The Getaway ReviewsThe Getaway
When baldwin finds out how his wife bought his freedom the action explodes into a roller coaster ride of passion and suspense. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 06/01/2004 Starring: Alec Baldwin Kim Basinger Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Nr”This is going to be the last big score, I promise.” Famous last words–uttered by crack thief Doc McCoy to his wife–that set forth a whirlpool of deception and violence in Roger Donaldson’s 1994 remake of The Getaway. Bailed out of a Mexican jail by shady businessman Jack Benyon (James Woods) in order to hit an Arizona dog track for him, Doc (Alec Baldwin) and Carol (Kim Basinger) flee for south of the border when the robbery goes wrong, with the million-dollar loot in tow. Following close behind are Benyon’s men and Doc’s double-crossing partner Rudy (Michael Madsen). The updated version shares not only the original film’s plot, but also the added twist of having husband and wife Baldwin and Basinger step into the roles of the first real-life couple to make the film, Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. This time, however, the woman’s role has been given a tougher ’90s edge, with Basinger pulling almost as many punches and firing as many shots as Baldwin, compared to McGraw, who followed McQueen around in wide-eyed, silent terror. The Getaway maintains the same deliberate, neo-noir pace that made the first film taut, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in the wide-open, desolate Southwestern landscapes. The scorching sun and heat only add to the strain, making it virtually impossible for anyone to find a dark corner or alleyway to hide in. The car chases and shoot-out finale are charged, though a secondary plot line, between Rudy and the woman he kidnaps and seduces (Jennifer Tilly), comes across as unnecessarily and incongruously brutal. –Natasha Senjanovic
Rating:  List Price: $ 9.99 Price: $ 26.98
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(out of 40 reviews)
Review by ADAM M LENHARDT for The Getaway
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The Baldwin/Basinger remake of ‘ The Getaway ‘ is a well put together, well acted, entertaining movie. This was not well received upon release, and I can’t see why. Baldwin smolders on screen, and his real life chemistry with Basinger ( well, until they divorced ) carries over to the movie. The relationship of their married characters is passionate, and volatile. An excellent scene is when Doc, who can’t control his anger any longer after finding out that Carol had slept with bad-guy Benyon ( James Woods ) in a deal for Doc’s prison release, stops their car on the side of the road, and they have an intense argument. Great scene. Not to be overlooked is the performance of Michael Madsen as Rudy. He could be Vic Vega’s ( from Reservoir Dogs ) dopier cousin. He is a bad guy, yet his scenes with Jennifer Tilly are at times very funny..you’ll laugh at what a jerk he can be. The movie has some good action and drama in it, especially the scene when Doc, at the train depot, chases down the small-time thief who has made off with Doc and Carol’s bag full of stolen cash. The finale is an excellent shoot-out at a seedy old hotel in El Paso, and it definitely does not disappoint. Much action and tension. The final scene includes the late Richard Farnsworth, and it is touching to see now that he is no longer alive. An excellent Richard Marx song ‘ Now and Forever ‘ runs over the end credits, and it works perfectly. Very nice. This is a movie I’ve seen many times, and always enjoyed. It’s executed well, with nice cinematography. Don’t believe some of the bad reviews, and judge for yourself. I believe the 1994 version of ‘ The Getaway ‘ is an overlooked little gem.
Review by art-dog3 for The Getaway
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I’ve never seen the original version of this film, so I have nothing to compare it to. Most of the reviews here are pretty good, but the reviewers weren’t kind when it first came out in 1994. I thought the acting by Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin was very good in this. Michael Madsen usually plays these same kind of characters all of the time, but he was actually enjoyable here. I loved that Kim’s character more than held her own here and got very violent like everybody else. I can’t stand when female characters always have to be saved in action films. The camerawork & pacing is excellent in this film also. My main problem with this film is the story itself. It starts out pretty good for like the first 45 minutes, then starts to get kinda silly once Jennifer Tilly’s character shows up. I kept asking myself why would some of the characters do something so dumb thoughtout the movie. I also was able to predict almost everything that happened. That was probably because they had alot of actors who always play bad guys like: James Wood, Michael Madsen, David Morse, and even Alec himself. Note to directors out there, “quit hiring the same actors to play your bad guys all of the time, its starting to get annoying.” I just never bought that the guy, who Jennifer’s character was married to, ever had a chance of ever getting her. And I know women like bad guys, but I just never bought that she could easily watch Michaels character abuse her husband of 2 years like she did. The action in this film is pretty good I must admit though. Forget about the plot, watch this film for the action and the performances by Kim, Alec, and Michael. Kim’s sensual scenes with Alec will have you pausing and hitting the review button alot. It must have been very cold the day they were shooting them, thats all I’ll say on it.
Review by patrick for The Getaway
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Ive seen this remake 2 or three times, same number of times as original, the original is no dispute a great McQueen crime action adventure, but yes, this remake I feel with the noir fence-wash rinse is a great night in, why do professional critics like Maltin seem to have it up with Attack of the Killer Tomatoes??
the action is great,start to finish, all three main characters make a fair fist of stepping into McQueen, McGraw and Al Lettieri’s shoes, Bassingers character as the Amazon ed points out is a lot more hands on than McGraw, shes much more of a true Bonnie and Clyde gangsters moll instead of mcGraws passive passenger “I’ll just maybe dosome of the driving , you’ll have to shoot everybody yourself ” approach.
Which is kinduv cool, frankly.
She knows better than to have a go when Doc slaps her around in one scene, which may be more about she feels actual guilt for what she has done ( for him, mind you) rather than she hasnt got the stones to try to defend herself.
Certainly she has no problem later first blowing David Morse’s kneecap out with a .45, and then blowing the rest of him away after it. YaY girlpower, huh?
She is in the thick of the gunbattle.
the final rootin-tootin confrontation at the hotel is a screamer, as was the original, Baldwins face when he thinks Madsen has won and will kill him is about right underplayed.
Some criticise the scenes with Meg Tilly and her unfortunate veterinarian husband and his fate, ok, the show is of course one for after the kids are in bed. I dont personally find it gratuitous, is an eye-opener and more Noir, sure.
My sole disappointment was the writing out of the confrontation between McQueen and two Texas rangers outside a hamburger shop in the original , where McQueen hastily goes next door and arms himself by robbing a gunstore , then bails these cops up, disarms them without having to harm them, and shoots up their patrol car, before blowing town.
The Baldwin movie has no mention of this memorable scene.
Original was a tough act to follow, sure, but this stands alone well, is a good night in is totally above average popcorn entertainment, I like it, recommended if you can take a kind of commercial/Noir split which I think works.
Review by Francisco Cortes for The Getaway
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Both Getaway movies have the same screenplay writen by Walter Hill, both have the slow-mo action and basically they are the same, BUT here are the differences:
Getaway 1972:
* Steve McQueen is WAY COOLER than Alec Bladwin.
* Rudy and his girl are more evil here.
* The car chase scene is at midnight.
* There is no STUPID dog race scene, only a bank robbery scene.
* The characters here are more quiet.
* The first getaway scene is COOLER and EXPLOSIVE!
* The train scene here is a CLASSIC.
* The slap scene is more intense here.
* The jail scenes here are longer.
Getaway 1994:
* There are more emotional scenes in this one.
* Kim Basinger’s character is tougher and hotter!
* There are MORE celebrities here than in the original.
* The car chase scene was longer.
* There are sex scenes in this one.
* There is more blood and foul language here than in the original.
* They added one made-up action scene in the begining.
* There is a one to one fight between Rudy and Doc.
In my opinion the Getaway 1972 is better because SteveMcQueen is SOO COOL! you can watch the 1994 remake if you want to but that one is more like a normal action movie than a CLASSIC action movie.
Adios.
Review by Mark Laing for The Getaway
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Somewhat like the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair this is again much better than the original, and I love McQeen.Baldwin is great, Kim Bassinger is very believable and Madsen superb as the bad guy. James Woods is wonderful too.Great direction by Roger Donaldson, the locations are well thought out and easy on the eyes too.All in all a splendid update of the orgiginal, which wasn’t bad but this is one remake that is well worth owning. Great film.Mark Laing