The Getaway

An efficient if somewhat echoing remake of Sam Peckinpah's 1972 thriller. Basinger is loving wife Carol, who sleeps with crooked politico (Woods) to spring ungrateful husband Doc (Baldwin) from jail. A big heist turns bloody, and the couple head for the Mexican border with the Mob, the cops and double-crosser Madsen on their tail. Peckinpah's take on Jim Thompson's novel was scripted by young Walter Hill, and the remake is based on the same screenplay updated by Amy (Indecent Proposal) Jones. Director Donaldson keeps the atmosphere hot and sweaty, with salty dialogue ('The plan is: Shut Up'), exciting shoot-outs at regular intervals and plenty of suspense in between. It's a treat to see the double-barrelled menace of Woods and Madsen together at last.