Movie of the Week – The Fugitive

This week’s movie: The Fugitive (1993).

Dr. Richard Kimble’s wife is murdered and Kimble contends that he is innocent, but is convicted and sentenced anyway. After his transport bus to prison crashes, Kimble is able to escape. He returns to Chicago to prove his innocence and find the one-armed man responsible.

The action thriller is directed by Andrew Davis, who directed a number of action films in Hollywood, but The Fugitive is by far his best (other notable films by him are Above the Law and Under Siege). He worked with composer James Newton Howard, cinematographer Michael Chapman, and production designer J. Dennis Washington.

The film stars Harrison Ford and co-stars Tommy Lee Jones (who won an Oscar). Sela Ward, Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbe, Daniel Roebuck, L. Scott Caldwell, Tom Wood, Nick Searcy, and Jane Lynch feature in support.

The Fugitive is a great thriller from the 1990s, a decade that is probably better remembered now for its indie films than its Hollywood output. It is based on the 1960s TV series, and Tommy Lee Jones’s character was so popular that it produced a sequel in which his character chases down another innocent fugitive called U.S. Marshalls. It is worth checking out for fans of good action thrillers and fans of Harrison Ford; it is one of his best of the 1990s (along with Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and Air Force One).

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

TV Series of the Month – The Sopranos

This month’s TV series is The Sopranos (1999-2007).

The modern crime drama is about Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss who suddenly has feelings that cause him to have panic attacks. Fearing that this could be taken as weakness putting his life in danger, he seeks the help of a therapist in secret – where he must work through personal and business related issues to get at the root cause of his attacks. Airing on HBO for six seasons, the series was created by David Chase (a veteran TV writer who also created the short-lived series Almost Grown; he is currently set to release his first feature Not Fade Away). In addition to Chase, the show had a fantastic writing staff, highlighted by Terence Winter (creator of Boardwalk Empire) and Matthew Weiner (creator of Mad Men). The show has a brilliant cast, making a star out of lead James Gandolfini. The series also starred Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Tony Sirico, Robert Iler, Steve Van Zandt, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea de Matteo, Aida Turturro, and Steve Schirripa, and an impressive guest list including Steve Buscemi and Joe Pantoliano. This is one of the shows that changed television for the better (along with things like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Freaks and Geeks), ushering in the current golden age (in which TV is better than cinema). The Sopranos is a must-see for all fans of great dramas, but especially those that love crime dramas and gangster films. The writing and characters are wonderful, and still among the best ever on TV. Check out the trailer.

Available on Blu-ray, DVD (the complete series) and Streaming