Plot: Doctor Richard Kimble is framed for
murdering his wife and must find the one-armed man to clear his name.
Review: A remake of the 60s TV show, The Fugitive casts Harrison Ford as the
main protagonist Richard Kimble. On his trail is a team of US Marshalls headed
by Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones). At this time in the 90s you could say that
Harrison Ford was at the peak of his star power. This movie also revitalized
Tommy Lee Jones’s career. When it was released it was a big deal but
unfortunately I was too young to appreciate it so it was time to revisit it
with adult eyes.
The
plot about a man trying to prove his innocence is of course one we have seen
before. The take on the familiar plot in this movie is well done. It’s not too
over the top, although you could say that the bus crash as well as the water
fall jump are exaggerated, but they do give the movie iconic moments that are
still remembered to this day. In the current era where everything is done with
CGI, these actions scenes hold much more impact because they are done with
practical effects and it keeps the sense of realism and maintains the viewer’s
involvement. The sense of being on the run is constant throughout, it feels
like the police are always a second away from catching Kimble.
Harrison
Ford does well in his role but he doesn’t blow the roof off the place. In the
beginning scenes he does well as a man both grieving for his wife and trying to
defend himself. As the movie goes though he becomes action movie Harrison Ford,
which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The true star though is Tommy Lee Jones.
His constantly cranky and sarcastic US Marshall is entertaining throughout. The
man is on a mission to catch Kimble and will not stop until he gets him. In the
years that follow this movie he often would play very similar characters, even
reprising the role itself in the 1997 sequel US Marshalls. Don’t let the cast list fool you about Julianne
Moore. She is listed second or third in the actors list, but she is barely in
it and only has a minor role. It appears like they were trying to bank on her
name despite the limited role.
The
movie is good but it never reaches that upper stratosphere. It very much is a
movie of it’s time. The pacing is good, never too slow nor too fast. It just
never reaches that boiling point where the stakes are really high and you are
on the edge of your seat. It’s a safe, relaxing time which is a good watch.
Score: 7/10
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