So my weird, out of the blue Patriot Games viewing the other week of course led me to The Fugitive, Harrison Ford's biggest non-Indy/Han Solo hit movie. I haven't seen this in probably a decade, but I remembered it as being one of the stand-out action movies of the 90's. Not a thrill-a-minute kind of thing or balls-to-the-wall, just a really solid entertaining ride.
The key ingredient here is Ford himself. His Richard Kimble is a guy you root for, and your investment in his quest to find his wife's killer and clear his name is the lynch pin of the movie. This film is a real testament to Ford's mega-wattage star power. If Kimble were instead played by Richard Gere, or Mel Gibson, or Kevin Costner, The Fugitive just wouldn't be the same. Ford plays all the sides of Kimble perfectly, the desperate, frazzled fugitive on the run, and the intellectual problem-solver, a man who believably stays one step ahead of the law and his enemies. Once again, I was reminded that Ford is not just a movie star, but an effective actor in roles that play to his strengths as a completely likable guy. However, I have my doubts that he could pull off something against his natural grain, like say a vicious pimp with a greasy ponytail, gold teeth and a lisp in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Although, I'd fucking love to see him try.
Anyway, The Fugitive is good and you know you like it already so nuff said.
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