On May 8, 2022, the world lost one of the most underrated actors of his time, Fred Ward. He was loved and admired by so many people and turned in stellar performances in films like Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), The Right Stuff (1983), Short Cuts (1993), and Tremors (1990). He will be remembered for how versatile an actor he was during his forty-plus year career in the business. Also, in 1990, Ward would star alongside Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh in the highly entertaining comedy/crime thriller Miami Blues. This is a film some may have forgotten about, but the MVD Rewind Collection is here to remind the masses with a solid disc worth nabbing.
Frederick J. Frenger Jr. (Alec Baldwin) has just been released from prison and doesn’t waste any time getting back into trouble when he kills a Hare Krishna by breaking his fingers. He quickly finds himself drawn to Susie Waggoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a slightly dim-witted call girl, and they almost immediately begin shacking up together. Sgt. Hoke Moseley (Fred Ward) is investigating the death of the Hare Krishna, which soon leads him to Junior (Fredrick prefers to be called “Junior”). This leads to a confrontation, and Junior ends up making away with Moseley’s gun and badge. Even though he wants to steer clear from crime now that he’s out, he is still drawn back in. Moseley isn’t the type to back down, so he continues his pursuit until he can stop Junior once and for all.
It’s really a shame George Armitage didn’t continue to make more films. His track record is pretty stellar with movies like Grosse Point Blank (1997), The Big Bounce (2004), and the cult classic Private Duty Nurses (1971). The Big Bounce was based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, while Miami Blues was based on a book by Charles Willeford. Both authors have similar styles, with Armitage identifying with their material in a way he can successfully transport it to screen without losing the author’s original vision while still being able to inject his own thoughts, ideas, and humor.
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Miami Blues isn’t talked about nearly enough, and I’m incredibly happy to have gone back and given this one another chance. The film revolves around Ward, Leigh, and Baldwin, who just sink into their characters and run away with them. It’s funny without telling jokes, it’s violent when it needs to be, and suspenseful at all the right times.
While not overloaded with special features, the disc does, of course, have the groovy MVD Rewind Collection slip, features interviews with Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh, the original theatrical trailer, plus the original Orion Home Video trailer, a photo gallery, and topped off with a mini-poster featuring reversible artwork.
A solid selection from MVD and is available now.
