The Fugitive (1993)

Plot Outline: A surgeon is wrongly accused and convicted of murdering his wife, and sentenced to death as a result. However he manages to escape from a prison transport bus during a crash and then embarks on a mission to find the true killer. All of the time, a US Marshal is hot on his trail and will not quit until he has caught him.

The Review: This is one of the best action/thriller films ever made. Practically everything clicks together perfectly. The film is directed superbly. No scene is wasted and each one keeps the film moving forward and developing the characters and story. The performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones are exceptional. They both steal the screen with their presence whilst they are on it separately and then when they are on the same screen, they share some electric chemistry. The roles were tailor-made for them. And they don't waste a single moment of air time. Ford is just a great all round character actor and it helps that he is not some buffed-up action star like Steven Segal. This makes his character's predicament all the more realistic. He has a knack for playing the "everyman" roles that similar actors find it tough going. He's totally believable playing a man thrust into a situation he's not comfortable with. The script helps both men too and the dialogue doesn't seem forced at all. They are saying these things for reasons, not just to fill time before the next chase scene. Not only is the acting top notch, but the suspense is great and the stunts are excellent. There are some classic scenes in this film such as the bus/train crash. The tension here is amazing, although you know that Ford isn't going to die so quickly into the film. Ford's leap from the top of the dam is also infamous and has been spoofed many times since. It's a great scene but it is part of a greater film. If there is one problem it's that I always found the idea of a one-armed killer a little silly.

Final Verdict: This is one of the best action/thriller of the 90s and it certainly had some competition going up against the likes of In the Line of Fire which was very good in its own right. The Fugitive remains as good today as it has always been. And that's a credit to the two lead roles who made it the success it was.

Rating: