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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
A re-make of the excellent 1952 RKO production with Charles ("You don't like me, do you Spartacus?") McGraw and Marie Windsor, this Peter Hyams directed production for Carolco is a terrifically bad film, but one that I've always enjoyed. For what it is.
My go-to film critic, Roger Ebert, probably said it best:
""Narrow Margin" is a clumsy version of the Idiot Plot, dressed up as a high-gloss chase thriller. The Idiot Plot, of course, is any plot that would be resolved in five minutes if everyone in the story were not an idiot. And rarely has there been a film in which more idiots make more mistakes than in this one.
The story involves Anne Archer as a woman who goes out on a blind date and accidentally witnesses the man's murder by a mob killer, while the killer's boss - a crime kingpin - looks on. Archer is terrified that she will be the next victim and immediately escapes to her secluded cabin in the Rockies, telling nobody - except, of course, for her roommate, who tells the police, who follow her there in a helicopter, and who are followed by another helicopter they fail to notice.
Eventually the chase leads to a train station, and wouldn't you know that a train is just pulling in. It sits at this whistle-stop in the middle of the woods long enough for Hackman and Archer to buy tickets and talk an old couple out of their private compartment on the grounds that Archer is about to go into labor. Nobody asks (a) why a woman about to give birth would take a train ride instead of going to the hospital, or, more pointedly, (b) why she doesn't look remotely pregnant (to fool the oldsters, she sticks her hands in the pockets of her sweater)."
To read Mr. Ebert's complete essay, go here: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/narrow-margin-1990
But I'm an a neat target for any film with Gene Hackman.
Finally, making its way to Blu-ray, it arrives looking generally terrific. The film was shot by Mr. Hyams, and there are (purposefully?) numerous shots that are extremely soft. Color, black levels, grain structure, are all nicely in place, and give us a quality release.
Audio is presumably derived from the 70mm mix. Yes, there were blow-ups.
Image – 4.5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD - yes
Recommended
My go-to film critic, Roger Ebert, probably said it best:
""Narrow Margin" is a clumsy version of the Idiot Plot, dressed up as a high-gloss chase thriller. The Idiot Plot, of course, is any plot that would be resolved in five minutes if everyone in the story were not an idiot. And rarely has there been a film in which more idiots make more mistakes than in this one.
The story involves Anne Archer as a woman who goes out on a blind date and accidentally witnesses the man's murder by a mob killer, while the killer's boss - a crime kingpin - looks on. Archer is terrified that she will be the next victim and immediately escapes to her secluded cabin in the Rockies, telling nobody - except, of course, for her roommate, who tells the police, who follow her there in a helicopter, and who are followed by another helicopter they fail to notice.
Eventually the chase leads to a train station, and wouldn't you know that a train is just pulling in. It sits at this whistle-stop in the middle of the woods long enough for Hackman and Archer to buy tickets and talk an old couple out of their private compartment on the grounds that Archer is about to go into labor. Nobody asks (a) why a woman about to give birth would take a train ride instead of going to the hospital, or, more pointedly, (b) why she doesn't look remotely pregnant (to fool the oldsters, she sticks her hands in the pockets of her sweater)."
To read Mr. Ebert's complete essay, go here: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/narrow-margin-1990
But I'm an a neat target for any film with Gene Hackman.
Finally, making its way to Blu-ray, it arrives looking generally terrific. The film was shot by Mr. Hyams, and there are (purposefully?) numerous shots that are extremely soft. Color, black levels, grain structure, are all nicely in place, and give us a quality release.
Audio is presumably derived from the 70mm mix. Yes, there were blow-ups.
Image – 4.5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD - yes
Recommended
It's too bad the extras weren't remastered too, but watching how they shot the trains scenes was still quite enjoyable. Christmas tree merry-go-round, indeed. 
