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Narrow Margin (1990)

Rate: 4
Viewed: 10/08

NarrowM
10/08: Having seen Alfred Hitchcock's The Narrow Margin, why should I be surprised by anything that happens in the remake?

Not only that, but they also try to differentiate it by dropping the initial article "the" from the title. Brilliant, guys...I'm absolutely awed by your sheer genius.

Peter Hyams, who's the director, first got the idea of doing the movie by seeing the original on television. Brilliant stuff again. Maybe I should do the same thing and pass myself off as a shameless rip-off artist. For the most part, the basic structure is intact with some noticeable differences. But one thing remains constant: the plot is dumb as ever.

For the bad guys, why not derail the train? On the opposite side, why not jump out of the train during a scheduled stop? If they must stay inside the train, then why not hide in the compartment the whole time? One particular scene when the second bad guy, who killed Mr. Tarlow, was looking out through the window as Anne Archer's character climbed to the top of the train, why not the deputy district attorney push him out of the window?

If there's anything impressive, it's the stunt work by Gene Hackman and Anne Archer atop the train. However, their acting performances are passable. When Dr. Doogie Howser's father was on the roof and shot at the two lead characters, I couldn't believe he missed them so badly.

All in all, Narrow Margin is a below-average remake.