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A Perfect World
A kidnapped boy strikes up a friendship with his captor: an escaped convict on the run from the law, headed by an honorable U.S. Marshal.
Release : | 1993 |
Rating : | 7.5 |
Studio : | Malpaso Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Production Design, |
Cast : | Kevin Costner Clint Eastwood Laura Dern T.J. Lowther Bradley Whitford |
Genre : | Drama Crime |
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Fresh and Exciting
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
This was a really exceptional story with wonderful acting. When I could tell that it was nearing some kind of ending, I was sorry. It was like a love story, in the long run. Costner played an especially damaged man who didn't want that to happen to another child. It wasn't always sad though. Like Phillip, I had plenty of fun too! Great directing by Eastwood.
There are certain movies that leave you thinking about it. Many times. Scenes keep crossing your mind. This is one of those! The story begins and ends with the same shot. If the beginning makes you curious the ending leaves you heartbroken. And Irony. When the little boy, Phillip, has the best chance of running away, he decides to accompany Costner because he stole a Halloween costume. He finds those pleasures of life in the company of his kidnapper which in his mother's he never did. Costner himself, when rebuking young Cleve's father for assaulting the child, makes an enemy out of himself. His repugnance for child-beaters stands in stark contrast with his own methods. The duality hits you in the face. Something, Buzz is unable to withstand. Like all Eastwood movies this too is a slow paced drama. The director effectively communicates that not all criminals are born, some are created. There can be niches for love and affection in them too. Certain circumstances can make those reservoirs flow. Time and again, Clint Eastwood keeps coming up with a gem of a story. Don't go by the rating. This one is not to be missed.
This is one of those films that sneaks in though the script should have perhaps stuck with the characters and action without bringing in some details the way it does to justify the script. I was surprised that there was no real true story to base this on, as I thought being a period film there might be.Kevin Costner is the story here. As a bad guy who escapes prison and kidnaps a little boy to try and flee to Canada, he is outstanding. Eastwood while making this film look great, is in front of the camera a lot less here, but is still effective. Laura Dern is excellent in a limited role. There is a lot to be said for filming the story in Texas, where it takes place. Because of that, I was surprised when I looked it up and realized there is no fact-based drama as Eastwood uses the filming locations very well. It is obvious that he is a very capable director and brings this one well to the screen. Eastwood directs Costner very well. I am not sure that they should have teamed up in films more often.
Butch (Kevin Costner) escapes from prison, takes a little boy named Phillip hostage, and leads the police (headed by Clint Eastwood) on a 2-day chase through rural Texas. The boy forms a close bond with his kidnapper who turns out to be a compassionate, though flawed, man.This is a very good movie with some humor and a lot of suspense. Butch and Phillip's scenes are pure gold, extremely well-written and believable. Kevin Costner gives an excellent, subtle, and sympathetic performance. Seven-year old T. J. Lowther is perfect as the boy who sees the getaway as a fun and grown-up adventure; he's endearing without being too-sweet. The movie alternates between Butch and Phillip and their pursuers, and while Eastwood is good as the steely Texas Ranger, Laura Dern is just annoying in a thankless role as a scowling criminologist. I would have given the movie 10 stars if all of the scenes without Butch and Phillip were deleted; they are wonderful together and the rest of the cast is just there to pad the movie.Directed by Eastwood, the film is ultimately a sad one but Costner and Lowther are outstanding.