The Fugitive

[baumer]

Discuss

[CoolioD1]

Funny, I watched this last week for like the third time in the last couple months.This is an awesome film. I spent most of it confused about whether or not I should be rooting for Ford to clear his name or for Jones to catch him. That's a good thing since they're both such great, likeable characters

[The Toymaker]

Ever since the first time I watched The Fugitive I have always rooted for Harrison Ford to win. I do like Tommy Lee Jones, but there's just something about his cock-sure attitude as Sam that I don't find too appealing. He's much better in the sequel where I am rooting for him 100%.

Great, great film.

I hope Ford stars in The Expendables 3 and gives us more of his funny running, funny grimace, ordinary man action.

[A Marvel Fanboy]

B+

[baumer]

Arnold and Sly are great action heroes. Their characters are always larger than life. Rambo and Rocky are household names and The Terminator and films like Commando are great partly because of Arnold's physical presence. But as good as they are, I don't think they can hold a candle to Harrison Ford. Sure he is in great shape, but have you ever seen an actor take average guys and make them so real that you want to know them? Take your pick, Han Solo, Indy and even his character in Six Days and Seven Nights was an adventurer. Add Richard Kimble to that list. As Kimble, Ford is perfect. He is the wronged man that has to avenge his wife's death and clear his name at the same time. He is so great in this film and I'm sure that's why so many people went to see this film at first. But I think what kept them coming back was Tommy Lee Jones. We'll get to him in a minute.

Andrew Davis proved here that he is one of the best action directors in the business today. Along with Under Siege, he showed us that he is an efficient artist that knows how to keep the action flowing. He never seems to let up with his relentless pursuit of the perfect scene. But since the film did so well and everyone pretty much knows what it is about, let's talk about the true strength of the film, and that would be Tommy Lee Jones.

" I don't bargain." " Well that's odd!"

His portrayal of Samuel Girard is an exercise in how to make the audience relate and understand a character. He starts off as a manic perfectionist. He is obsessed with capturing Kimble and that is all that matters. But as the film proceeds, you can sense his unease, his wonder and his ethos. You can tell by a simple expression that he is beginning to solve a crime and not just chase a criminal. And the turning point to me was his simple scene where he says " You know Devlin and McGregor made 4 and one half billion dollars last year? That company's a monster. " It is all in his face. He knows that Ford is innocent but he still has a job to do. It is Jones that makes this film so much fun. And I didn't think that there would be a more worthy recipient of best supporting actor in '93 than Kilmer in Tombstone, but Jones' work here was well deserving of his Oscar.

The Fugitive belongs on every top 100 list and if the AFI wasn't so enthralled with older movies, they would see that films like this are more worthy than some of the mediocrity that graces their findings. This is an incredible film.

10/10

[75Live]

This is how you adapt a good tv show into a movie. Maybe some studios should take note.

Don't have to much more to add from what people and most recently, baumer have already wrote.

Everyone was good in this, but yes, Tommy Lee Jones steals the movie.

"I didn't kill my wife"...."I don't care" Always loved that retort

A

[tommycruise]

Definitely one of Fords best, great story, great action and great acting.A

[jb007]

One of the best movies ever. Great story, supplemented with fantastic performances by Ford and Jones.

A+

Edited October 6, 2012 by jb007

[BK007]

This is what a summer blockbuster should be.It may not have your incredibly flashy effects of today, but when I saw it for the first time a year and a half ago, it was still thrilling, engaging and crowd-pleasing. The story, the characters and the performance make it work and stand the test of time.

[baumer]

I listened to the commentary last night and if you never have, I highly recommend it.  Andrew Davis gives us so much insight to how the film was made.  TLJ improvised so much of his character, he really deserved the win for best supporting actor.  Fantastic film and the commentary is just as good.

[Crusader]

Pretty great watched it like 10 + times and its always entertaining

[Omario]

Love this movie. Great acting and excellent story. The movie that made me appreciate TLJ

 

A

[Impact]

Thought I reviewed this-well I have not seen this film in over 15 years but I do remember loving it.

[DAR]

One of Ford's best films. And a reminder that Hollywood blockbusters can rely on brains every now and then. A

[The Futurist]

The good old times when a blockbuster was constructed and manufactured to sell its star...

[John Marston]

this movie is terrific and thrilling for the most part, however IMO it runs out of gas in the end and becomes rather anti climactic. Wish it had a better twist. Still a good 8/10

[Lordmandeep]

I like the film does not have a silly twist like he was actually the murderer.

 

 

The film is one I watched as a kid and I really enjoyed and it may not have flashy effects but it is a rather grand story.

 

Easily the best film in its sub genre by far.

 

A - 

[John Marston]

also another kind of problem I had is Jeroen Krabbe is somewhat miscast. Just one look at him and you know he is the bad guy. Hell the fact he had a foreign accent gives that away. 

[Avatree]

Anyone who doesn't like this movie should not be trusted in life.

[baumer]

Anyone who doesn't like this movie should not be trusted in life.

 

Thank goodness you like this one.