A fiercely powerful film about heroes, romanticism, and friendship among three initially unlikable characters-- Cutter (Heard) a vulgar, crippled Vietnam vet who is an outlaw in a society without commitment or heroes; his best friend Bone (Bridges), a pretty boy with no convictions at
all; and the woman who bonds them, Mo (Eichhorn), wife of Cutter but desirous of Bone. After nearly taking the rap for a girl's murder, Bone, while at a parade, thinks he spots the real killer--Elliott, a powerful and arrogant oil tycoon. Cutter lets his imagination run free and comes up with an
elaborate conspiracy theory about the night of the murder, devising a plan to blackmail Cord--a plan of which Bone wants no part.
Rapped by the critics on its initial release, it was almost instantly pulled from exhibition. Slowly rave reviews began to surface. After a title change (from the misleading, medically oriented CUTTER AND BONE), it was rereleased, becoming something of a cult movie in the process. An inspiring
film, it is constructed like a thriller; but instead of reaching for thrills, it leaves them in the background and concentrates on the complexities of its characters. It may require multiple viewings to appreciate, but it is nonetheless a fascinating picture, and the best of Czech director Ivan
Passer's American films. The Jack Nitzsche score is hauntingly effective. leave a comment
