{"id":86720,"date":"2022-09-03T11:26:28","date_gmt":"2022-09-03T18:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86720"},"modified":"2022-09-03T15:58:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T22:58:05","slug":"cutters-way-cutter-and-bone-1981","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86720","title":{"rendered":"Cutter&#8217;s Way \/ Cutter and Bone (1981)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Sooner or later, you&#8217;re going to have to make a decision about something.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster-200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-86721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster-180x270.png 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Poster.png 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA disabled Vietnam vet named Cutter (John Heard) collaborates with his reluctant friend Bone (Jeff Bridges) to investigate a murder potentially committed by a local tycoon (Stephen Elliott).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amateur Sleuths <\/li>\n<li>Blackmail<\/li>\n<li>Friendship<\/li>\n<li>Jeff Bridges Films<\/li>\n<li>John Heard Films<\/li>\n<li>Veterans <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary writes, &#8220;this fascinating adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cutter_and_Bone\">Newton Thornburg&#8217;s riveting novel<\/a>&#8221; was &#8220;directed by Ivan Passer, a Czech emigre who [had] the knack to zero in on distinct American types ignored by American directors, from the elite to the nobodies.&#8221; His &#8220;main characters&#8221; in this case are &#8220;nobodies: three children of the sixties whose optimism was smothered by the dark reality of Vietnam and who refuse to take their places as adults in the present, poisonous America &#8212; symbol of their defeat.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-1024x560.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Trio.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He adds, &#8220;These three thrive on martyrdom, feed off each other&#8217;s infirmities, and find security in each other&#8217;s inability to accomplish anything,&#8221; which manifests differently for each. Richard Bone (Jeff Bridges), for instance, &#8220;is a handsome, overage beach bum who picks up a few bucks by sleeping with middle-aged married women&#8221; (like Nina van Pallandt below).  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Nina.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, &#8220;his best friend is Alexander Cutter (John Heard), who spends his time drinking, complaining, philosophizing, and, in his hard-to-take raspy voice, insulting anyone he sees &#8212; while his depressed, worn-out wife, Mo (Lisa Eichhorn), stays in their filthy home and drinks.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-1024x558.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-1024x558.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2-495x270.png 495w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn-Heard2.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Part of this trio&#8217;s internal drama &#8212; in addition to Bone&#8217;s crush on Mo &#8212; is that &#8220;Cutter, who lost an eye, an arm, and a leg in Vietnam, resents Bone because while Cutter was away fighting, Bone had&#8230; avoided danger and commitment.&#8221; However, &#8220;Cutter feels more animosity toward rich men of the type who sent <em>him<\/em> to war to protect <em>their<\/em> concerns.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait-502x270.png 502w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Portrait.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The storyline itself centers on an accidental sighting of a crime: &#8220;When Bone thinks he saw tycoon J.J. Cord (Stephen Elliott) dispose of the body of a murdered woman, Cutter convinces Bone to act for the first time in his life.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges-Seeing-Car.png 1305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We then follow &#8220;Cutter, Bone and Valerie (Ann Dusenberry)&#8221; &#8212; sister of the murdered woman &#8212; as they &#8220;embark on a scheme to blackmail Cord&#8221; (to say more would spoil, so I won&#8217;t). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Sister.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary ends his review by noting that &#8220;this whodunit in which the mystery isn&#8217;t that important is uncompromisingly written [by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin], erotic, sinister, disarmingly emotional, and eerily photographed by Jordan Cronenweth. And the acting is <em>great<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Phone-Booth.png 1294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, in <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary names Heard Best Actor of the Year, conceding that as hard as it was for audiences to &#8220;put up with [Henry] Fonda&#8217;s constantly sniping character in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=29899\"><em>On Golden Pond<\/em><\/a>&#8221; (for which he finally won an overdue Oscar), &#8220;Heard&#8217;s antihero&#8230; really tests one&#8217;s tolerance.&#8221; He points out that &#8220;in the late seventies and early eighties there was no one better than John Heard at playing young misfits, be it hipster icon Jack Kerouac in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43\"><em>Heart Beat<\/em><\/a>, or sixties survivors in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=40327\"><em>Between the Lines<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=29404\"><em>Head Over Heels \/ Chilly Scenes of Winter<\/em><\/a>, and <em>Cutter&#8217;s Way<\/em>, three major cult films of the Woodstock generation.&#8221; In all of these films, Heard &#8220;played his real characters with intelligence, fury, and the correct dose of past-their-eras confusion,&#8221; men who &#8220;feel frustration because while they remain young the world is aging around them and changing in ways antithetical to what they had striven for&#8221; &#8212; yet they hold &#8220;on to their values&#8221; and want &#8220;to make a last stand.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-1024x548.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-1024x548.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party-504x270.png 504w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Party.png 1305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary elaborates upon his no-holds-barred description of Heard&#8217;s Cutter &#8212; &#8220;a brilliantly conceived and played character&#8221; &#8212; as someone who &#8220;has worse manners than the one-legged, one-armed, one-eyed pirates he resembles,&#8221; &#8220;drinks far too much, dresses sloppily and is ill-groomed and hostile, has suicidal tendencies, is full of self-pity, and puts himself on public display.&#8221; Moreover, &#8220;he always reminds everyone that he&#8217;s crippled,&#8221; and is &#8220;so irritating&#8221; that &#8220;you&#8217;ll likely want to trip him.&#8221; He points out that &#8220;it took guts for Heard to play such a character and have to win audience sympathy for the film to succeed.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-1024x562.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-1024x562.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway-492x270.png 492w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-Drunk-Driveway.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In <em>Cult Movies 2<\/em>, Peary discusses other elements of the movie, including its rocky release under its original title (<em>Cutter and Bone<\/em>), and its re-emergence as a cult neo-noir favorite (which it has <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wReXW1ftnYA\">retained to this day<\/a>). He admits that he was &#8220;slightly disappointed&#8221; in the film when he &#8220;first saw it,&#8221; and &#8220;agreed with those who complained it was boring in spots, confusing, and had three of the most infuriating lead characters in cinema history.&#8221; (I agree; I really struggled to watch this for the first time years ago &#8212; in part because I was groggy from health issues and not really awake enough to focus on it &#8212; and will admit I had no real interest in a revisit until it was time to finally write this review.) <\/p>\n<p>However, Peary adds that he&#8217;s since &#8220;come to learn&#8221; this &#8220;is a picture that demands several viewings to be judged fairly,&#8221; and &#8220;can be enjoyed only by those willing to accept certain facts: a movie with a whodunit needn&#8217;t be about the mystery&#8230;; lead characters needn&#8217;t be crowd pleasers; [and] ambiguity can be intentional, and also profound.&#8221; He now believes that &#8220;<em>Cutter&#8217;s Way<\/em> is an original, endlessly fascinating work,&#8221; a &#8220;picture that shifts directions at every turn&#8221; &#8212; beginning &#8220;in classic noir style, with its darkness, rain-soaked streets, and violent murder,&#8221; yet &#8220;thereafter we&#8217;re in bright California sunshine&#8221; where &#8220;the sensation of menace is even more pervasive.&#8221;     <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Cord-Horse.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary describes the protagonists as individuals who &#8220;have not made the dramatic transition from young people to adult,&#8221; noting, &#8220;They are too irresponsible to even take care of themselves; none has a real job, there&#8217;s no food in the refrigerator, Cutter&#8217;s driver&#8217;s license has expired and his insurance has lapsed, they choose to live in permanent squalor, and [he] wouldn&#8217;t be surprised if each has some uncontrolled infection or social disease&#8221; (!!!). Finally, he describes Eichhorn&#8217;s Mo as someone who is &#8220;still beautiful, but the beauty in her life has been lost.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-1024x549.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-1024x549.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn3.png 1307w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He adds, &#8220;She is worn out, and like Dorothy Malone in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53832\"><em>The Tarnished Angels<\/em> (1957)<\/a>, who is also committed to staying with a broken man, is too weak to fight the fates or accept responsibility for not improving either her man&#8217;s or her own lot.&#8221; She comes across in stark contrast with the lurking, quiet, savvy wife (Patricia Donohue) of tycoon Cord, who will do whatever it takes to keep her life of privilege uninterrupted.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Mrs.-Cord.png 1294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally, in <em>Cult Movies 2<\/em>, Peary comments on the friendship between Cutter and Bone, noting that &#8220;they need each other&#8221; and &#8220;Bone sticks by Cutter because he truly hopes Cutter will goad him into making that genuine commitment to something worthwhile &#8212; the same reason Humphrey Bogart accepts Claude Rains&#8217;s persistent jibes in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5660\"><em>Casablanca<\/em> (1942)<\/a>.&#8221; Viewers will ultimately have to decide for themselves if this film merits comparison with such a lauded cinematic classic, but it&#8217;s certainly worth at least a one-time visit to find out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>John Heard as Alex Cutter<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-1024x561.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-1024x561.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Heard.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jeff Bridges as Richard Bone<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Bridges7.png 1305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Lisa Eichhorn as Mo Cutter<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Eichhorn4.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jordan Cronenweth&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-1024x556.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-1024x556.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier-497x270.png 497w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Cutters-Way-Pier.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jack Nitzsche&#8217;s unusual score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes &#8212; though it&#8217;s not a personal favorite. Nominated as one of the Best Pictures of the Year in Peary&#8217;s Alternate Oscars. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0082220\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s292cutter.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=5271&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/cutters-way\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Sooner or later, you&#8217;re going to have to make a decision about something.&#8221; Synopsis: A disabled Vietnam vet named Cutter (John Heard) collaborates with his reluctant friend Bone (Jeff Bridges) to investigate a murder potentially committed by a local tycoon (Stephen Elliott). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Amateur Sleuths Blackmail Friendship Jeff Bridges Films John Heard Films Veterans Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: As Peary writes, &#8220;this fascinating adaptation of Newton Thornburg&#8217;s riveting novel&#8221; was &#8220;directed by Ivan Passer, a Czech&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86720\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=86720"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86776,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86720\/revisions\/86776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=86720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=86720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=86720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}