Rating: 
Summary: Truely a classic cops and robbers film...
Review: Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw click perfectly together as Doc and Mrs. McCoy. Their romance on screen seems very real (as indeed it *was* real off screen). So does their excitement while escaping from the hoods and cops alike all across Texas (a state very nicely shown in it's early seventies best with on-location scenes from Huntsville to El Paso).Peckinpah's trademark slick cinematography and Quincy Jone's memorable soundtrack work powerfully together. This film does not have the blood and gore of "The Wild Bunch" but the dialogue, pace, pauses and action make it truely exciting. It is a classic in it's own right. It's not only a great action flick but a great romance one as well. I can see it many times over and *always* enjoy it!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Movie
Review: Entertaining. Not Boring
Rating: 
Summary: Classic book transformed into Hollywood dreck!
Review: A Sam Peckinpah movie based on one Jim Thompson's best books starring Steve McQueen would seem like a surefire winner, a classic. Unfortunately the result was an abomination. The film was hijacked by McQueen who controlled the final cut and watered down a screenplay already watered down from the book. The film was disavowed by both Thompson and Peckinpah and various other involved in its making. The director upon seeing the final cut peed on the screen and shouted, "This is not my film!" Thompson could have (and did) complained, "This is not my story!" One of the great noir classics with a highly original and ironic ending was transformed into an all too typical Hollywood product with an all too typical ending. A book who's tone was dark and dismal was transformed into a cutesy love story/chase film. The end of the movie had nothing to do with the end in the book which is largely the point of the whole story (I'd like to go on here but can't without giving away the end) Steve McQueen who mucked things up off camera even disappoints on camera. He puts on a weak performance as does Ali MacGraw (perhaps they were distracted by there spudding love affair) Other than that Sally Struthers (who I usually don't like) put on an excellent performance the best thing I can say about this flick is that it was not as bad as the remake! Don't waste your time and money on this, read the book. If your really in the mood for a movie see something by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers or something else by Peckinpah (especially The Wild Bunch) or (if you want to see a movie adaptation of a Thompson book) The Grifters.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't do the book justice!
Review: A Sam Peckinpah movie based on one Jim Thompson's best books starring Steve McQueen would seem like a surefire winner, a classic. Unfortunately the result was an abomination. The film was hijacked by McQueen who controlled the final cut and watered down a screenplay already watered down from the book. The film was disavowed by both Thompson and Peckinpah and various other involved in its making. The director upon seeing the final cut peed on the screen and shouted, "This is not my film!" Thompson could have (and did) complained, "This is not my story!" One of the great noir classics with a highly original and ironic ending was transformed into an all too typical Hollywood product with an all too typical ending. A book who's tone was dark and dismal was transformed into a cutesy love story/chase film. The end of the movie had nothing to do with the end in the book which is largely the point of the whole story (I'd like to go on here but can't without violating the no spoiler rule) Steve McQueen who mucked things up off camera even disappoints on camera. He puts on a weak performance as does Ali MacGraw (perhaps they were distracted by there spudding love affair) Other than that Sally Struthers (who I usually don't like) put on an excellent performance the best thing I can say about this flick is that it was not as bad as the remake! Don't waste your time and money on this, read the book. If your really in the mood for a movie see something by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers or something else by Peckinpah (especially The Wild Bunch) or (if you want to see a movie adaptation of a Thompson book) The Grifters.
Rating:
Summary: One of the all-time great Caper-Flicks!
Review: Based on the novel by Jim Thompson, THE GETAWAY is a must-see for fans of Peckinpah, as well as those who love a good caper-flick. Doc McCoy (McQueen) is a master thief cooling his heels in prison. His wife (McGraw) springs him by sleeping with the warden, but that's only half the price. McCoy must also pull a bank robbery at the warden's request, and his partners are a moron (Bo Hopkins) and a psycho (Al Letteri). Of course, it's a set-up, and McCoy is not intended to come out alive. Letteri, the warden, and maybe even Doc's own wife are in on the plan to murder Doc and split the money. McCoy and wife take off for the Mexican border, with Letteri hot in pursuit. This is classic Peckinpah. In fact, Peckinpah is the only director I've ever seen who does FULL justice to the gritty, savage novels of Jim Thompson (THE GRIFTERS, KILLER INSIDE ME, and THIS WORLD, THEN FIREWORKS are a few other Thompson adaptations). Walter Hill's script (Hill also wrote and directed the 1996 remake) is a masterpiece! Not a lot of features on the DVD (I'd've LOVED a commentary by Walter Hill on this one!), but the format really brings the beautiful cinematography to life in a way lesser formats can't. A GREAT film! This is one of McQueen's grittiest, toughest roles, and he's the PERFECT McCoy. Cool and deadly as a cobra, yet with genuine emotions and doubts. You'll want to buy a 1911 Model .45 after you see this movie!
Rating:
Summary: A personal favorite cult movie!
Review: In this special genre - the thriller - there are so many films you forget in two or three months . But there are such unforgettable works that literally become part of your memories. This powerful and kinetic movie will invlove you from the first images.
This particular phenomena can be explained thanks to the fortunately combination of talent and charisma. The mysterious and enigmatic face of Steve Mc Queen , the singular beauty of Ali Mc Graw who became in a super star after Love Story and the dazzling direction of that invaluable film maker: the master of the violence `s aesthetic : Sam Peckinpah, who decided to defy once more the ancestral codes of the noir film and inspired by Gun Crazy and Bonnie and Clyde made a clever twist , with interesting ingredients : British irony, stylized shot angles, and frenetic narrative rhythm . The violence in Peckinpah is just an invisible actor . He is never vulgar and knows to deal with this element. As a master director never exceeds the role of the violence, giving it its own character and specific weight.
Acquire this film and realize the slender difference that makes the great difference.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive action film
Review: This film has it all, and I cannot understand those who say it hasn't aged well. It's a great bank robbery film. It's a great prison film. It's a great chase film. It's a great love story. It fires on all cylinders. The depth and complexity of the story and the performances are peerless. It's a sprawling tale over several days, with many important and complex characters, all of whom you feel you know with some depth. Even the small roles are standouts, including Ben Johnson as the crooked sherriff, and Dub Taylor in what should have been a throwaway piece playing a hotel clerk. The only weak spot for me over the years is Ali McGraw who, although beautiful and believable, seems to be playing it so minimalist that she becomes nearly transparent. But that's a small nit to pick - her by-play with McQueen is spot on. When I saw it for the first time the first thought that came into my mind was "these kids really look and act MARRIED..." which is a tough bit of business to play. Their violent love for one another is the undercurrent here, their desire to simply be left alone, to make it in life, to get away from their problems.
The artistry is in the details, in the small brush strokes - the way McQueen holds and uses his .45 automatic are perfect. He is definitely more than just another actor handed a pistol and said "Here, hold this..." Slim Pickens has a tiny gem of a role at the end and in a few brief sentences we learn volumes about his sweet, sad life, and cheer his good fortune for running into our heroes. The Sherriff's flunky sidekicks provide some honest humor, all big cowboy hats and beer guts crammed into a Cadillac convertible.
McQueen was such an artist, and this is a real masterpiece of his almost haiku way of acting. He's the master of the small gesture, the subtle glance, the deadpan line that just turns you cold inside. What a shame he left us so soon. The Getaway stands as a real testament to his genius.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Getaway" hasn't aged well...
Review: Being a big fan of both Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw, I recently got the DVD of "The Getaway." I was largely disappointed in the film -- it looks and feels very dated. Visually, I suppose it was meant to seem innovative at the time, but it looks like a lot of the bad movie-making of the early '70s now. And the soundtrack by Quincy Jones is remarkably amateurish-sounding.
My biggest complaint, however, is with the pacing of the film. The action sequences are top-notch, but when it slows down, it gets REALLY slow. It shifts gears this way several times, going from edge-of-your-seat excitement to falling-asleep boredom.
This film had potential that it failed to live up to, and although the actors in it are superb, they are not directed well. Check out "The Thomas Crown Affair" or "The Great Escape" for far better McQueen.
Rating: 
Summary: "Punch it, baby!"
Review: What makes this movie work is the great chemistry between Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. Both are solid here, as is the direction from Sam Peckinpah. The best scenes here are the action sequences. The car chases are well-staged and edited sharply to maintain intensity, and the shoot-outs are classic Peckinpah, with slow-motion cuts edited with real-time gun-play and the blood splatters everywhere. Yes! My favorite Peckinpah film is still "The Wild Bunch," where his style of filmmaking affected all action films that followed. In "The Getaway," for the most part, the story and plotting are good, except for a few scenes I just can't get around. One is at the bank robbery when one of the robbers disarms the security guard and leaves the gun a couple of feet away from him laying on the floor. You should be able to guess what happens there. The second is why did Harold exit the movie like he did. I won't give away the scene, but it made no sense other than to rid the plot of a superfluous character. The third and final head-shaker is when the two lead characters are being sought by the police. They stop at a drive-in for burgers and coffee even after they hear on the radio a description of their vehicle, and that the police are on the lookout for it. The last criticism is that this film screams 1970s. From the mutton-chops to the gritty texture of the movie there is little doubt as to what decade this came from. However, the two lead actors carry the movie with excellent performances, and Sam Peckinpah's work here is among his best. His style of filmmaking may have been emulated and improved upon over the course of the ensuing decades, but his original vision started the revolution.
Rating:
Summary: Very good realistic action flik
Review: The Getaway is a good action movie that pairs Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah for the first time. Bank robber Doc McCoy is released from prison with the help of a crooked politician with one catch. He must rob a bank and split what he takes with him. The bank heist goes wrong when one of McCoy's partners shoots a bank guard. Soon after, McCoy learns that his wife slept with the politician to get him out early from prison. From here on in it is a mad dash for Mexico with all the stolen money while the politician's henchmen and the police are in hot pursuit as well as another one of McCoy's partners. This is a very realistic movie that shows it like it is. The short introduction in prison, the bank heist, the chase through Texas, and the final shootout in a seedy hotel all have a very gritty feel to them that adds the sense of realism in the film. Also, the showdown in the hotel is very well put together. What a surprise, Sam Peckinpah doing a good action scene. Steve McQueen stars as bank robber Doc McCoy and is very good. Like many of his movies, he doesn't have to act much, he just has to be cool, and he doesn't disappoint here. Ali McGraw plays Doc's wife Carol. Many people think she is a bad actress, but I don't think she is that bad in this role. Ben Johnson stars as the crooked politician with alterior motives, and is his usual good self. The Getaway also stars Al Lettieri as McCoy's partner in hot pursuit, Bo Hopkins, Sally Struthers, Peckinpah regular Dub Taylor, and in a small but very good role as a down on his luck cowboy, Slim Pickens. The DVD offers widescreen and fullscreen presentation, a theatrical trailer, behind the scenes info, and Reel Recommendations. The Getaway is a very good movie with an excellent cast and good storyline. It is too bad McQueen and Peckinpah did not work together more often since The Getaway and Junior Bonner were such good films. Fans of McQueen will enjoy this gritty action movie. Go check out The Getaway!
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