Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 7, 1993 TAG: 9308070069
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This film adaptation takes the premise of the TV series and molds it into a satisfying and original chase adventure. The casting of the leads couldn't be better, and the people working behind the cameras are old hands at this kind of escapism. What could have been a standard genre picture is instead a well-crafted thriller.
By now, everyone must be familiar with the situation. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is a respected physician who comes home one night to find that his wife (Sela Ward) has been murdered by a mysterious "one-armed man" (Andreas Katsulas). No one believes Kimble's story. He's convicted and sentenced to die, but on the way to prison, he escapes in an accident. Enter U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) who will not rest until he has captured his man.
That, essentially, was the point where the TV show began. From it, the series became a cross-country, episodic odyssey that would have been impractical for a feature-length film. In its place, writers Jeb Stuart and David Twohy have come up with a conventional mystery plot with clues, suspects and red herrings. They've also added a refreshing measure of dry humor and realistic details.
Director Andrew Davis lives up to the promise he has shown with "The Package," "Code of Silence" and "Under Siege." He knows how to balance character against action. The tension isn't undercut by needless exposition of personalities and motivations, and the plot doesn't degenerate into frantic, pointless chases.
That's not to say that the film doesn't have big visual scenes. An extended bus-train wreck contains some spectacular special effects (all obtained through full-size equipment, no miniatures). Long sequences in a network of sewers, on a high dam, and through several floors of the Palmer House Hotel are just as effective. And, as he's done in his other films, Davis makes fine use of Chicago locations. He grew up in the city and makes it an important part of the story.
As the good doctor on the lam, Harrison Ford brings out the same sense of gritty determination that makes him so effective in this kind of role. He's every bit as good here as he was in "Witness," so don't be surprised if he gets another Academy Award nomination. Tommy Lee Jones comes close to stealing the film from him. Gerard has all the best lines, and Jones makes the most of them. A Supporting Actor nomination is almost a cinch.
The film also has one other curious thing working for it. Much of the popularity of the series came from the open-ended nature of each episode, and that carries over to the big screen. Even near the finish, when the various plot details are being tidied up, audiences are going to wonder. Will this one have a conventional "happy ending" or will it be something different?
This review isn't about to give anything away, and don't let your friends do it, either. Yes, the theaters are filled with top-drawer escapism this summer, so if you've fallen behind on your moviegoing, put "The Fugitive" near the top of your list.
The Fugitive: *** A Warner Bros. release playing at the Tanglewood Mall and Salem Valley 8. 132 min. Rated PG- 13 for violence, strong language.
by CNB