A Perfect World
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Movie Reviews of A Perfect World
Movie Review: More Kevin Costner than Clint Eastwood
Summary: 4 Stars
Just wanted to clarify that, for any Clint Eastwood fans. That said, Kevin Costner performs admirably in his role, as does the kid. Rather light, simple fare altogether, similar to many other Clint Eastwood movies. Nothing new under the sun here. But is that necessarily bad? I don't think so.
Somehow, this movie makes you cheer for an overgrown adult boy/man who is encouraging a six year-old to be a juvenile delinquent. That sounds bad, but it's actually not so bad. Costner, who plays an escaped convict, is a polite gentleman bandit on the order of Robin Hood and the like, a hero/villain. He abides by certain principles, and is not entirely wicked, unlike his fellow escapee, a cretinous goblin. Discerning the good versus the bad in his character is the whole point of the movie. We also learn what may have contributed to making him the way he is.
As for the boy, he has no father and was being raised by a strict single mom that did not let him do hardly anything that has any fun in it--for religious reasons, apparently. He was in dire need of a father figure, and finds that in Costner. What might have been interesting is seeing whether the mother and the escaped con could actually have worked together as a family unit. I doubt she could have done much better than this guy.
Movie Review: Underrated Eastwood
Summary: 4 Stars
"A Perfect World" is not Clint Eastwood's best work, but it is a bit underappreciated. Set in 1963, it's the story of escaped convict Butch Haynes (Kevin Costner), who kidnaps a small boy and leads a manhunt team (led by Eastwood) on a chase through the back roads of Texas. More than the story, the appeal of the film lies in its powerful evocation of southern Texas at a simpler time and in the relationship that develops between the convict and his captive. Eastwood the director lures us in slowly, as the hardened but decent and affable Butch evolves from captor to a sort of father figure to his young hostage. Then the fallacy of this bond is brought vividly to life by the film's conclusion. As Buzz, the boy, TJ Lowther is a revelation. He was only seven at the time, but he displayed remarkable assurance and presence in this role.
There are some flaws: The film goes on a bit too long; Bradley Whitford (now better known as Josh Lyman on "The West Wing") is a rather one-dimensional Federal agent; and Laura Dern's progressive female character seems too modern for the storyline. Nonetheless, the film works very well when it focuses on Butch and Buzz, and the ending avoids excessive sentimentality. Overall, Eastwood in a pleasant minor key.
Movie Review: This is a very good movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I am not a Kevin Costner fan and have found his acting to be mechancial and pretentious. BUT, Eastwood pulls this film together to rank among many of his best works and made me take a different look at Costner's performance. The plain-ness of Costner as a non-discript working man gone down the wrong path is very believable as is his subtle hints at his own lost childhood. The young boy who plays the hostage is fabulous and often times it seems as if in his innocence is actually living this story more than acting. His little tattered halloween costume is a touch of genius in the film and keeps tugging at your heart strings as well as lending a slightly macbre tone to the whole thing. Costner's character constantly tilted back and forth between slightly bad with a good intentions to a bad guy trying to claim a thread of decency and had a good juxtaposition with Eastwood's hard cop with a decent heart. Laura Dern didn't add much to the movie and her role could have been played with a little more intensity by several other peers of hers. BUT, see this movie. I saw this years ago, long before Mystic River, but they both have a similar thread despite Mystic River being much more edgy and an all around better written story.Movie Review: Clint's minor masterwork
Summary: 4 Stars
This film again established Clint Eastwood as an important director to watch but it proved to be disappointing at the box office despite good reviews. Perhaps it strikes too close to home for many Americans to examine what's happening to our kids when we neglect them and they turn out like character Costner plays as an escaped convict who despite everything has a soft side to him in his relationship to the little boy he befriends. Eastwood, himself, wisely took a supporting role as the sheriff who hunts Costner then realizes where he he has gone wrong in his early treatment of Butch (Costner). There is a powerful scene almost 2/3 a way in the movie when Costner's dark side emerges when he witnesses a father physically abusing his son--it is a scene so well played and directed that it stays in your mind long after the movie is over. In a way, Eastwood was preparing a warm up to his excellent "Mystic River" but also this represents some of Costner's best acting (although he and Eastwood did not get along during filming). Whole-heartedly recommended for all Eastwood buffs.Movie Review: Try with a little tenderness!
Summary: 4 Stars
Texas, 1963. An ex con captures a boy as hostage, the police force is aware of that, but meanwhile a warm and tender relationship is built among this smart boy and this outlaw, until the fate makes its definitive judgment.
Clint Eastwood directed this uneven film, spattered of interesting vignettes here and there, but unprovided of dramatic consistency; however I would like to remark this is the best performance of Costner in his lifetime; extremely convincing in this hard role, due the multiple psychological turns inside this tormented and hopeless human being.
Laura Dern gives too a remarkable performance in that secondary role, the film is overlong, specially toward the end and that weakens the climax sequence; on the other hand the boy's character looks pretty stereotyped, but it's Costner's performance that leads this movie to safe waters and avoids it strands in the middle of the road.