RogueSpear
06-12-2002, 02:23 PM
A Perfect World
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Laura Dern, & T.J. Lowther
After viewing this movie I have only one question? What happened to Kevin Costner? Never before has he engrossed me as he did in A Perfect World. I was pulled in by his character the minute the movie started. Anyway...
Kevin Costner stars as Butch Haynes, an escaped convict who, along with a fellow escapee, takes a young boy name Phillip (Lowther) hostage. Hot on their trail is Red Garnett (Eastwood), a Texas Rangers was has crossed paths with Haynes before. Along for the ride is newly appointed criminologist Sally Gerber (Dern) and various other lawmen including an F.B.I. agent who believes that Haynes is a violent man who is going to kill his young hostage. Gerber believes otherwise and so the chase begins.
However, instead of going the conventional route filled with car chases and gun fights, Director Clint Eastwood takes us in a completely different direction. After Haynes parts ways with his partner in the escape the chase fades into the background. What comes into the foreground is what drives the story. As we see Haynes interact with young Phillip we begin to see that he is not a very mean person, as was previously suggested. Although, one particular scene towards the end of the movie shows otherwise.
As Phillip becomes endeared to Haynes the audience does as well. This is due to the incredible performance by Kevin Costner. He makes Butch so believable. I cared very much for his character. There were times I felt sorry for him and there were times I was happy for him. This is clearly one of the best performances I have ever seen Costner in and he delivers. T.J. Lowther is equally powerful as the meek and naive Phillip. You get the feeling that he never really knows what he has gotten into. He just likes being around Butch, talking to him, and sharing mustard sandwiches.
While watching the moving I could not help glancing at the timer on my VCR. Not because I was bored, but because I wanted to know how much time I had left to share with Butch and Phillip. Unfortunately, though, the movie did have to end. And even though the ending was somewhat cliched and predictable it was still very emotional and powerful.
Clint Eastwood and Laura Dern also deliver good performances in the scenes they are in, but the movie is not about them. At times, I felt that the scenes without Butch and Phillip brought the movie down. However, they are needed. The movie would be very badly paced if the movie focused solely on Butch and Phillip.
Overall, A Perfect World was a very engrossing, emotional, funny, and powerful film that I suggest everyone see.
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Laura Dern, & T.J. Lowther
After viewing this movie I have only one question? What happened to Kevin Costner? Never before has he engrossed me as he did in A Perfect World. I was pulled in by his character the minute the movie started. Anyway...
Kevin Costner stars as Butch Haynes, an escaped convict who, along with a fellow escapee, takes a young boy name Phillip (Lowther) hostage. Hot on their trail is Red Garnett (Eastwood), a Texas Rangers was has crossed paths with Haynes before. Along for the ride is newly appointed criminologist Sally Gerber (Dern) and various other lawmen including an F.B.I. agent who believes that Haynes is a violent man who is going to kill his young hostage. Gerber believes otherwise and so the chase begins.
However, instead of going the conventional route filled with car chases and gun fights, Director Clint Eastwood takes us in a completely different direction. After Haynes parts ways with his partner in the escape the chase fades into the background. What comes into the foreground is what drives the story. As we see Haynes interact with young Phillip we begin to see that he is not a very mean person, as was previously suggested. Although, one particular scene towards the end of the movie shows otherwise.
As Phillip becomes endeared to Haynes the audience does as well. This is due to the incredible performance by Kevin Costner. He makes Butch so believable. I cared very much for his character. There were times I felt sorry for him and there were times I was happy for him. This is clearly one of the best performances I have ever seen Costner in and he delivers. T.J. Lowther is equally powerful as the meek and naive Phillip. You get the feeling that he never really knows what he has gotten into. He just likes being around Butch, talking to him, and sharing mustard sandwiches.
While watching the moving I could not help glancing at the timer on my VCR. Not because I was bored, but because I wanted to know how much time I had left to share with Butch and Phillip. Unfortunately, though, the movie did have to end. And even though the ending was somewhat cliched and predictable it was still very emotional and powerful.
Clint Eastwood and Laura Dern also deliver good performances in the scenes they are in, but the movie is not about them. At times, I felt that the scenes without Butch and Phillip brought the movie down. However, they are needed. The movie would be very badly paced if the movie focused solely on Butch and Phillip.
Overall, A Perfect World was a very engrossing, emotional, funny, and powerful film that I suggest everyone see.