Review of The Fugitive (1993) by Deanomite — 31 Dec 2019

Rewatching this classic, it's good to try to discern what makes it so good. Casting was perfect, the music is very strong, all performances flawless. A real narrative thread, every shot is relevant. At 2 hours there is no fat on this movie, but advancing character development in perfect balance with plot.

Every character faces a moral dilemma of whether to protect Kimble or not, some protect him out of self interest, some out of morality, those that report or pursue him do so out of duty balanced with moral interest.

In modern Machiavellian times, I cannot imagine characters with such luxurious morals being viewed as anything but idiots. I think the difference is that people in the movie feel confident they won't be prosecuted for helping Kimble, that they live in a society which would not persecute them for their morals.

That is a wonderful fiction I would love to live in. The roots of corruption are present, in a corrupt pharmaceutical industry, but an overall moral society, how wonderful. I recently read about the guy who inspired the Fugitive: his name is Sam Sheppard and his story was nuts, mom committed suicide same week dad died of cancer, same week he was sentenced, he did 15 years, volunteered to be injected with cancer in jail, got out, they gave his medical license back he killed two women in surgery, became a pro wrestler married a nazi drank himself to death, all by age 45 !!!!! They determined who killed his wife, some window washer guy.

he deserves a movie.