I started thinking about actors and actresses who have failed to make one of my “Throwback Thursday” reviews.
One of the actors I came up with was Harrison Ford. I have never reviewed a “Star Wars” or “Indiana Jones” film. With that in mind, I went digging for a Ford film over the weekend. I discovered “The Fugitive,” a 1993 film starring Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The film is based on an older television show that had a big cult following.
“The Fugitive” is a great cat-and-mouse thriller. Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, a well-respected Chicago surgeon who walks in on a one-armed intruder who has murdered Kimble’s wife — or so he says. When the police arrive at the murder scene, Kimble is in shock and covered in his wife’s blood. All of the evidence points to the fact that Kimble is guilty. Without a murder weapon and no surveillance footage, Kimble is tried for his wife’s murder. He is quickly convicted and sentenced to death.
However, on a bus trip to a different prison, one of the prisoners stabs a corrections officer, setting off a wild chain of events. During the melee and subsequent bus crash, Kimble escapes. That’s when Deputy U.S. Marshall Samuel Gerard (Jones) enters the picture. As the hunt for Kimble begins, Gerard makes it his personal mission to track him down.
Kimble is obsessed with finding his wife’s killer, so instead of heading for the hills, he returns to Chicago to try and piece together what exactly happened to his beloved wife, Helen (Sela Ward).
This is where things really get interesting. Kimble is wanted by the Chicago PD and FBI. As he does research to learn more about his wife’s killer, he must figure out how to hide in plain sight. He has a couple of close calls along the way, which makes for some tense moments in the film.
The fact that the film is set in 1993 helps it along. There are car and cell phones, but they are unreliable and bulky. It’s easy to fake an ID and every place takes cash, which Kimble has. “The Fugitive” could never be made today. Can you imagine someone going on the run with their debit card and iPhone? They’d be caught immediately and the movie would be over in 30 minutes.
Jones is fantastic as Gerard. He doesn’t believe that Kimble is innocent and gets frustrated as he escapes time and time again. For his efforts, Jones, now 75, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film was nominated for 13 statuettes.
Ford delivers as well. We totally buy him as a Chicago elite who finds himself in an orange jumpsuit, shackles on his hands and feet. Because we think of Ford as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, we sometimes forget what a fantastic actor he is. “The Fugitive” gives him a chance to really show off his dramatic chops.
In addition to the superb performances, the effects and stunts are done well. When you watch, keep in mind that it was 1993 and computer-generated effects weren’t really a thing.
If you are in the mood for a taut thriller, give “The Fugitive” a chance. It’s well worth the two-plus hours of your time.
“The Fugitive” is rated PG-13 for violence and language. It is available on Max. You are able to stream “The Fugitive” by renting or purchasing on Amazon Instant Video, Google Play and Vudu.
