Verdict
Summary
With super stylish and noir-ish camerawork by Barry Sonnenfeld, the movie has a stark and unique style all its own. Kino Lorber brings Throw Momma From the Train to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in a two-disc combo pack, and the movie has never looked or sounded more crisp or clear. The transfer is from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative (approved by Devito), and special features include a new on-camera interview with Sonnenfeld, a new audio commentary by a film historian, three featurettes, deleted scenes, and the trailer.
Plot:
A writing teacher and one of his pupils miscommunicate about swapping murders, leading to complications.
Review:
Owen (Danny DeVito) is a childish middle-aged man living with his abusive, overbearing mother (Anne Ramsey), and his one solace in life is attending a writing class at a community college. The teacher of the course is a failed writer named Larry (Billy Crystal) whose ex-wife (Kate Mulgrew) “stole” his only completed novel, which she turned into a global bestseller, as well as turning him into an eternally embittered man who can’t get over the fact that she ruined his life. When Owen misinterprets Larry’s feelings towards his ex-wife and Larry’s advice to go see some Hitchcock movies to become acquainted with murder mystery plot devices to help him with his writing, Owen goes to Hawaii to literally kill Larry’s famous ex so that they can “swap” murders, with Larry’s end of the bargain being that he must later kill Owen’s mom. When it appears that Owen upholds his side of the bargain Larry never made, Larry goes into hiding when he becomes a suspect for the sudden disappearance of his ex, which captures the media’s undivided attention. Scrambling to provide an alibi and do whatever he can to steer clear of Owen and his demand that he kill his mom, Larry realizes he’s totally sunk unless fate shines on him.
An endearing and sweet dark comedy that still feels fresh with its universal themes, the very original Throw Momma From the Train (how’s that for a title?) has indelible characters, particularly DeVito’s, who emerges as a very ingrained and relatable childlike man, whose entire identity is connected to his difficult mother. DeVito also directed the film, which is remarkable considering his sensitive performance in the film, and with super stylish and noir-ish camerawork by Barry Sonnenfeld, the movie has a stark and unique style all its own. I’ve loved this movie since I first saw it close to 40 years ago, and it still works.
Kino Lorber brings Throw Momma From the Train to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in a two-disc combo pack, and the movie has never looked or sounded more crisp or clear. The transfer is from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative (approved by Devito), and special features include a new on-camera interview with Sonnenfeld, a new audio commentary by a film historian, three featurettes, deleted scenes, and the trailer. Side note: When I recorded this movie from network television in the early ’90s, the deleted scenes – plus more deleted scenes that aren’t included here – were edited back into the film. I’ve never understood why official home video releases took those scenes out of the film because they make the film feel meatier.
