Brandon at Random Reviews

April 14, 2020

QUARANTINE REWATCH REVIEW

THE FUGITIVE (1993)
Last Viewing – Probably like 1998
Stars: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones
Rating: PG-13

There’s something to be said for a movie that you hadn’t seen for the first time until it had been out like 5 years, but you had seen memorable scenes in it parodied numerous times in other movies and shows already. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching a classic for the first time and had that “So THAT’S where that’s from!” moment hit me. We’ve all seen some iteration of the chase and subsequent standoff in the storm sewer/dam this movie made famous. For some reason the visual just sticks in your mind, coupled with the titular fugitive Harrison Ford pleading his innocence and Tommy Lee Jones callously responding “I don’t care!”

Although the scene is just one of the reasons this movie is great, I do often feel like me writing a review about a near 30 year old movie leaves me in Ford’s shoes, and my average Facebook friend sharing the same sentiment as Jones when they see this post. But, whatever, I’m bored.

“The Fugitive” may be based on an old TV show of the same name, I’m not sure if it started this trend in the 90s of movies from old shows that seemed to happen a lot, but I could see why someone would watch this flick and yearn to emulate it or try and figure out what made it a hit. If only it were that easy. This movie packs a wallop, and it knows just how to do it.

Ford is the perfect fit for the lead role. The doctoring, the desperation, the intelligent and well thought out plans to evade authorities and get to the bottom of the events that have taken everything away from him are all sold by Harrison Ford in a way few could pull off. Tommy Lee Jones portrays the dead serious U.S. Marshal in a very uhh…Tommy Lee Jonesish way. I don’t know, I mean he’s the same as he is in “No Country for Old Men” and “Men in Black” but probably a little more excited and intense, but it’s awesome. He did win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor so I feel like that’s kinda significant.

The plot and the pacing of this movie are remarkable. To say there’s never a dull moment would be an understatement. Not only is there something happening persistently on screen to keep your attention, but it has an amazing way of building suspense. There is so much ground work laid in the name of building anticipation and excitement in every scene. You watch from the perspective of Kimble (Ford) and Gerard (Jones) in alternating sequences as the cat and mouse game continues and Kimble also does his detective work to try to prove his innocence. I just fucking love it so damn much guys.

I personally have never seen the TV series from the 60s this movie was based on, and I probably never will since I think I liked the Reader’s Digest version of this plot. My concern with a plot like this in a TV show is maybe it would become exasperating. I’d think to myself “okay, this fucker would have to get caught eventually” and get bored. I realize a lot of shows probably exist with similar plot lines that are great and that maybe I should give more TV shows a chance, but I’m also more of a movie guy so LAY OFF ALRIGHT I’VE GOT A LOT OF TV RECOMMENDATIONS ON MY PLATE OKAY? Sorry, it’s been a bit of a rough patch. The whole year actually.

So anyway, really liked this movie after 20+ years and I can’t recommend it enough and if you’re not a fan when you watch go sit through your fucking artsy “2001: A Space Odyssey” boring bullshit parading around as storytelling.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️