This could have been a children's film: boy hero outwits authorities and beats villains. Such is the predictable plot. Others have pointed out that the story rambles pointlessly and could easily have been shortened to half an hour. To make matters worse, the film becomes schmaltzy in the last ten minutes.
Tommy-Lee Jones and Anthony LaPaglia both overplay ridiculous caricatures. In fact all the baddies are like something from a kids' comic.
However, all this nonsense is saved by two performances. The best one is that of Susan Sarandon, who is just great in this - especially in her early scenes, in which she wipes everyone else off the screen.
Brad Renfro is also amazingly good as the boy. Not many child actors could have carried off this difficult part. He manages to do this without sentimentality.
It's worth a watch, but don't spend money on it.
Tommy-Lee Jones and Anthony LaPaglia both overplay ridiculous caricatures. In fact all the baddies are like something from a kids' comic.
However, all this nonsense is saved by two performances. The best one is that of Susan Sarandon, who is just great in this - especially in her early scenes, in which she wipes everyone else off the screen.
Brad Renfro is also amazingly good as the boy. Not many child actors could have carried off this difficult part. He manages to do this without sentimentality.
It's worth a watch, but don't spend money on it.