Judged entirely on its own merits, Jaws 2 isn't a bad film. It even has some passably scary moments (Brody discovering a charred body in the waves; the swimming boy racing the shark back to his dinghy). But it's absolutely impossible to judge this movie on its own merits. Despite being given a great big Panavision camera to play with director Jeannot Szwarc can't hide his TV-movie origins, nor can the script, both of which spend far too long landlocked with the bickering inhabitants of Amity Island. Where the original film boldly set out to sea with Robert Shaw's Ahab-like Quint, in a misplaced desire to attract a teenage audience this movie dwells at interminable length on the courting rituals of the local youth; where Spielberg's original is a masterpiece of pacing and carefully timed tension-building, Jaws 2 sags terribly whenever the plastic shark swims out of sight. Roy Scheider comes off best, reprising his role as Chief Brody, while Lorraine Gary's role as his wife is expanded (she must be a glutton for punishment: she also starred in Jaws 4: The Revenge). Taken as a sequel Jaws 2 is inferior in every way; taken as an unassuming TV movie it's a respectable, workmanlike effort; but looking forward at what was to follow, it begins to look like a minor masterpiece. --Mark Walker
In Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way, Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski and Rancho Deluxe), John Heard (Chilly Scenes of Winter and After Hours) and Lisa Eichhorn (Yanks and King of the Hill) deliver exemplary performances as a trio of '60s casualties embroiled in a murder investigation that goes increasingly off-the-rails and threatens to swallow them whole. Unambitious yacht salesman and gigolo Richard Bone (Bridges) skates on his good looks and avoids all responsibility. His best friend Alex Cutter (Heard) returned from Vietnam with his body ruined, but his mind sharpened and attuned to the injustices and politics that led to his predicament. After Bone witnesses a shadowy figure dump a young woman's body in the trash, he fingers local oil magnate J.J. Cord (Stephen Elliot, Beverly Hills Cop and Death Wish) as the killer. As Bone backs away from this accusation, Cutter charges forward on a crusade to make Cord pay not only for this murder, but for all the other crimes fat cats like him have routinely gotten away with. Cutter's long-suffering wife Mo (Eichhorn), struggles to keep her own head above the surface, while steering the two men toward saner waters. Based on Newton Thornburg's 1976 novel Cutter and Bone, and initially released under that title to little notice the film was reborn as Cutter's Way and became a highly acclaimed cult favourite. The lush, sunny Santa Barbara setting, luminously photographed by DP Jordan Cronenweth (Blade Runner and Stop Making Sense), is an ironic counter to the deeply cynical and tragic vibes of this neo-noir. The distinctly beautiful score by pop and rock maestro Jack Nitsche ranks as one of his most stirring works. Helmed by Czech filmmaker Passer (Intimate Lighting and Born to Win), Cutter's Way is one of the most impassioned and truthful critiques of the American hierarchy ever filmed. Now, perhaps, more relevant as ever, it's been freshly restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive. Product Features New 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive Mo's Way, a newly filmed video interview with star Lisa Eichhorn From Cutter and Bone to Cutter's Way, a newly filmed video interview with UA Classics exec Ira Deutchman Archival video interview with director Ivan Passer Archival video interview with writer Jeffrey Alan Fiskin Archival video interview with producer Paul Gurian Archival video featurette on composer Jack Nitzsche Archival audio introduction by star Jeff Bridges Archival video introduction by director Bertrand Tavernier Theatrical trailers Isolated music track Newly recorded audio commentary by novelist Matthew Specktor Archival audio commentary by film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman Archival audio commentary by assistant director Larry Franco and unit production manager Barrie Osborne
Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) is walking his beach beat a few years on from the horrible shark attacks at Amity Island. A missing diver's camera shows what looks like a shark fin but Amity''s cowardly Mayor (Murray Hamilton) plays down the incident. Brody raises a panicky false alarm from his observation tower and is fired for it. Suddenly the new killer shark attacks a group of small boats manned by teenagers which include his own sons...
Set in New England during the Civil War, LITTLE WOMEN chronicles the lives and loves of four sisters - Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth - who after their father leaves for battle, must rely on each other for strength in the face of tragedies both large and small.
In Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way, Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski and Rancho Deluxe), John Heard (Chilly Scenes of Winter and After Hours) and Lisa Eichhorn (Yanks and King of the Hill) deliver exemplary performances as a trio of '60s casualties embroiled in a murder investigation that goes increasingly off-the-rails and threatens to swallow them whole. Unambitious yacht salesman and gigolo Richard Bone (Bridges) skates on his good looks and avoids all responsibility. His best friend Alex Cutter (Heard) returned from Vietnam with his body ruined, but his mind sharpened and attuned to the injustices and politics that led to his predicament. After Bone witnesses a shadowy figure dump a young woman's body in the trash, he fingers local oil magnate J.J. Cord (Stephen Elliot, Beverly Hills Cop and Death Wish) as the killer. As Bone backs away from this accusation, Cutter charges forward on a crusade to make Cord pay not only for this murder, but for all the other crimes fat cats like him have routinely gotten away with. Cutter's long-suffering wife Mo (Eichhorn), struggles to keep her own head above the surface, while steering the two men toward saner waters. Based on Newton Thornburg's 1976 novel Cutter and Bone, and initially released under that title to little notice the film was reborn as Cutter's Way and became a highly acclaimed cult favourite. The lush, sunny Santa Barbara setting, luminously photographed by DP Jordan Cronenweth (Blade Runner and Stop Making Sense), is an ironic counter to the deeply cynical and tragic vibes of this neo-noir. The distinctly beautiful score by pop and rock maestro Jack Nitsche ranks as one of his most stirring works. Helmed by Czech filmmaker Passer (Intimate Lighting and Born to Win), Cutter's Way is one of the most impassioned and truthful critiques of the American hierarchy ever filmed. Now, perhaps, more relevant as ever, it's been freshly restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive. Product Features New 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive Mo's Way, a newly filmed video interview with star Lisa Eichhorn From Cutter and Bone to Cutter's Way, a newly filmed video interview with UA Classics exec Ira Deutchman Archival video interview with director Ivan Passer Archival video interview with writer Jeffrey Alan Fiskin Archival video interview with producer Paul Gurian Archival video featurette on composer Jack Nitzsche Archival audio introduction by star Jeff Bridges Archival video introduction by director Bertrand Tavernier Theatrical trailers Isolated music track Newly recorded audio commentary by novelist Matthew Specktor Archival audio commentary by film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman Archival audio commentary by assistant director Larry Franco and unit production manager Barrie Osborne Booklet with new essay by DJ and writer Margaret Barton-Fumo and an archival essay by Cult Movies author Danny Peary
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