A power ballad with more heart and soul and complete strength of all sorts is yet to be created. Phil Collins took music to a whole new level in one of his
most inspired moments of all time while taking an hiatus from Genesis and focusing on his solo career. But the odd thing about "Against All Odds" is the inclusion
on a same titled movie made by Taylor Hackford. A bland and forgettable movie that didn't need such song, it could be used in another movie, something less darker.
The use in the movie gave Collins an Oscar nomination even though the song was already a hit by then; and that's just my opinion but when of its use in "Forces of Nature" - not performed by Collins though - I felt a connection, a purpose for such inclusion of a heartbreak song, a lover's desperate crave to get the attention of the one he loves. Anyway, the clip now.
The most interesting bits of the movie "Against All Odds" starring Jeff Bridges, James Woods and Rachel Ward are presented while Phil Collins stays in front of a blue and red watery background perfectly singing the song. Later on, he's standing at the center of a triangle, which mirrors the film's theme of a tragic love triangle formed by the mentioned actors. With such video, director Taylor Hackford quietly succeeds in selling his own film. I like the visuals, the style but what gets me the most is the song/music quality which goes beyond than just being a classic. There's true passion there; not so much in the movie. But I liked the Hackford/Collins partnership, which granted one more work in "White Nights" with the song "Separate Lives", with the singer making a beautiful duet with Marilyn Martin. 10/10
P. S.: 2024 offered me a rewatch of the film and I'm twisting my vote on it. It's a great film and the song use at the end credits was brilliantly done. Won't change this review, but I leave this retraction.
The use in the movie gave Collins an Oscar nomination even though the song was already a hit by then; and that's just my opinion but when of its use in "Forces of Nature" - not performed by Collins though - I felt a connection, a purpose for such inclusion of a heartbreak song, a lover's desperate crave to get the attention of the one he loves. Anyway, the clip now.
The most interesting bits of the movie "Against All Odds" starring Jeff Bridges, James Woods and Rachel Ward are presented while Phil Collins stays in front of a blue and red watery background perfectly singing the song. Later on, he's standing at the center of a triangle, which mirrors the film's theme of a tragic love triangle formed by the mentioned actors. With such video, director Taylor Hackford quietly succeeds in selling his own film. I like the visuals, the style but what gets me the most is the song/music quality which goes beyond than just being a classic. There's true passion there; not so much in the movie. But I liked the Hackford/Collins partnership, which granted one more work in "White Nights" with the song "Separate Lives", with the singer making a beautiful duet with Marilyn Martin. 10/10
P. S.: 2024 offered me a rewatch of the film and I'm twisting my vote on it. It's a great film and the song use at the end credits was brilliantly done. Won't change this review, but I leave this retraction.
