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Harrison Ford is THE FUGITIVE

post #1 of 48
6/14/04 at 9:02am
Thread Starter 
Picked the SE of this up cheap, having not seen it for ages, and it's still an amazingly good movie. Probably Harrison's last really good performance I guess, and obviously Tommy Lee Jones is the goods. Just amazed at how much it holds up, a really well crafted and tense thriller.
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post #2 of 48
6/14/04 at 10:19am
A good example of what more Hollywood action films should be.
Solid, commited performances. An engaging plot. Pitch perfect direction.
A mere ten years ago this was considered popcorn entertainment. By today's standards of summer fare, it would be considered high drama.
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post #3 of 48
6/14/04 at 10:32am
i've got only love for this movie. ford is just as rubbery as he always is, but the film is beautifully paced and it keeps the tension pretty high just about the entire time. it also strangely manages to not comment on the concept of capital punishment, even though kimble clearly is innocent. but neither he nor anyone else during the whole movie stops to think of the implication of sending a guiltless man to the chair - the death sentence is simply something that is used to enhance the intensity... it looms over kimble's head so you just know he'd better run his ass off.

on a side note: doesn't julianne moore look lovely in the couple of scenes she's in?

and jones looks like he really enjoyed himself making this movie. he just has an endless stream of great lines, plus he gets to do some "action" scenes as well, so what's not to like?
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post #4 of 48
6/14/04 at 10:49am
Quote:
Originally posted by BobClark
A mere ten years ago this was considered popcorn entertainment. By today's standards of summer fare, it would be considered high drama.
I remember what a big deal they made about the train crash sequence and what a technical achievment it was... pretty sure nowadays big budget movies crash a train just to signal for lunch.
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post #5 of 48
6/14/04 at 10:54am
Exactly.
And that train crash is still a big deal because the movie puts story ahead of effects. The action scenes were there to serve the plot, not vice versa.
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post #6 of 48
6/14/04 at 10:58am
'Mister do you wanna get shot?'

A great thriller, some really inventive chase sequences, it's fun watching Kimble elude Tommy Lee Jones and the gang. It was great when Ford was being chased in that building, he got his foot caught in the entrance doors and TLJ fired off two shots but the glass was bulletproof, the look on TLJ's face was priceless, like 'you've gotta be fucking kidding me'.

Joey Pants ruled in this, his constant dialogue with TLJ was brilliant.
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post #7 of 48
6/14/04 at 11:02am
there's a place for joey pants in every movie that gets made, IMO.
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post #8 of 48
6/14/04 at 4:31pm
Such a brilliant piece of work. I agree with all comments here especially Julianne Moore wow. Andrew Davis made Under Siege then this and then went on to direct Chain Reaction? Sad.
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post #9 of 48
6/14/04 at 6:35pm
Andrew Davis had a great track record going, and this was one of his big foundation peices. Love this flick, it's gritty, intelligent and dramatic. And it's got Sela Ward in it. Mmmmm, Sela Ward. Harrison actually looks like he cares while making this film, a quality that sadly seems to have fallen away over the years. Shame he didn't get a nomination.

Well I am trying to solve a puzzle, and I just found a big peice.
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post #10 of 48
6/14/04 at 8:03pm
I agree, this is Ford's last great movie and performance.

His ability to pick quality projects seems to be eluding him as the years go own.


This and Trek are the two best examples of how to adapt television series to the big screen.


I miss this Ford, where he at?
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post #11 of 48
6/14/04 at 9:36pm
where he at is anyone's guess, but if you didnt catch him on Jon Stewart promoting Hollywood Homicide, you should . He was hilarious.
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post #12 of 48
6/14/04 at 11:18pm
Yes, the Fugitive was a terrific film. However, I'd say Clear and Present Danger was the last Harrison Ford film worth caring about. It really sucks for me to say that since he was a part of what led me to become a film geek.
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post #13 of 48
6/14/04 at 11:59pm
Great movie with a great lead performance. Ford plays areally smart guy really well. Most of the time that kind of role doesn't come off or it comes off as contrived. Ford was a really intelligent guy who could adapt to any situation.

The thing I didn't like about this movie, or its sequel, was Jones' pack of marshals. They struck me as the decidedly-unendearing type of smartasses.
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post #14 of 48
6/15/04 at 12:41am
That's what made them so loveable.

'Hinky, what the hell is hinky'

You gotta love the pack of marshalls trying to get out of the underground tunnel. The fight between Ford and Krabbe was great, they really kicked the shit out of each other.
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post #15 of 48
6/15/04 at 1:59pm
Love this movie!

I remember seeing it in the theater with my late father.

Harrison Ford hasn't been good since this film, IMO. Just a supremely well-made action thriller that has held up incredibly well over the years.

My favorite two scenes are the more intense ones:

The first is the police interrogation of the distraught Kimble where he finally yells, "YOU FIND THIS MAN! YOU FIND THIS MAN! HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!"

The other is the scene where TLJ and his U.S. Marshall team raid that lady's house where Copeland, the big black guy that escaped from the prison bus with is hiding. He takes Agent Newman hostage and is screaming "I GOT YOUR MAN! I GOT YOUR MAN!" when TLJ comes from behind and shoots him. Then as they leave, the woman is screaming profusely and TLJ turns to her and says "Shut Up."
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post #16 of 48
6/15/04 at 7:26pm
Ford is/was such a charismatic fellow. I hate to think of him in films like Hollywood Homicide.

I really enjoyed The Fugitive. A lot of fun moments and fine acting in what would otherwise have been another popcorn thriller.
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post #17 of 48
6/17/04 at 10:01pm
"Newman, what are you doin?"
"I'm thinkin."
"Well, while you're doin that, think me up a cup of coffee and one of those donuts with the little sprinkles on top."

Jones and Ford are flawless in this. While I think Fiennes should've won for Schindler's List, Jones every bit more than earned that Oscar.

I was watching this the other day, and was greatly saddened that you don't even have to reach back ten years to ponder why they don't make'em like they used to.
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post #18 of 48
6/23/04 at 2:29am

That reminds me of an interesting point...

I love this film too, echoing everything you guys have already said: good performances, good story, good pacing. Very entertaining.

British film critic Barry Norman (now retired) made an interesting point: Wouldn't it have been even better if Ford and Jones reversed roles? We know Harrison Ford didn't kill his wife because...he's Harrison Ford! Jones is more ambiguos. Also (and Norman didn't make this point) it would have been a fun variation on Ford's blade runner role.
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post #19 of 48
6/23/04 at 2:35am
Wow that would have been interesting indeed chon.
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post #20 of 48
6/23/04 at 2:59am
This is easily one of the best films of the 1990's. The story was just pitch-perfect. When one has both a good story and likeable characters, it really doesn't matter how subtle or over-the-top an action scene is because the audience will care what happens to the characters.
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post #21 of 48
6/23/04 at 5:21pm
Always been one of my all time favorites. And I even liked the sequel, rehash that it was.
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post #22 of 48
9/21/10 at 5:01pm
This was a favourite of mine when I was kid, one of the first times that I really had a concept that EVERYONE had seen the movie. It's still a great piece of filmmaking and even though I find Tommy Lee-Jones crew of Marshalls to be a little too proto-NCIS there's such great chemistry between them that it doesn't matter.

It's probably Ford's last great role as well (and I'm a guy who kind of liked Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).

If you were thinking of picking up the Blu-Ray, don't bother. Doesn't look or sound particularly great and there's a dearth of special features.
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post #23 of 48
9/22/10 at 3:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Vogel View Post
And I even liked the sequel, rehash that it was.
Not a great movie on the whole, IMO (like you say, it's a total rehash) but I'd say Jones gives an equally good performance in both.
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post #24 of 48
9/22/10 at 7:09am
I caught a bit of this on a flight and realized how effective James Newton Howard's score is. Either that, I watched this movie a lot more than I thought when I was younger and the score really takes me back. I could easily hum along with it from memory.

Also, Jane Lynch as Kimble's helpful doctor buddy!
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post #25 of 48
9/22/10 at 9:15am
The best bits from that score (my favorite cue: the one after the line "Smarter.") aren't on the CD, though, which has always pissed me off.

Still a solid, well constructed little flick though. And completely agreed its the last time Harrison Ford was in an all around GREAT role.
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post #26 of 48
9/22/10 at 9:18am
Also. Julianne Moore has third billing in the film, possibly fourth. She's definitely in the opening credits because when I watched it I was like 'huh? I don't remember her being in this'. Then she's in the film for two minutes for no discernable reason.
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post #27 of 48
9/22/10 at 9:38am
I vaguely remember hearing her role was once way bigger at one point. As in, she was supposed to be a love interest in one cut of the film.
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post #28 of 48
9/22/10 at 9:42am
Supposedly Moore originally had a bigger role but most of it got cut out. If the imdb trivia is accurate is sounds like they were winging it for a lot of the production, in which case it's one of those rare occasions when that approach turns out just fine.
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post #29 of 48
9/22/10 at 1:45pm
Kinda like what I've read about the production of The Bourne Ultimatum. Maybe there's something about smart men on the run that goes well with that approach.
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post #30 of 48
9/22/10 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
Kinda like what I've read about the production of The Bourne Ultimatum. Maybe there's something about smart men on the run that goes well with that approach.
Weren't basically all three BOURNE movies like this?
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post #31 of 48
9/22/10 at 1:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post
The best bits from that score (my favorite cue: the one after the line "Smarter.") aren't on the CD, though, which has always pissed me off.
It's probably on La La's limited edition.
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post #32 of 48
9/22/10 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul C View Post
Supposedly Moore originally had a bigger role but most of it got cut out. If the imdb trivia is accurate is sounds like they were winging it for a lot of the production, in which case it's one of those rare occasions when that approach turns out just fine.
Davis and Jones discuss this at some length in the audio commentary track (during the hospital sequences) -- makes me want to see that whole deleted subplot. Too bad there aren't any cut scenes included on the DVD. Cockteasers.

And Jane Lynch -- this was probably the first thing I ever remember seeing her in, but fortunately not the last.
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post #33 of 48
9/22/10 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
Weren't basically all three BOURNE movies like this?
Hahahaha, yeah probably.
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post #34 of 48
9/22/10 at 2:28pm
You can also add Neil Flynn from Scrubs and The Middle to the "Hey, isn't that..." pile. He appears briefly in the movie as a cop. I think he pops up after Ford's fight with the one arm man on the L train.
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post #35 of 48
9/22/10 at 2:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPL View Post
You can also add Neil Flynn from Scrubs and The Middle to the "Hey, isn't that..." pile. He appears briefly in the movie as a cop. I think he pops up after Ford's fight with the one arm man on the L train.
Also the f-bomb dropping dock worker in MAJOR LEAGUE.
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post #36 of 48
9/22/10 at 3:28pm
the thing I always loved about the train crash is that it starts the film, everything before it is over the titles, the murder, the interrogation, the trial, the sentence, all titles. Then BAM, TRAIN CRASH, FILM STARTS!

the other thing that seems weird is the way that the script was a fucking mess and was being constantly being written and re-written during shooting, yet there's some great dialogue and performances. i'm always catching this on AMC and although joey pants is great , a quick shout for Jeroen Krabbe's star turn.
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post #37 of 48
9/22/10 at 3:34pm
I was just looking through the IMDB cast list for the film.

Why is Sarah Polley listed as having an uncredited turn as an ER doctor? Was there some Doogie Howser subplot that was cut out!?
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post #38 of 48
9/22/10 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
a quick shout for Jeroen Krabbe's star turn.
This typecasting to me was the biggest misstep. He's great in doing his thing, but that's the problem. It's obvious from the moment his name appears in the credits that you know he's doing his thing.
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post #39 of 48
9/22/10 at 4:24pm
Though, that's probably an important aspect of the film's success. It was well made for sure, but for most audiences, it presented to them everything 'as it should be.' The hero is the hero. The villain is the villain. And the TLJ is TLJ.
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post #40 of 48
9/22/10 at 4:47pm
If you watch it without knowing who Jeroen Krabbe is or his filmography, his performance works completely. The film doesn't tip its hat that he's the villain until the story wants you to know; I just thought he was covering for Kimble until the third act.
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post #41 of 48
9/22/10 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
Kinda like what I've read about the production of The Bourne Ultimatum. Maybe there's something about smart men on the run that goes well with that approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
Weren't basically all three BOURNE movies like this?
There's a moment on the BTS of Green Zone where Damon & Greengrass are looking over the script while on set, and Damon starts laughing and says something to the effect of "This might be the first time you & I have ever checked to see what it says in the script..."
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post #42 of 48
9/22/10 at 5:25pm
That's hilarious. They should've taken a photo together where they're holding up the script with puzzled looks on their faces.
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post #43 of 48
9/22/10 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post
If you watch it without knowing who Jeroen Krabbe is or his filmography, his performance works completely.
Well sure but then it wouldn't be typecasting. The film serves the character well; I just think the twist loses oomph when it's telegraphed by who's playing the character.
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post #44 of 48
9/22/10 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
I was just looking through the IMDB cast list for the film.

Why is Sarah Polley listed as having an uncredited turn as an ER doctor? Was there some Doogie Howser subplot that was cut out!?
Probably from the same deleted scenes that dealt with the Tommy Lee/Julianne romance-subplot. Both took place in the hospital, and it's likely something that got lifted at the eleventh hour, yet Sarah Polley still got credited for the role.

Which is interesting, when you consider the sequel, U.S. Marshals -- Gerard is apparently married to his boss in that flick, which completely contradicts that cut subplot from the first movie. Though nobody would've even been beholden to it as "canon," for obvious reasons.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post
If you watch it without knowing who Jeroen Krabbe is or his filmography, his performance works completely. The film doesn't tip its hat that he's the villain until the story wants you to know; I just thought he was covering for Kimble until the third act.
Same here. Saw this in the theater the summer right before my senior year started, and this was one of the very few times I never caught onto the "real" bad guy until it was too late.

Would love someday to see the original footage that the late, great Richard Jordan shot as Dr. Charles Nichols, right before he got too sick to work any further on the movie (the role was recast with Krabbe).
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post #45 of 48
9/23/10 at 12:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leto II View Post
Which is interesting, when you consider the sequel, U.S. Marshals -- Gerard is apparently married to his boss in that flick, which completely contradicts that cut subplot from the first movie. Though nobody would've even been beholden to it as "canon," for obvious reasons
Pretty sure he brought a hot spanish lady to the reception/event he was attending before he heads off on the flight. His boss says something like "she's half your age..." I think. Can't say for 100%, as it's been a long time since I've seen it, though.
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post #46 of 48
9/23/10 at 6:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPL View Post
You can also add Neil Flynn from Scrubs and The Middle to the "Hey, isn't that..." pile. He appears briefly in the movie as a cop. I think he pops up after Ford's fight with the one arm man on the L train.
Scrubs used his bit part as an excellent subplot in one of the early seasons.

As to the movie, nothing I can add except how much I love it.
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post #47 of 48
9/23/10 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WayDen View Post
Pretty sure he brought a hot spanish lady to the reception/event he was attending before he heads off on the flight. His boss says something like "she's half your age..." I think. Can't say for 100%, as it's been a long time since I've seen it, though.
Yeah, same here -- they could've been divorced by then, instead of married. One of his Marshals makes a comment about their marriage at some point, which is about the only thing I remember about it.

Might have to give it a rewatch the next time TBS runs it 25 times in one weekend.
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post #48 of 48
9/26/10 at 12:58am
One of my favorites growing up, and I think it largely stands up today. Some revisionist cineasts accuse Ford of being bland in the role, but IMHO (and someone on CHUD made this point previously in another thread), he perfectly sells Kimble's quiet dignity and moral outrage at having been accused. "You find that man!"

Great flick, it's a shame we rarely see FUGITIVE caliber thrillers these days

Also great? The scene where Ford takes the time to read the medical chart.

EDIT: Have to say though that I believe AFO to be Ford's last great role and legitimately 'good' film. With that said, I don't remember WHAT LIES BENEATH and I only saw it once. It might be better than I'm giving it credit for
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