A Perfect World (1993)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer (WGA):

John Lee Hancock (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A kidnapped boy strikes up a friendship with his captor: an escaped convict on the run from the law, headed by an honorable U.S. Marshal.

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Prison | Halloween | Criminologist | Kidnapping

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Robert 'Butch' Haynes
Clint Eastwood	...	Chief Red Garnett
Laura Dern	...	Sally Gerber
T.J. Lowther	...	Phillip 'Buzz' Perry
Keith Szarabajka	...	Terry Pugh
Leo Burmester	...	Tom Adler
Paul Hewitt	...	Dick Suttle
Bradley Whitford	...	Bobby Lee
Ray McKinnon	...	Bradley
Jennifer Griffin	...	Gladys Perry
Leslie Flowers	...	Naomi Perry
Belinda Flowers	...	Ruth Perry
Darryl Cox	...	Mr. Hughes
Jay Whiteaker	...	Superman
Taylor Suzanna McBride	...	Tinkerbell

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language. (on appeal)

Runtime:

138 min | Germany:125 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | South Korea:12 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (original rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Director Clint Eastwood originally intended to give the role of Butch to Denzel Washington.

Goofs:

Continuity: As he lays dying under the tree, Butch gives Phillip a wad of paper money and tucks it in his shirt. After Butch dies and Phillip is being led across the meadow, the money is shown falling out of his shirt. The breeze scatters it, leaving a trail of money behind him. Yet when Butch's body is shown later, somehow much of that money has somehow been magically returned to the immediate area around him.

Quotes:

Robert 'Butch' Haynes: Walkin's for squares.

Movie Connections:

References Bull Durham (1988)

Soundtrack:

Don't Worry

A Perfect World; An Idealistic Movie

Excellent movies have everything right with them - from the scenery to the director. This movie has it all except the plot is too idealistic for my taste. Granted a story can have any plot the author decides, but this one plays on false stereotypes just like other Hollywood movies, e.g. the "noble" savage. (There is no such thing - individuals may be noble, but not an entire nation. This is why "To Kill a Mocking Bird" is so powerful - the main noble character is surrounded by real people - at least as real as a movie will allow them to be.) And so it doesn't go with "A Perfect World." The main character is surrounded by louts brutes and ignoramuses.

However, was the movie entertaining? Was it well directed, cast, acted, and lit? You bet. One of Mr. Eastwood's best. 10/10.

-Zafoid