Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 25, 1993 TAG: 9311250116
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If it weren't for the star power behind the production, it would be an offbeat "little" movie, something like "One False Move" that might well develop a strong following on video. But this one stars Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood. The adjective "little" simply does not apply.
At heart, the film is a crime story that's more concerned with characters than plot. With two sympathetic protagonists and no real villain, it's curiously unbalanced. But that's not really a flaw.
The film is set in Texas, 1963, a couple of weeks before President Kennedy is to visit. That's when convicts Butch Haynes (Costner) and Terry Pugh (Keith Szarabajka) escape from the Huntsville prison. After stealing a car and kidnapping its owner, they find themselves on the run with another hostage, 8-year-old Phillip Perry (T.J. Lowther). Red Garnett (Eastwood, who also directed), is the Texas Ranger leading the hunt from a "high tech" mobile home. That 1980s cliche isn't the only anachronism in this movie.
A smart, independent criminologist, Sally Gerber (Laura Dern), is tagging along too. So is Bobby Lee (Bradley Whiteford), a sinister marksman who looks like his next job will be on a grassy knoll. Neither of these contrived characters has much to do with the real story.
If Red were the good guy and Butch were the bad guy, the film would be simple and boring. But audiences know that Butch can't be completely or even mostly unsympathetic. So, how violent, ruthless and driven is he? That side of his character is revealed bit by bit, and it's the point of the film. It's not giving away too much to reveal that his own abuse as a child is important.
In a larger sense, it's also important to John Lee Hancock's script. He's interested in relations between adults and children, and the complex bonds that Butch and Phillip form. In that regard, there's little that's conventional in this story. Without ever being explicit or exploitative, this is unusually strong material that intends to make viewers uncomfortable. Sometimes it's clumsy, and it does go on about 10 minutes too long, but the film never falls back on easy answers.
As director, Eastwood handles this potentially dangerous material with a veteran's sure hand. He also got one of Costner's strongest and most subtle performances to date. Even though this isn't the heroic role fans may expect or want to see Costner in, he'll certainly hold their interest all the way through.
In one sense, Eastwood takes the same off-center approach that made "Unforgiven" so unorthodox and interesting. "A Perfect World" brings similar challenges to audience expectations of movie stereotypes. Its commercial success notwithstanding, this is certainly one of the most thought-provoking films of the year.
\ A Perfect World: ***
A Warner Bros. release playing at the Valley View Mall 6 and Salem Valley 8. 135 min. Rated PG- 13 for violence, subject matter, strong language.
by CNB