Against All Odds

1 9 8 4 (USA)

A thick, incoherent plot trips up this steamy melodramatic remake about a fading football player (Jeff Bridges) sent to track down the runaway mistress (Rachel Ward) of a small-time bookie and nightclub owner (James Woods). 

The story ranges from a torrid love affair in Mexico (looking for all the world like a Club Med advert!) to corruption, murder and double crosses in Los Angeles. An exciting car chase on Sunset Boulevard brings the film to its climax but fails to resolve the plot, and what worked well as a modestly-produced 1940s film noir (Out of the Past), now looks overblown. 

Jane Greer features as Ward's Mother, Richard Widmark is Greer's real-estate agent husband, and Alex Karras is a football buddy of Bridges, sent to Mexico by Woods to see what is going on between Bridges and Ward.

The film spawned a singles chart hit for Phil Collins with the wistful opening theme, Take A Look At Me Now.