 17 2011 23:16 Boy, this was a lousy film! I've read several very complimentary reviews but it's utterly terrible. John Heard is unbearable as a one-note take-off of Long John Silver, piratical growl and all, me hearties. His tiresome laugh alone could have sunk the film.
Just about the worst thing of all in this catastrophe is the music. It's horribly intrusive and dictatorial of mood (the film otherwise entirely lacking one) but someone decided that a musical saw would be a good instrument to flesh out the orchestration for the 'love theme'.
Appalling, boring, poorly-acted and conceived. Buy Winter Kills on dvd for half the price of a ticket to this chod and see a good film into the bargain.

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Sutton said...

Posted on Jul 04 2011 13:18 On the back of a five star review I ventured to the BFI and those stars were way off the mark. This is an average television movie. Bridges is ok, Heard is over the top. An unsatisfying story, where it is difficult to have much sympathy with any of the main characters. Two stars at best, save yourself the money and wait for a showing on television ( a mid afternoon slot if it is lucky) as it certainly does not warrant cinema prices.

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j cook said...

Posted on Jul 01 2011 15:53 Extended run at the BFI Southbank: why? Bridges - and particularly his hair - were the only things worth watching before I left the cinema about half-way through. John Heard is a terrible ham and his character is a bore. A "masterpiece" that's "ripe for rediscovery": please! Its obscurity is completely justified.

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Rohne Hill said...

Posted on Jun 22 2011 18:20 This film is completely where the Coens got much of the Big Lebowski from.
It's not a masterpiece, but it's hardly a 2 star film either.
I quite enjoyed the laconic 70's film pace.
Heard puts in the performance of his life.

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Jackson1 said...

Posted on Jun 22 2011 12:02 Slow, dim, and tired film. To call this a masterpiece is utter recklessness and Time Out should slow the hyperbole down, man...

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E A Dobson said...

Posted on Jun 21 2011 23:05 How come when talking Jeff Bridges,there`s never any mention of the equally impressive Bad Company?
In regards to Cutters Way,i`ve not seen it for about 15 years but remember it being v good,maybe a visit to my nearest cinema showing will prove a timely reminder.

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