Hailing from the 90s when splurging action reigned king, “The Fugitive” is directed by Andrew Davis, whose resume includes other gems of the era like “Above the Law” and “Under Siege.” Davis spares no expense in his use of effects, both practical and special, the result being an amazingly filmed and edited picture that isn’t marred by the cruel empty promises of CGI. The end product is a visual feast filled with memorable scenes, vehicle and foot chases, flame filled explosions, and extreme tension as Gerard hunts Kimble throughout the beautiful and vast city of Chicago.
Harrison Ford goes from the extreme likes of Han Solo and Indiana Jones to a seamless transition as he slips into the shoes of Richard Kimble, a loving husband and thoughtful and caring doctor who loses everything in the blink of an eye at the start of the film, but never loses wit and hope. As Kimble works to remain free of a police force that wants to ice him for good, he begins piecing together the bigger mystery that landed him in his appalling situation in the first place.
While Ford is the true definition of a movie star, Tommy Lee Jones is an actor, and one of the best of our generation. Jones has such a commanding presence on screen I can’t envision anyone else in the role of US Marshal Samuel Gerard. Jones is a perfect antagonist albeit not an actual villain in that he’s cunning and skilled, and cold in his single objective – to bring in fugitives. His emotionless demeanor is displayed in one memorable encounter when Dr. Kimble confesses that he didn’t kill his wife to which Gerard responds frankly “I don’t care.” Each actor crafts a thoroughly memorable character with their portrayal, characters we love and will never forget.
“The Fugitive” includes an excellent supporting cast that add tremendous value to the story. Great character actors like Joe Pantoliano, Daniel Roebuck and Tom Wood make up Gerard’s team. The beautiful Julianne Moore makes a brief appearance as a doctor and while only in two scenes, Eddie Bo Smith makes his presence felt. The city of Chicago itself is a large part of the story, with its skyscrapers, hospitals, green-dyed river, and St. Patrick’s Day parade represented.
At 230 minutes it would achieve absolute perfection had 7-9 minutes been snipped but that’s a superficial complaint at best. “The Fugitive” is a staple in my personal favorites. As we meander into summer, watch it for the first time, or watch it again for an amazing and exciting experience.
