RUNNING SCARED [1986 / 2014] [Blu-ray] [USA Release]
They’ve Got 30 days To Clean Up Chicago Before They Retire To Paradise . . .
Peter Hyams directs Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal in the motion picture that asks the question, "How come the bad guys always drive the good cars?" The answer has them Running Scared in this lightning-paced comic thriller. Ray and Danny are the wild men of the Windy City's police force. The pair's unorthodox methods get results in a tough town – until they come up against Julio Gonzales [Jimmy Smits], a smooth-talking drug dealer who is bucking to become Chicago's first Spanish Godfather. Trying to nail Gonzales, they blow a delicate undercover operation and are sent on a forced vacation to Key West – where they discover the good life of warm weather and warmer women. The new locale makes them decide to retire... but not before putting Gonzales behind bars first. The stellar cast includes Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano, John Gries and Dan Hedaya.
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1987 Golden Globes: Nomination: Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Rod Temperton for the song: "Sweet Freedom." 1987 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for Rod Temperton for the song "Sweet Freedom." 1988 Image Awards: Win: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture for Gregory Hines.
Cast: Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal, Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano, Dan Hedaya, Jon Gries, Tracy Reed, Jimmy Smits, John DiSanti, Larry Hankin, Don Calfa, Robert Lesser, Betty Carvalho, Louis Perez, Ron Cummins, Natividad Ríos Kearsley, John LaMotta, Richard Kuss, Jeff Silverman, Dax Brooks, Jaime Alba, Fred Buch, Ricardo Gutiérrez, Frankie Davila, Ernest Perry Jr., Etel Billig, James Noah, Bob Zrna, Deanna Dunagan, Joe Guastaferro, Tony Zurita Jr., Saralynne Crittenden, Jim Ortlieb, Julian Pena, Alex Leonard Jenkins, William Lozada, Irma O'Quendo, Charles D. Scholvin, Joel Becker, Kevin Bassett (uncredited), Stephen Burrows (uncredited), Bob Harks (uncredited), Robert A. Janz (uncredited), Al Leong (uncredited), Robert Minkoff (uncredited) and Rick Sawaya (uncredited)
Director: Peter Hyams
Producers: David Foster, Jonathan A. Zimbert, Lawrence Turman and Peter Hyams
Screenplay: Gary DeVore (screenplay/story) and Jimmy Huston (screenplay)
Composers: Rod Temperton and Udi Harpaz
Cinematography: Peter Hyams (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 107 minutes
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / KINO LORBER
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: In the film ‘RUNNING SCARED’ [1986] we find Southside Chicago detectives Ray Hughes [Gregory Hines] and Danny Costanzo [Billy Crystal] are out to put away a rising-star drug lord named Julio Gonzales [Jimmy Smits] in mind, who is rumoured to have killed an undercover policeman. After some difficulties, they nail him; only to be forced to take a vacation in the Key West that has them sure they won't be coming back to the dreary big city streets. However, once they find out that Julio Gonzalez has made bail and is out on the streets again, the boys decide to stick around to make sure Julio Gonzalez is put away for good, if they live to see it.
‘RUNNING SCARED’ is prime example of the buddy cop film that proved popular in the 1980s, mixing comic banter and deadly force with equal proportions. As far as the comedic side of things, it's one of the best of the bunch, with good repartee between Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, who were allowed the freedom to ad-lib wisecracks as necessary, often with hilarious results. Of course, their antics keep them in perpetual hot water with their superior officer Captain Logan [Dan Hedaya], while they have a hard time maintaining serious relationships. They also have plenty of fun with the criminal element, busting them and insulting them using the power of the badge to turn the tables, especially when they don't have the evidence to turn in a suspect carrying $50,000 in cash, they tell the thugs playing b-ball nearby about the sum and the fact that he will be all alone, he immediately chooses to play ball.
The action isn't as memorable as is the comedy, but there are some impressive moments in the film, including an amazing high-speed car chase on the Chicago train tracks. The end has plenty of explosive firepower and broken glass, although the motivations during many of these scenes seems more geared to what would look cool than would be logical at the moment and Ray climbs a mega-story building with window washer gear in order to drop down with bravado and shoot his machine gun suspended in air, though it would have been easier and much more prudent to just break in on ground level. You just have to go with the flow of the nonsensical nature of it for the sake of the entertainment value, although interest in the film slows and the laughs dwindle mightily in the final third when the more serious plot device of having Danny Costanzo's ex-wife Anna Costanzo [Darlanne Fluegel] gets kidnapped by Julio Gonzales.
‘RUNNING SCARED’ aims strictly for the buddy action-comedy crowd, so if you're one who likes films like ‘48 Hrs,’ ‘Lethal Weapon,’ ‘Midnight Run’ and ‘Stakeout’ variety, you'll find plenty to enjoy, but it should be noted that the film ‘RUNNING SCARED’ came out before all those notable entries. It does at least stand out by not partnering two opposites, as the personalities of these cops are almost interchangeable, which is indicative of two men who know each other very well and have been together for some time, and they are a team, each alone would be uninteresting without the other there to bounce gags off of. The main drug/murder plot is a bit of a drag, following strictly along predictable lines, but Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines crack fresh and funny throughout and they make it a totally fun ride, and I enjoyed every 107 minutes of viewing enjoyment and so will you, I can guarantee it.
RUNNING SCARED MUSIC TRACK LIST
SWEET FREEDOM (Written by Rod Temperton) [Performed by Michael McDonald]
MAN SIZE LOVE [By Klymaxx]
I JUST WANNA BE LOVED [By Ready for the World]
RUNNING SCARED [By Fee Waybill]
ONCE IN A LIFETIME GROOVE [By New Edition]
I KNOW WHAT I WANT [By Patti LaBelle]
SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME [By Kim Wilde]
EL CHASE [By The Rod Temperton Beatwagon Feat. Larry Williams]
NEVER TOO LATE TO START [By The Rod Temperton Beatwagon Feat. Tommy Funderburk]
SWEET FREEDOM (Written by Rod Temperton) [Performed by Michael Mcdonald]
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘RUNNING SCARED’ arrives on Blu-ray from KINO LORBER in an encoded 1080p high definition transfer from in the film's original aspect ratio of 2.35.1. Some scenes do look softer than others, and that does appear to be a stylistic choice, but colour reproduction is strong and while skin tones look lifelike and accurate. Detail and texture both quite strong and black levels are good. Shadow detail is also pretty strong here. The picture quality here is top notch.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience is a good representation of the film’s original matrixed Dolby Stereo theatrical track. Dialogue is directed mostly to the centre channel, with some occasional left and right panning, remaining clear and distinguishable throughout, and surrounds are used mostly for ambience. Low-end is a bit light, but still packs a pretty good wallop for a film from the mid-1980s.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Director Peter Hyams: Peter Hyams is very upfront that this is one of his favourite films, and that he normally never watches any of his films after he has turned the film over to the studio. So, to have him record an audio commentary is very rare. The director discusses casting the film, how he got involved and this was the first film to get the greenlight from Alan Ladd, who ran the studio after it was sold back to Kirk Kerkorian by Ted Turner, we hear why the film was relocated to Chicago, and his experience shooting in Chicago at a certain time in the year. Peter Hyams also discusses some of the ad-libbed and improvised scenes in the film from Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal. So all in all, this was a very joy able audio commentary and one not to be missed.
Special Feature: On Location with ‘RUNNING SCARED’ [1986] [480i] [1.37:1] [6:38] This special feature documentary, was originally shown on the HBO channel in America and other media outlets when the film was released in the cinemas. The most interesting line is Gregory Hyams description of directing comedy as creating the atmosphere for a series of controlled accidents.
Special Feature: Billy Crystal Outtakes [1986] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:35] This is a misnamed feature from the 2001 DVD release that is nothing more than home movies of Billy Crystal hanging out in his trailer. With all of the ad-libbing and improvisational work on the film, I had expected that back in 2001 this would of been more for a blooper reel. Sadly the quality is really bad and I cannot see why this was included in this special feature.
Special Feature: Selected Electronic Press Kit Scenes [1986] [480i] [1.37:1] [6:10] Selected scenes were sent to TV station outlets in America for use in their review of the film. I found this a really weird section and I cannot understand why it was included, as I felt the whole thing was a totally pointless exercise.
Theatrical Trailer [1986] [1080p] [2:35.1] [1.28] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘RUNNING SCARED’ and this film’s theatrical trailer and is in the anamorphic widescreen format.
Finally, ‘RUNNING SCARED’ benefits from great direction and a fun script but what really makes this one of the best buddy cop movies of the eighties are the performances and remarkable on-screen chemistry shared by Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines. They really make this one a memorable film and KINO LORBER has done right by the image quality with this Blu-ray disc offering, that is in excellent condition and with some decent special features, and is highlighted by Peter Hyams interesting audio commentary track. After the success of ‘RUNNING SCARED’ and its soundtrack CD album, efforts were made to reunite Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines for a sequel, but none of the proposed scripts were deemed good enough by either actor, which is such a shame. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
