03. THE FUGITIVE (1993)
One of the greatest action/thriller films to come out of the 1990s;
The Fugitive follows the story of Dr. Richard Kimble (
Harrison Ford) who is convicted of the murder of his wife through a series of misconstrued evidence. Sentenced to death, Kimble manages to escape after the bus transporting him to prison is involved in an accident. What ensues is a cat and mouse chase through the Illinois wilderness between Kimble and U.S. Marshall Samuel Gerard (
Tommy Lee Jones). Whilst avoiding Gerard, Kimble must identify his wifes real murderer in order to clear his name. Complete with some truly iconic scenes, The Fugitive is effective on all levels. The photography of the scenery is aesthetically pleasing and interestingly imitates the loneliness Kimble feels being on the run. The harsh wilderness is equally Kimbles friend and foe: whilst it is an aid in escaping the clutches of Gerards relentless pursuit, it also makes it that much harder for him to discover the truth and clear his name. With a definite Hitchcockian feel throughout, the film is highly engaging and immensely suspenseful. Whilst there are many fantastic moments of action, much like Hitchcocks productions, it is the taut atmosphere that maintains a fast pace throughout the film.