8 Million Ways to Die (1986)

Scudder is a detective with the Sheriff's Department who is forced to shoot a violent suspect during a narcotics raid. The ensuing psychological aftermath of this shooting worsens his ... See full summary »

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writers:

Lawrence Block (book), Oliver Stone (screenplay),

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Alexandra Paul

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Matthew 'Matt' Scudder
Rosanna Arquette	...	Sarah
Alexandra Paul	...	Sunny
Randy Brooks	...	Willie 'Chance' Walker
Andy Garcia	...	Angel Moldonado
Lisa Sloan	...	Linda Scudder
Christa Denton	...	Laurie Scudder
Vance Valencia	...	Quintero
Wilfredo Hernández	...	Hector Lopez (as Wilfredo Hernandez)
Luisa Leschin	...	Hector's Wife
Vyto Ruginis	...	Joe Durkin
Chip Arnold	...	Homicide Detective
James Avery	...	Deputy D.A.
Jack Younger	...	Drunk
Zoaunne LeRoy	...	Nurse

Storyline

Scudder is a detective with the Sheriff's Department who is forced to shoot a violent suspect during a narcotics raid. The ensuing psychological aftermath of this shooting worsens his drinking problem and this alcoholism causes him to lose his job, as well as his marriage. During his recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous, he meets a mysterious stranger who draws him back into a world of vice. In trying to help this beautiful woman, he must enter a crime-world of prostitution and drugs to solve a murder, while resisting the temptation to return to his alcohol abuse.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | murder | private detective | shot in the torso | police | 

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Taglines:

There Are Eight Million Stories In The Naked City...

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 April 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

8 Millionen Wege zu sterben

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,305,114 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Sales Organization (PSO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Oliver Stone was very displeased with how the final version of the film turned out as it had little to do with his original script, which subsequently was re-written by Robert Towne and then revised by Hal Ashby in improvisation. He said he only visited the set once, and wanted to have his name taken off the picture but it was too late as the credits were already made up for it.

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Goofs

When Matt is laying on top of the fence at his house the position of the newspaper on the driveway changes depending on the shot.

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Quotes

Sarah: [to Scudder] You're just an opportunistic prick who'd fuck mud if it'd move a little and not argue too much.

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Connections

Referenced in Cool World (1992)

User Reviews

It's very good: don't believe the hype!

I saw this film a couple of nights ago. I only bothered as it was a Hal Ashby movie & I'm a big fan. He didn't let me down. Ok it's not a masterpiece or even amongst his best but it's still a powerfully intense thriller. Superficially similar to Scarface it is less showy, more personal & more convincing. Garcia's stylised gangster with his 'Gaudi' affectations almost unsettles the realism but is compulsive. Bridges turns in another superb performance as the hard-boiled, ex-cop battling with alcoholism & other demons. Ashby's Chandleresque take on 80's LA is familiar but beautifully vivid nevertheless. What raises it above the plethora of dark 80's thrillers is it's old-fashioned 70's values like complex character and troubled hero not in control of the narrative over fast-pace, shallow action & irony. To the post-Star Wars generation '8 Million Ways' may look meandering and indulgent but this says more about their limitations as film fans than it does about the film.