The Fugitive (1993)

Did he do it?

This film at first was enjoyable, but then became disturbing when I
thought about it some more. For example, there is a scene told as
a flash-back, where Kimble reaches up and embraces his wife's neck
with one hand, one arm. It does not look like a natural move to
make during sex play, especially since he is not on top.

Also, he is wearing yellow and not prison-orange. If you have ever
been accused of being mentally ill and arrested by police officers,
they call you "sunshine" which is the nickname the cops give Kimble.
Also, in mental hospitals they give you a yellow uniform to wear.

Later, the one-armed man, who lives in shabby surroundings, like
Kimble (as a janitor) talks about handling security matters for
various CEOs. Perhaps this movie is really about the fractured
psyche of a "crazy person". It would certainly explain his encounter
with the "evil doctor" at the end of the film, who talks to the
audience as if he is saying, "Excuse me, while I help a patient of
mine, who has missed his dosage".

Finally, there is this "christian - baptist" theme: He says to him,
'Richard, do you want to get shot'? The wages of sin is death. And
so Kimble takes a leap, but is it a leap of faith? Maybe he did not
kill his wife, but he has sinned, has he not? Later, when the U.S.
MARSHALL takes aim and fires at a helpless, and UNARMED Kimble, the
bullets are stopped by clear glass. Does he have "saving faith"? But
the expression on his face is one of doubt.

Later, he handcuffs the one-armed man, but the police receive a report
of an 'officer down'. What is going on in the mind of doctor (patient,
janitor) Kimble? Is the one-armed man, and Dr. Richard Kimble, and the
janitor really the same man?

Also, the cop who is looking for Kimble at the hospital, seems to miss
the stethescope, the cup of coffee, or Kimble motioning to his face,
but manages to catch the fact that Kimble needs to zip up his pants.
That cop was strange.

This was a really weird movie. But entertaining, suspensful, etc.
Kimble came across like a frightened boy running from the evil world
of adult males. He has few, or no friends, and has no Network of
Friends, no support group. He is very much on his own, unlike females
on a university campus, or school playground. Where are his peers?
Perhaps they can be found in the audience who watch this movie? December 21, 2008

A Return

- The Fugitive -

Once in a lifetime, when I was a kid of 10 years, I would find a program on TV that the whole family - 3 generations - could enjoy. Well, Amazon has brought back the joy of reliving the past with The Fugitive (the original with David Janssen). I invited my 90-year-old mom to my room to view it with me. There was Richard Kimball in all his hyper-vigilant glory, ducking into alleys and hiding out in bus terminals, constantly running from "the law," police detective Gerard. I'm told the series is based on the great French nover, Le Miserables, by Victor Hugo. I read it and sure enough, The Fugitive brings out the essence of predator vs prey.
A real return-to-the-past - the good old days! I recommend it for all fans and invite good thriller audiences to take the adventure. It's well worth it!
December 12, 2008

Well paced and characterized

This is a great movie with action, drama and mystery as Richard Kimbal (Ford) escapes from legal custody and must figure out not only who has stolen his life, but why.

The action and direction are very well done here, but the real achievement is the characterization. The people inhabiting this world feel real and identifiable. We understand the reasoning behind their actions, "good" or "bad". If that were not the case (as in the sequel, "U.S. Marshals") we couldn't care what happened.

Ford is perfect. He is appropriately intense and sympathetic.
Jones is excellent. Appropriately acerbic, sarcastic and caring.
Jones' team of marshals is perfect. The characters are distinct and fleshed out. No unnecessary redundancies in characterization.

One satisfying twist on the "chase movie" cliche is that the antagonist, Gerard, is not actually the bad guy. He's after an escaped convict, but he's not the one who murdered Kimball's wife or framed him for the murder. More than anything, he wants justice. Even if it means he may have to change his mind about what that entails.

Great movie. A must have for any complete library. November 20, 2008

The Fugitive

The Fugitive---Harrison Ford-Tommy Lee Jones
Two multi-talented actors in the same movie-Great! One of the best remakes of any film or series I've ever seen. I list this as one of my top 10 movies. The street scenes as well as location scenes are well filmed. The story follows a simple line, without the viewer wondering what is happening! Superb movie, I gave it 4 stars, because I've never seen a 5 star film. October 13, 2008

Silence on the lam

So, Harrison Ford dyes his hair a darker shade of brown, and this is his disguise? The Fugitive is overrated, but it's still a great movie with great moments: like, any time Tommy Lee Jones is on screen. Ford and Jones are both super, and luckily the film concentrates on their relationship. But the plot? Hm, a one-armed man did it, and there's one one-armed man in the film. Huh. Pity the one-armed man isn't the greatest actor out there, either, but at least they don't give him too many lines. Jeroen Crabbe doesn't add anything interesting to his thinly written role. On the plus side, Joe Pantoliano is great, I love the train wreck, the narrow escape from the downtown detention center and the ensuing coverage of the St. Patrick's day parade. The extras are fun to watch and interesting. But the movie missed it's chance for a couple of great lines: "Richard Kimble, what's he look like?" "He looks like Harrison Ford." "No he doesn't, Cosmo..." August 12, 2008

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