Danny DeVito’s directorial debut is a clever riff on Hitchcock. Billy Crystal and DeVito star in Throw Momma from the Train, new to 4K UHD from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Danny DeVito was (and still is) a hell of a director. Throw Momma from the Train remains one of the deft and keenly self-aware comedies ever made. The film works as both a comedic film that lampoons not just the tropes of Hitchcock but the obsessive weird and toxicity of writers, but it works as the same sort of thriller it’s satirizing.
Writer and junior college professor Larry (Billy Crystal) has a massive case of writer’s block. It’s with good reason, as his ex-wife (Kate Mulgrew) has stolen his book as her own to become a national bestseller. Unable to let go, Larry needles on the past event and at any point shouts out slurs about his ex-wife’s infidelity in class, in the cafeteria, basically anywhere. One of Larry’s students, Owen (DeVito), has problems of his own. Mainly is Mother (Anne Ramsey) who habitually abuses him both physically and verbally.
After stalking Larry outside of school, Owen takes the writerly advice by Larry to actual real-world advice. Owen decides that Larry’s ex-wife has to go, and he’s the guy to do it. With the deed done, Owen goes to Larry to force his professor into his side of a one-sided bargain: kill Momma. A task that proves to be harder than both Owen and Larry ever thought, as “she’s not a woman… she’s the terminator”.
If the plot seems familiar, it’s because DeVito and screenwriter Stu Silver take their inspiration from Hitchcock’s masterful Strangers on a Train. DeVito goes as far as to have Owen watch a rep screening (shoutout to LA Rep theater The Vista!) of Hitchcock’s film, being the main inspiration for “crisscross… you do my murder, and I’ll do yours”. It is never a one-to-one adaptation, but rather a very adroit comedic riff on the plot.
Crystal and DeVito are fantastic as Larry and Owen, the lonely writers who turn into accomplices and friends (???). The duo makes great foils to one another, with Crystal often going over the top to counterpoint DeVito’s much more subdued characterization. Yes, Larry’s use of the word “slut” multiple times towards his wife will not fly now, but the film never condones it. In fact, they manage to toe the line of amoral behavior quite cannily through the all too brief sub-90-minute runtime.
Though the film never reaches the deliriously funny heights it does without the work of Anne Ramsey as Momma/Mrs. Lift. Most know the actress as Ma Fratelli in The Goonies; she is a comedic force here. Making both a terrifying and sympathetic (often at the same time) overbearing mother in the Hitchcock mold to Owen’s would-be murderer. Most of the biggest laughs are because of Ramsey and the genius work of cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld (who literally went from Raising Arizona to this within a few months of each other), though never at her expense. The actress would be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award for her self-aware, brilliant work.
Throw Momma from the Train is a wicked comedy and the beginning of DeVito’s career as a director that would go on to greater heights with War of the Roses, Hoffa, and Mathilda. All visually stunning films with wickedly barbarous comedic streaks in them (what other filmmaker would open his Hoffa biopic with the ending). But none more a darkly funny as Throw Momma from the Train.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative, approved by Danny DeVito, is a flawless presentation of the wunderkind cinematography by Barry Sonnenfeld. This new master allows Sonnenfeld’s deep focus, wide-angle lens photographic homage to Hitchcock to shine with a clarity and depth that hasn’t been seen since it ran theatrically. The Dolby Vision Encoding and 4K UHD bring a level of fine detail that only adds to the cinematic feel of the transfer. Kino has spent the time and care to ensure that the film comes to 4K UHD properly. The disc is one of the rarest of treats, a visually astute comedy.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni
- Wide Angle Dark Humor: NEW Interview with Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld
- Crafting a Dark Comedy: Featurette | Why Do You Hate Your Mother?: Featurette
- The Night Was…: Featurette
- 4 Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Hats Off Entertainment’s Joe Ramoni begins with his credentials and his love of the Orion logo and Cineaste’s love of the studio output. Some of the details include how Orion produced films with its filmmakers; how Danny DeVito became attached to the film as both star and director; the how and why cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld was hired; the sale and development of the screenplay by Stu Silver; the various health issues that plagued Anne Ramsay during the production; the collaboration between Sonnenfeld and DeVito and how they accomplished the visual astute work; the various locations the production used; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more.
Wide Angle Dark Humor (23:31) – is an all-new interview with Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld opening with how he came about cinematography. The cinematographer goes onto discuss got into NYU film school and how he thought he would get work after graduation; how working in documentary gave him a love for wide angle lenses that eventually translated into shooting everything including comedies (which wasn’t the fashion at the time) with those lenses; meeting Danny DeVito and a funny story about their first interaction; how he works with directors and how he worked with DeVito on preproduction which was the best thing for them; his relationship with the production designer and how he solved more trickier issues on set with her; his hate of Steadicam and where it comes from; his favorite line in the film and how DeVito took it out and him begging the director to put it back in; shooting on the actual train and the problem it caused; working with Anne Ramsey and the magic of her performance; and much more.
Crafting a Dark Comedy: Featurette (17:11) – is an archival featurette looking at the making of the film that covers the origins (from a Hitchcockian satire); the casting of the film, how DeVito became attached as director and the casting of Momma and how they ended up with Anne Ramsey; the production; the advertising and release of the film; the academy award nominations; and more. Featuring interviews with screenwriter Stu Silver and producer Larry Brezner.
Why Do You Hate Your Mother?: Featurette (9:36) – is an archival featurette looking into the psychology of the love/hate/obsession that drives the film by a group of psychologists.
The Night Was…: Featurette (3:56) – is an archival featurette and rather unique way of looking at the opening line for a novel that befuddles Larry (Billy Crystal) throughout the film.
4 Deleted Scenes (2:06) – four very quick scenes all of which are tied to payoffs to other things in the film.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Throw Momma from the Train (1:27); Running Scared (1:30); Man on the Moon (2:35); Fletch (1:35); Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (2:01);
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has provided collector’s with another winning 4K UHD upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!!