DVD Film Review:
The Fugitive: with music by Jame NEWTON HOWARD
Starring Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pantoliano, Jeroen Krabbe, Sela Ward, Andreas Katsulas, Julianne Moore
Directed by Andrew Davis Screenplay by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy Produced by Arnold Kopelson
Based on the hit 60s TV show starring David Janssen, this 1993 update has Harrison Ford taking over the role of Dr. Richard Kimble, a prison escapee wrongly convicted of the murder of his wife, now intent on finding the mysterious one-armed man who is the real culprit. Hot on his heels though is US Marshall Sam Girard (Tommy Lee Jones in an Oscar winning performance).
This DVD presentation features the usual extras like behind the scenes ‘making of’ shorts and a commentary from director Andrew Davis and co-star Tommy Lee Jones. The film itself is a sturdy, fairly entertaining thriller with two very solid performances from its stars. Harrison Ford in particular brings a good deal of sympathetic force to his character, but while the first half of the movie rattles along at a steady pace and retains your attention, the finale is a little underwhelming as the story becomes rather convoluted and drawn out. Helping things a good deal is a robust score from James Newton Howard (his work on the director’s earlier The Package (1989) is even better) and the music adds a fair amount of suspense and atmosphere to the proceedings, particularly during several tense set pieces.
While not a great film, certainly a popular one and worth a couple of hours of your time.
Mark Hockley
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