Against All Odds (1984)

67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(6,550 ratings)

A remake of Jacques Tourneur's noir classic Out of the Past (1947), in this version a labyrinthine web of corruption touches on the world of pro football. When an injury-riddled body causes pro football player Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) to be cut by his team, Jake Wise (James Woods), a shady… More A remake of Jacques Tourneur's noir classic Out of the Past (1947), in this version a labyrinthine web of corruption touches on the world of pro football. When an injury-riddled body causes pro football player Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) to be cut by his team, Jake Wise (James Woods), a shady gambler friend, hires him to locate his spoiled, erratic girlfriend Jessie (Rachel Ward). Terry's attempt to glean Jessie's whereabouts from the girl's coldly aristocratic mother (Jane Greer) leads to a lucrative counteroffer to keep Jessie away from Jake if he finds her. After refusing, Terry heads for scenic Cozumel, where he eventually runs down the stunning young woman. A mutual attraction quickly develops and the pair are less than eager to return to California. Painfully, Terry tells Jessie about his involvement in a betting scandal which has put him under Jake's control. Meanwhile Jake, who is angered by the delay, senses that something is going on, and sends Terry's conditioning coach, Sully (Alex Karras), to find the couple. When he finally locates them, sweatily making love in a Mayan temple, tragedy ensues, spinning the ill-fated Terry into a world of boundless deceit and corruption. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: Taylor Hackford
Written By: Daniel Mainwaring, Eric J. Hughes
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Mar 2, 1984 Limited
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A decent film noir, mostly because of Woods and Bridges.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Taylor Hackford's impressively mounted film noir is well acted by the central triangle: Jeff Bridges, James Woods, and the sexy Rachel Ward.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A gripping work of film noir.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Aside from some sweaty sex scenes, a snooze
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Manages to remake a true noir classic (Out of the Past) and somehow avoid being awful!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

A B

Despite the lovely locations, a nice car chase sequence, cool soundtrack, and even a top-class cast, this movie is somehow missing something. I think the storyline could have been improved.
Dean M

Good thriller and love affair story. Aussie Rachel Ward seems bloody hot and sexy in her naked scene.
Steve B

Pales in comparison to the original, Out of the Past, but it's not awful in its own right. Worth a look.
Danny R

A stylish romantic thriller starring the handsome and charismatic Jeff Bridges in a superb performance, as a unemployed and disgruntled ex-football player who accepts a job from a shady nightclub owner and ex-teammate, played by James Woods in brilliantly sleazy performance to find… More
A stylish romantic thriller starring the handsome and charismatic Jeff Bridges in a superb performance, as a unemployed and disgruntled ex-football player who accepts a job from a shady nightclub owner and ex-teammate, played by James Woods in brilliantly sleazy performance to find his girlfriend played beautifully by the stunning Rachel Ward who's run off to Mexico, but the plot thickens when he falls in love with her. Wonderful supporting performances by Richard Widmark, Jane Geer, Dorian Harewood and Alex Karras. Skillfully directed by Taylor Hackford, great sensual love scenes, a hair-rasing race along Sunset Boulevard and a haunting Oscar nominated title song by Phil Collins are some of the film's highlights. An enjoyable modern film noir. Highly Recommended.
Deb S

A football quarterback, Terry (Jeff Bridges) is asked by his friend Jake (James Woods) to go to Mexico and track down Woods' girlfriend, Jessie (Rachel Ward). Reluctantly Terry sets off for Mexico where he finds Jessie but he soon falls in love with her. I thought the love… More
A football quarterback, Terry (Jeff Bridges) is asked by his friend Jake (James Woods) to go to Mexico and track down Woods' girlfriend, Jessie (Rachel Ward). Reluctantly Terry sets off for Mexico where he finds Jessie but he soon falls in love with her. I thought the love triangle between Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward, and James Woods was very well done. We have a little bit of everything thrown in here, betrayal, deceit, bribery, greed, crime, and some steamy sex scenes and it seems only Terry and Jessie's passion for each other is pure. I wouldn't spoil it but you just gotta love the ending when reality kicks in. The scenery in this movie is beautiful as is the magnificent theme song of Phil Collins.
Anthony V

Hey! Let's remake "Out of The Past" and screw it all up!

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Rachel Ward as Jessie

            Jeff Bridges as Terry

            James Woods as Jake

            Alex Karras as Hank

            Jane Greer as Mrs. Wyler

            Richard Widmark as Caxton

            Dorian Harewood as Tommy

            Swoosie Kurtz as Eddie

            Saul Rubinek as Steve

            Pat Corley as Ed

            Bill McKinney as Coach

            Billy Burton as Stunts

            Carl Ciarfalio as Sully Stunt Double

            David Dayan Fisher as Car Valet

            Ginger LaBrie as 2nd Receptionist

            Sam Scarber as Assistant Coach

            Dennis Scott as Stunts

            Mel Scott-Thomas as Quarterback

            Tamara Stafford as Kirsch's Girl Friend

            Paul Valentine as Councilman Weinberg

            Allen Williams as Bob Soames

            Dick Ziker as Stunts

            Jophery C. Brown as Stunts

            August Darnell as Kid Creole

            Bud Davis as Stunts

            Buddy Joe Hooker as Stunts

            Carey Loftin as Ferrari Stunt Driver

            Ron Rondell as Stunts

            Ted White as Guard with Dog

            Jon St. Elwood as Ahmad Cooper

            Jonathan Terry as Ryskind

            Tom Kelly as Football Announcer
See full cast