Harrison Ford Is Still Going Strong, but Does The Fugitive Hold Up After Twenty Years?
Posted 11.02.12 by Mandy
The Harrison Ford action thriller The Fugitive was a huge success in 1993 and was the third highest-grossing movie of the year, making nearly $184 million at the domestic box office. Though it was a runaway success in the early nineties, can this on-the-run action flick hold up nearly 20 years after it's original release?
The Verdict: Yes, The Fugitive holds up.
Between Harrison Ford’s amazing beard, Tommy Lee Jones’ Oscar-winning performance as the Inspector-Javert-like Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard, and the surprise of seeing Julianne Moore and Jane Lynch in small roles, it’s hard to go wrong with The Fugitive.
What helps to make this one a great re-watchable option is all the intricately moving parts. Anyone that has seen the movie will probably remember the scene on the dam, the “warehouse, farmhouse, hen house, outhouse and dog house” speech, and the St. Patrick’s Day parade. But chances are that if it’s been more than six or seven years since you've last seen the movie, you've probably forgotten how one scene leads to another and and how all those little scenes keep the two-hours worth of chase scenes going. Additionally, there are a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-them clues, so knowing the ending can actually make those moments better, rather than spoiling the movie. This one definitely merits a second watch, especially for anyone who hasn’t seen it recently.
Here at Reelz we’ve developed a formula to determine the Longevity Index for a movie and it (pseudo-) scientifically finds whether or not a movie will hold up after several years. Here's how the '90s Harrison Ford actioner fared.
P = 9 The plot of this one has a lot going on. A good man falsely accused of murder, a train crash, mistaken identity, hiding in plain sight while searching for the bad guy — this one deserves a P score of 9.
S= 7 The dialogue and characters in the movie are serviceable, and the scenes are all effective, so the script gets a score of 7.
D= 6 There are a few things here and there that show the movie’s age. From a few costume items that look dated to a to a score that smacks of the ‘90s, maybe this one isn't the freshest item on the shelf. It scores a 6 for having a dated feel.
T= 2 The role that Big Pharma plays in the movie is a topic that must’ve seemed white-hot twenty years ago, but it’s a little tired now. The Fugitive gets a 2 for topicality.
U= 85 There are some things that all people can understand and identify with. The terror of being falsely accused, the need to find the guilty party, and the fury at being double-crossed are all things that are universally easy to relate to. It gets a U score of 85 out of 100.
The Fugitive's LI = 170
This score puts it in the "Solid Movie" category, which means that it definitely merits a re-watching. One good opportunity to watch it is this Saturday, November 3rd on Reelz. It airs at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT as well as at 12am ET and 9pm PT. ReelzChannel is Dish 299, DirecTV 238, and available on your cable system. See for yourself if this one holds up.
Photo and trailer courtesy of Warner Bros.