Against All Odds
Encyclopedia
Against All Odds is a neo-noir
1984 film, a remake of Out of the Past
. The movie was directed by Taylor Hackford
and features Rachel Ward
, Jeff Bridges
, and James Woods
. Supporting players include Jane Greer
(who had starred in Out of the Past), Alex Karras
, Richard Widmark
, and Dorian Harewood
.
The movie's soundtrack
, nominated for a Grammy Award, featured songs from Big Country
, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Stevie Nicks
, and Genesis
breakout stars Mike Rutherford
, Peter Gabriel
, and Phil Collins
. Collins sang the title song
, which was nominated for an Academy Award and was one of the top-selling singles of 1984.
) is released by his team, the (fictitious) Los Angeles Outlaws. Aging, injured and in need of money, he agrees to help an old acquaintance, the shady gambler and nightclub owner Jake Wise (James Woods
), find girlfriend Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward
), daughter of the Outlaws' owner.
Jake claims that Jessie assaulted him, stole money and fled. Terry gets in touch with Jessie's mother (Jane Greer
), ostensibly to find out where Jessie can be found but mainly to convince Mrs. Wyler and her business partner Ben Caxton (Richard Widmark
) to reinstate him on the team.
Kirsch (Saul Rubinek
), an agent who represents Terry and other Outlaw players, has told Terry he won't be paid even though he was fired while injured. Kirsch's secretary Edie (Swoosie Kurtz
) confides in Terry not to trust him. Sully, the team's trainer, offers to find Terry a coaching job, but Terry doesn't feel he's finished as a player yet.
Jake Wise, meanwhile, is implying that he could destroy Terry's future due to his knowledge of something in Terry's past. Having few options, Terry reluctantly takes Jake's job offer, receiving $10,000 immediately and promised $20,000 more when he finds Jessie.
Terry tracks down Jessie living in Cozumel
. She knows perfectly well that Terry is not here by chance. She resists his efforts to get acquainted because she knows either Jake or her mother sent him.
Terry tires of pursuing a spoiled brat and packs to leave, but Jessie appreciates his not revealing her whereabouts and invites him to see where she is staying. The two unexpectedly fall in love. Terry confides that he had fallen in debt and agreed to "shave points" in a game for Jake's sports gambling syndicate. Terry lies to Jake and says he still hasn't found her.
Sully is sent by Jake to locate them. He catches the lovers alone at the ruins of Chichen Itza
. Wielding a gun, Sully demands that Terry turn over the girl and warns him she's "no good." He, too, has been involved in corruption with Jake's sports syndicate.
A struggle between the men ensues and Jessie fatally shoots Sully. Mexico's officials could charge them with murder, so they decide to dispose of the body. Jessie runs away, leaving Terry inside the ruins with Sully's corpse.
Terry returns to Los Angeles and finds to his astonishment that Jessie has returned to Jake. He is bitter toward her but Jake maintains a hold over him with the point-shaving incident, not to mention Sully's sudden disappearance. Terry is sent to break into Kirsch's office to retrieve detailed files on his clients that Jake badly wants for gambling purposes. Jake gives him instructions during a party at Jake's popular club, The Palace.
Terry breaks into the office only to find Kirsch dead. A security guard has been hired to kill Terry and make it look like he has murdered the agent. Edie, the secretary, distracts the guard while Terry gets away with Kirsch's files.
Jessie remains at Jake's side but is still in love with Terry and wants him back. She knows that Jake is behind Kirsch's murder and informs Ben Caxton, telling him that Jake has been handling bets on the Outlaws using information he's been given by Sully, the trainer, and Kirsch, the agent. What she doesn't know is that Caxton is actually Jake's boss at the syndicate.
Caxton wants those files. He arranges to meet Terry at the site of a new construction project that he and Mrs. Wyler are backing, bringing Jake and accomplice Tommy (Dorian Harewood
) along with him. Tommy draws a gun but Jessie shouts a warning to Terry to look out. Jake ultimately lures him out by holding a gun to Jessie's head. For the second time, a confrontation between Terry and another man leads to Jessie's resolving it and she shoots Jake.
Guilty of murder, Jessie must agree to terms set by Caxton to avoid going to jail. They include returning to her estranged mother's side and ending her relationship with Terry.
Weeks later, Terry stays in the background while attending a publicity function for Caxton's and Mrs. Wyler's construction project. He just wants a last look at Jessie before beginning a new job as a trainer with the Miami Dolphins
. All he can do is stare at her from a distance.
Neo-noir
Neo-noir is a style often seen in modern motion pictures and other forms that prominently utilize elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in films noir of the 1940s and 1950s.-History:The term Film Noir was coined by...
1984 film, a remake of Out of the Past
Out of the Past
Out of the Past is a 1947 film noir directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas. The film was adapted by Daniel Mainwaring , with uncredited revisions by Frank Fenton and James M...
. The movie was directed by Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
and features Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
, Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
, and James Woods
James Woods
James Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
. Supporting players include Jane Greer
Jane Greer
Jane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
(who had starred in Out of the Past), Alex Karras
Alex Karras
Alexander George "Alex" Karras , nicknamed "The Mad Duck", is a former football player, professional wrestler, and actor, best known for his stint with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1958–1962 and 1964-1970 and for his role as Mongo in the film Blazing Saddles...
, Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
, and Dorian Harewood
Dorian Harewood
W. Dorian Harewood is an American actor. He first garnered attention for his portrayal of Simon Haley in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.-Career:...
.
The movie's soundtrack
Against All Odds (soundtrack)
Against All Odds: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack for the 1984 film Against All Odds. The album includes the original score by Larry Carlton, as well as several tracks by artists popular at the time of the film's release...
, nominated for a Grammy Award, featured songs from Big Country
Big Country
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...
, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
breakout stars Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, and Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
. Collins sang the title song
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
"Against All Odds " is a song by British singer Phil Collins recorded for soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to "take a look at me now", knowing that reconciliation is "against all odds" while considering it worth trying...
, which was nominated for an Academy Award and was one of the top-selling singles of 1984.
Plot
Professional football player Terry Brogan (Jeff BridgesJeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
) is released by his team, the (fictitious) Los Angeles Outlaws. Aging, injured and in need of money, he agrees to help an old acquaintance, the shady gambler and nightclub owner Jake Wise (James Woods
James Woods
James Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
), find girlfriend Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
), daughter of the Outlaws' owner.
Jake claims that Jessie assaulted him, stole money and fled. Terry gets in touch with Jessie's mother (Jane Greer
Jane Greer
Jane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
), ostensibly to find out where Jessie can be found but mainly to convince Mrs. Wyler and her business partner Ben Caxton (Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
) to reinstate him on the team.
Kirsch (Saul Rubinek
Saul Rubinek
Saul Rubinek is a Canadian actor, director, producer and playwright, known for his work in TV, film and the stage.-Early life:...
), an agent who represents Terry and other Outlaw players, has told Terry he won't be paid even though he was fired while injured. Kirsch's secretary Edie (Swoosie Kurtz
Swoosie Kurtz
Swoosie Kurtz is an American actress. She began her career in theater during the 1970s and shortly thereafter began a career in television, garnering ten nominations and winning one Emmy Award. Her most famous television project was her role on the 1990s NBC drama Sisters...
) confides in Terry not to trust him. Sully, the team's trainer, offers to find Terry a coaching job, but Terry doesn't feel he's finished as a player yet.
Jake Wise, meanwhile, is implying that he could destroy Terry's future due to his knowledge of something in Terry's past. Having few options, Terry reluctantly takes Jake's job offer, receiving $10,000 immediately and promised $20,000 more when he finds Jessie.
Terry tracks down Jessie living in Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
. She knows perfectly well that Terry is not here by chance. She resists his efforts to get acquainted because she knows either Jake or her mother sent him.
Terry tires of pursuing a spoiled brat and packs to leave, but Jessie appreciates his not revealing her whereabouts and invites him to see where she is staying. The two unexpectedly fall in love. Terry confides that he had fallen in debt and agreed to "shave points" in a game for Jake's sports gambling syndicate. Terry lies to Jake and says he still hasn't found her.
Sully is sent by Jake to locate them. He catches the lovers alone at the ruins of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Municipality of Tinúm, Yucatán state, present-day Mexico....
. Wielding a gun, Sully demands that Terry turn over the girl and warns him she's "no good." He, too, has been involved in corruption with Jake's sports syndicate.
A struggle between the men ensues and Jessie fatally shoots Sully. Mexico's officials could charge them with murder, so they decide to dispose of the body. Jessie runs away, leaving Terry inside the ruins with Sully's corpse.
Terry returns to Los Angeles and finds to his astonishment that Jessie has returned to Jake. He is bitter toward her but Jake maintains a hold over him with the point-shaving incident, not to mention Sully's sudden disappearance. Terry is sent to break into Kirsch's office to retrieve detailed files on his clients that Jake badly wants for gambling purposes. Jake gives him instructions during a party at Jake's popular club, The Palace.
Terry breaks into the office only to find Kirsch dead. A security guard has been hired to kill Terry and make it look like he has murdered the agent. Edie, the secretary, distracts the guard while Terry gets away with Kirsch's files.
Jessie remains at Jake's side but is still in love with Terry and wants him back. She knows that Jake is behind Kirsch's murder and informs Ben Caxton, telling him that Jake has been handling bets on the Outlaws using information he's been given by Sully, the trainer, and Kirsch, the agent. What she doesn't know is that Caxton is actually Jake's boss at the syndicate.
Caxton wants those files. He arranges to meet Terry at the site of a new construction project that he and Mrs. Wyler are backing, bringing Jake and accomplice Tommy (Dorian Harewood
Dorian Harewood
W. Dorian Harewood is an American actor. He first garnered attention for his portrayal of Simon Haley in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.-Career:...
) along with him. Tommy draws a gun but Jessie shouts a warning to Terry to look out. Jake ultimately lures him out by holding a gun to Jessie's head. For the second time, a confrontation between Terry and another man leads to Jessie's resolving it and she shoots Jake.
Guilty of murder, Jessie must agree to terms set by Caxton to avoid going to jail. They include returning to her estranged mother's side and ending her relationship with Terry.
Weeks later, Terry stays in the background while attending a publicity function for Caxton's and Mrs. Wyler's construction project. He just wants a last look at Jessie before beginning a new job as a trainer with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. All he can do is stare at her from a distance.
Cast
- Rachel WardRachel WardRachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
as Jessie Wyler - Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesJeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
as Terry Brogan - James WoodsJames WoodsJames Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
as Jake Wise - Alex KarrasAlex KarrasAlexander George "Alex" Karras , nicknamed "The Mad Duck", is a former football player, professional wrestler, and actor, best known for his stint with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1958–1962 and 1964-1970 and for his role as Mongo in the film Blazing Saddles...
as Hank Sully - Jane GreerJane GreerJane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
as Mrs. Grace Wyler - Richard WidmarkRichard WidmarkRichard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
as Ben Caxton - Dorian HarewoodDorian HarewoodW. Dorian Harewood is an American actor. He first garnered attention for his portrayal of Simon Haley in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.-Career:...
as Tommy - Swoosie KurtzSwoosie KurtzSwoosie Kurtz is an American actress. She began her career in theater during the 1970s and shortly thereafter began a career in television, garnering ten nominations and winning one Emmy Award. Her most famous television project was her role on the 1990s NBC drama Sisters...
as Edie - Saul RubinekSaul RubinekSaul Rubinek is a Canadian actor, director, producer and playwright, known for his work in TV, film and the stage.-Early life:...
as Steve Kirsch
Production notes
- The film featured cameo appearances by stars of Out of the Past on which the film is based. Jane GreerJane GreerJane Greer was a film and television actress who was perhaps best known for her role as femme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir Out of the Past.-Career:...
, who was the star of Out of the Past, plays Rachel Ward's mother. Paul Valentine, who played hood Joe Stephanos in the first film, played a councilman in Against All Odds. The movie includes extensive footage of the Mayan city Chichen ItzaChichen ItzaChichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Municipality of Tinúm, Yucatán state, present-day Mexico....
as well as Tulum but the exteriors and interiors don't match the actual location.
- The movie was shot in Manhattan BeachManhattan BeachManhattan Beach may refer to:PlacesIn the United States:* Manhattan Beach, California* Manhattan Beach, Minnesota* Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York...
, California, the Yucatán peninsula and Cozumel, Mexico, and various locations around Los Angeles and Hollywood.
- The end of the movie takes place at the Wylers' real-estate function above downtown Los Angeles. The spot was already selected as the future home of the new Getty CenterGetty CenterThe Getty Center, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, is a campus for cultural institutions founded by oilman J. Paul Getty. The $1.3 billion center, which opened on December 16, 1997, is also well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overlooking Los Angeles...
Art Museum and some grading had begun. However, because of permits, construction did not start until 1989 and continued until the 1997 opening of the Richard MeierRichard MeierRichard Meier is an American architect, whose rationalist buildings make prominent use of the color white.- Biography :Meier is Jewish and was born in Newark, New Jersey...
designed museum.
- Jeff Bridges played the Robert MitchumRobert MitchumRobert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
role from the original version while James Woods portrayed the equivalent of Kirk DouglasKirk DouglasKirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
' character, although the scripts are quite different.
- Jeff Bridges' age and appearance in this film is used as a reference to recreate a 35-year-old version of him for the characters of Kevin Flynn and CLU in the film Tron: Legacy, released in December 2010.