RETRO REVIEW: CUTTER'S WAY ☆☆☆☆
By Albert Lanier
A mystery story wrapped in a conspiracy thriller tied up in quirky drama with a noirish ribbon, Cutter's Way is one of the best films of the early 80s with simply one of the most stunning and unforgettable endings I've ever seen in a film.
Released initially in 1981, Cutter's Way was basically screwed over by its studio United Artists in its early theatrical release. Though some positive reviews from critics and raves and awards on the film festival circuit helped keep the film afloat for awhile, it was the victim of an uninterested movie studio.
Cutter’s Way is an uncompromising film. It shows us characters who normally would be supporting players in any other movie as the protagonists. The film eschews the rigidity and calcification of the normal pace of a mystery movie. The scenes have a breezy authenticity to them, the people populating this movie both eccentric and normal are three dimensional.
In a sense, Cutter’s Way flouts the conventions of Noir, Mystery and Conspiracy even as it is part and parcel of all those genres.
Based on the novel “Cutter and Bone” by writer Newton Thornburg, Cutter’s Way was co-written by Thornburg and Screenwriter Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and directed by Czech filmmaker Ivan Passer.
The film is set in the city of Santa Barbara during the Spanish Days celebration.
Salesman Richard Bone is out one night during these festivities and happens to see an older man throwing something away in a dumpster. Bone can't really see what's being dumped and doesn't really care.
The item happens to be the body of a dead young woman and Bone is soon brought in by the police who want to know if he has any ties to her or involvement.
Bone talks to police and is allowed to walk out. We then soon get introduced to Bone's friend, Alex Cutter.
A former Vietnam vet who lost an eye and arm and is partially mangled, Cutter is angry, charming, intelligent and sometimes nasty. A force of nature, he often behaves more a hurricane than trade winds. He is insistent and persistent about his views. This latter point is important because his refusal to bend in his assessments and analysis largely drive the plot points and ultimately the film itself.
During a Spanish Days Parade where Bone and Cutter are hanging out and watching on the sidelines, Bone recognizes one of the figures on a horse taking part in the parade as the older man he saw near the dumpster on a night previous.
The aging man happens to be JJ Cord, an Oil Tycoon and business magnate. A major figure locally with national connections as well.
This sets off Cutter immediately. He quickly becomes convinced that Cord is the man who killed the young lady found in the dumpster.
In fact, Cutter is so convinced that he sets off to research Cord and also links up with Valerie Duran, the deceased woman's sister who herself is adamant about seeking justice for her sister.
At this point, it is best to break off any description here of the film's plot and story and allow the potential filmgoer to discover the treasures of this film for themselves.
Cutter's Way is beautifully executed by Director Ivan Passer. His shots don't call attention to themselves, there is no flash or slickness about his direction. He keeps a laser focus on the people here who really drive this movie.
The script by Thornburg and Fiskin use the eccentricity and quirkiness of Alex Cutter as a disguise of sorts that masks the full impact of the mystery and conspiracy elements of the overall story until it gets sprung at the audience.
Richard Bone is also set up by the script as a slight stand in for the audience, a figure who can dissent with but also be supportive of Cutter as a friend.
The cast is first rate here. John Heard, normally cast as a supporting actor in most movies, gives the best performance of his career in this film. Heard’s ability to mix eccentricity and quirk with subtle logic and reason is masterful. This was brilliant work.
Arthur Rosenberg does an excellent, naturalistic turn as George Swanson, a well to do friend of both Cutter and Bone and Ann Dusenbury is quite good as Valerie Duran.
Also worth noting as supporting players are Lisa Eichhorn as Cutter's long suffering wife Mo and Stephen Elliott as the powerful JJ Cord.
Jeff Bridges is superb as Richard Bone. His natural, laid back manner here is crucial to the development and evolution of the character .
Evolution is a key word because Bone is largely a college educated drifter, an aimless, amiable sort who has coasted through life not tied down by interests or ideology.
At the end of Cutter's Way, Bone has decided to ditch his passive persona and finally act.
And Cutter's Way has a real ending. Most movies don't so much end as conclude. They wrap up plot details and story arcs.
Cutter's Way ends and it ends in a way which will likely outrage or irritate others.
You likely won't see this end coming but that's for you to experience and find out by watching Cutter's Way.
Albert Lanier is a film analyst who sometimes assesses films as a guest on podcasts and radio shows. Lanier has analyzed the movie Eyes Wide Shut, Mulholland Drive and Airplane on the podcast Close Watch and Broadcast News on Popcorn Politics.
Lanier previously served as a film critic for 8 years and also as a contributor to the film site Ain't It Cool News and the magazine Hawaii Film and Video.