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Narrow Margin (1990)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
21 September 1990 (USA) moreTagline:
Sometimes the difference between life and death can be a Narrow Margin morePlot:
A woman secretly witnesses the murder of her blind date for the evening by a top Mafia boss. She immediately... more | add synopsisNewsDesk:
Narrow Margin: AFTRA Ratifies Primetime Contract by 62.4%(From Digital Media Law. 8 July 2008, 6:44 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Lots To Like In This Updated Version moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Gene Hackman | ... | Robert Caulfield | |
| Anne Archer | ... | Carol Hunnicut | |
| James Sikking | ... | Nelson (as James B. Sikking) | |
| J.T. Walsh | ... | Michael Tarlow | |
| M. Emmet Walsh | ... | Sergeant Dominick Benti | |
| Susan Hogan | ... | Kathryn Weller | |
| Nigel Bennett | ... | Jack Wootton | |
| J.A. Preston | ... | Martin Larner | |
| B.A. 'Smitty' Smith | ... | Keller | |
| Codie Lucas Wilbee | ... | Nicholas | |
| Barbara Russell | ... | Nicholas' Mother (as Barbara E. Russell) | |
| Antony Holland | ... | Elderly Man | |
| Doreen Ramos | ... | Elderly Woman | |
| Kevin McNulty | ... | James Dahlbeck | |
| Andrew Rhodes | ... | Sgt. Nigro |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 moreCertification:
Argentina:13 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PGFilming Locations:
British Columbia, CanadaFun Stuff
Trivia:
The cabin featured in the first act was specifically built for the movie. Peter Hyams decided to build it on top of a mountain in that particular spot while it was still covered in winter snow. When the snow melted it turned out that the spot was actually a dump and it took a short while to clear it out. moreGoofs:
Continuity: As Caufield's helicopter is approaching the mountain cabin, the outside scenery alternates from treeless, snow-covered mountain peaks and deep forests. moreQuotes:
[in helicopter above mountains]Caulfield: Why does he have to fly so low?
Sergeant Dominick Benti: We're not low. The ground's high.
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It's odd to like an original film and then like the re-make equally so, if not more, but that's the case with this film. I have viewed both versions of this film at least three times apiece and thoroughly enjoy both.
Almost 55 years ago, this was a film noir called "The Narrow Margin" and in 1990, this re-make took off the "The" on the title. However, as is sometimes the case with remakes, some of the twists and turns of this thriller were also changed from the first film.
They didn't spoil it. I have no objection to the changes made here because the bottom line is entertainment, and that's where this movie excels. Plausible? No, but neither was the original, for that matter, and neither are a lot of suspense/ crime films.
What makes this re-run good, in addition to the great suspense, are several other things: 1 - Gene Hackman, one of the best actors of his generation and often overlooked in discussions of great actors; 2 - nice photography featuring some great train shots and the scenic Canadian Rockies; 3 - an interesting assortment of characters, some of which keep you guessing whether they are the good guys or the bad guys; 4 - a dash of humor thrown in here and there to break the tension.
In addition to Hackman, we see the sexy Anne Archer, who gives a nice film noir feel to the movie and we get some good supporting performances including two from guys with the same last name: J.T. and Emmet Walsh and one from a guy who plays one of the hit men: James Sikking. That's a name I'm not familiar with, but he has a scene talking to Hackman that is riveting.
The main fault of the movie at least to me, was the "Rambo" mentality in which I mean the villains have the good guy in point-blank, can't-miss range several times and....you guessed it: they miss. The action scenes in here are great but lack credibility, or this would be almost as good as it could ever get for a "thriller." I'm still tempted to rate it a "10" for the entertainment value alone.