Narrow Margin
by Peter Hyams
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anne Archer, Gene Hackman, J.T. Walsh, James Sikking, M. Emmet WalshDirector: Peter Hyams
Brand: LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.35:1
Running Time: 99 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-11-10
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Movie Reviews of Narrow Margin
Movie Review: Lots To Like In This Updated Version
Summary: 5 Stars
It's odd to like an original 1952 film and then like the re-make equally so, if not more, but that's the case with this film. I have viewed both versions of this film at least three times apiece and thoroughly enjoy both.
As is sometimes the case with remakes, some of the twists and turns of this thriller were also changed from the first film. They didn't spoil it, though. I have no objection to the changes made here because the bottom line is entertainment, and that's where this movie excels. Plausible? No, but neither was the original, for that matter, and neither are a lot of suspense/ crime films.
What makes this re-run good, in addition to the great suspense, are several other things: 1 - Gene Hackman, one of the best actors of his generation and often overlooked in discussions of great actors; 2 - nice photography featuring some great train shots and the scenic Canadian Rockies; 3 - an interesting assortment of characters, some of which keep you guessing whether they are the good guys or the bad guys; 4 - a dash of humor thrown in here and there to break the tension.
In addition to Hackman, we see the sexy Anne Archer, who gives a nice film noir feel to the movie and we get some good supporting performances including two from guys with the same last name: J.T. and Emmet Walsh and one from a guy who plays one of the hit men: James Sikking. That's a name I'm not familiar with, but he has a scene talking to Hackman that is riveting.
****possible spoilers**** The main fault of the movie at least to me, was the "Rambo" mentality in which I mean the villains have the good guy in point-blank, can't-miss range several times and....you guessed it: they miss. The action scenes in here are great but lack credibility, or this would be almost as good as it could ever get for a "thriller." I'm still giving it a "5" for the great entertainment value alone. It's always fun to watch.
Summary of Narrow Margin
Gene Hackman stars as a LA District Attorney attempting to take an unwilling murder witness (Archer) back to the Unites States to testify against a top-level mob boss. Frantically Attempting to escape two deadly hit men sent to silence her they board a Vancouver-bound train only to discover that the killers are onboard with them. For the next 20 hours as the train hurls through the beautiful but isolated Canadian wilderness a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues in which their ability to tell friend from foe is a matter of life and death.System Requirements:Starring: Gene Hackman Anne Archer James Sikking JT Walsh and M. Emmet Walsh. Director: Peter Hyams Running Time: 99 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1990 Artisan Entertainment Inc. Video Format: Widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio Enhanced for 16x9 TVs.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:?DRAMA Rating:?R UPC:?012236048404 Manufacturer No:?60484Back in 1952, during the waning days of film noir, director Richard Fleischer made The Narrow Margin, a cheaply produced, tightly structured B?movie thriller about a cop forced to protect a gangster's widow while on a train. While it's no work of art, Fleischer's noir features a shocking climax of mistaken identity, an ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere, and tough, nearly unlikable protagonists screwed by fate, who spout sharp-witted dialogue and feel little more than contempt for each other. When Hollywood remakes itself, all the understatement and charm is usually lost when the filmmakers try to "modernize" the subject matter. This is one of many problems with writer-director Peter Hyams's remake (given the slightly shorter title Narrow Margin). He's dumped the surprising plot twist (it's now an action set piece atop a moving train) and softened the characters (now played with sleepwalking intensity by Gene Hackman and Anne Archer) with preposterous motivations. All that seems to be intact is the train premise, but Hyams is more interested in its action potential than any kind of menacing atmosphere. He's dropped the ambiguous relationships and smart dialogue in favor of pumping up the action sequences and daredevil stunts to ridiculous levels. Instead of adding excitement, all Hyams's expensive tricks do is drain Narrow Margin of any tension it might've retained from the original. --Dave McCoy
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