X
  • 1981
  • R
  • United Artists
  • 1 h 49 m
  • 1981
  • R
  • United Artists
  • 1 h 49 m
Cutter's Way

Summary [Originally known as "Cutter and Bone," from a 1977 novel by Newton Thornburg] Richard (Jeff Bridges) spots a man dumping a body, and decides to expose the man he thinks is the culprit with his friend Alex Cutter (John Heard).

Directed By: Ivan Passer

Written By: Newton Thornburg, Jeffrey Alan Fiskin

  • 1981
  • R
  • United Artists
  • 1 h 49 m
  • 1981
  • R
  • United Artists
  • 1 h 49 m

Cutter's Way

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 19 Critic Reviews
70
User Score Available after 4 ratings
tbd
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary [Originally known as "Cutter and Bone," from a 1977 novel by Newton Thornburg] Richard (Jeff Bridges) spots a man dumping a body, and decides to expose the man he thinks is the culprit with his friend Alex Cutter (John Heard).

Directed By: Ivan Passer

Written By: Newton Thornburg, Jeffrey Alan Fiskin

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 19 Critic Reviews
70
58% Positive
11 Reviews
42% Mixed
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 19 Critic Reviews
70
58% Positive
11 Reviews
42% Mixed
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
The three leads are on outstanding form, while Jack Nitzsche's score shimmers with foreboding.
By Philip Kemp FULL REVIEW
100
Cutter's Way is a movie that starts yielding up its real treasures around the third viewing, so stick with it (you'll hate the ending first time out). I've seen it perhaps 30 times – it may be my favourite American movie – and, unlike its three broken leads, I have still yet to hit bottom. For once, the word is appropriate: masterpiece.
FULL REVIEW
90
It’s an underrated classic.
By David Gritten FULL REVIEW
80
An unclassifiably brilliant gem of American independent film-making.
By Peter Bradshaw FULL REVIEW
60
The film, adapted by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and directed by Ivan Passer, captures Thornburg's tense, moody vision of life on the California edge, but it runs into trouble as a mystery. Fiskin has radically altered the last third of the book and has come up with a new ending that is far too ambiguous, abrupt and silly. One feels let down that so much comes to so little...Yet the film's sad twilight glow lingers. Cutter and Bone and Mo get under your skin. [6 Apr 1981, p.103]
By David Ansen FULL REVIEW
50
CUTTER AND BONE can't decide whether to be a buddy movie, a menage-a-trois drama, or a murder movie, and hence fails at all three. Too bad, because Czech-born Ivan Passer has an obvious talent for creating mood and atmosphere.
By Bob Thomas FULL REVIEW
40
It's the sort of picture that never wants to concede what it's about. It is, however, enchanted by the sound of its own dialogue, which is vivid without being informative or even amusing on any level.
By Vincent Canby FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Gurian Entertainment
Release Date Mar 20, 1981
Duration 1 h 49 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Bone saw the killer. Cutter knew the motive.
View All Details

Awards

Edgar Allan Poe Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Grand Prix de l'UCC
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Writers Guild of America, USA
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

The Godfather

100
Universal Acclaim

Touch of Evil

99
Universal Acclaim

Pépé le Moko (re-release)

98
Universal Acclaim

Rashomon

98
Universal Acclaim

The Night of the Hunter

97
Universal Acclaim

Rififi (re-release)

97
Universal Acclaim

The Maltese Falcon

97
Universal Acclaim

12 Angry Men

97
Universal Acclaim

Mean Streets

96
Universal Acclaim

Pulp Fiction

95
Universal Acclaim

Collective

95
Universal Acclaim

Double Indemnity

95
Universal Acclaim

Taxi Driver

94
Universal Acclaim

The Irishman

94
Universal Acclaim

Carlos

94
Universal Acclaim

The French Connection

94
Universal Acclaim

Elevator to the Gallows

94
Universal Acclaim

Shoplifters

93
Universal Acclaim

The 39 Steps

93
Universal Acclaim

Uncut Gems

93
Universal Acclaim

Band of Outsiders

93
Universal Acclaim

Days of Being Wild (re-release)

93
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie