A Perfect World - 1993

Warner Bros. Pictures, Malpaso Productions

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Cast:

• Chief Red Garnett – Clint Eastwood
• Robert 'Butch' Hayes – Kevin Costner
• Sally Gerber – Laura Dern
• Phillip 'Buzz' Perry – T. J. Lowther
• Terry Pugh – Keith Szarabajka
• Bobby Lee – Bradley Whitford
• Tom Adler – Leo Burmester
• Paul Saunders – Bruce McGill

Story: Two prisoners break out of a Texas jail in the early 1960's. One is just trying to get away, the other is an idiot who is hell bent on going out Texas-style, guns blazing. While looking for a different car, they happen on a single mom and her daughters and son in a residential area. They take the son hostage and escape in the car they came in. The next morning, while getting some supplies, Butch kills Terry for trying to sexually assault the boy, Phillip. By this time the U. S. Marshalls have been alerted and Chief Red Garnett, who is in charge of the manhunt, commandeers the Governor's latest equipment as his command post. The governor has sent a specialist in criminal behavior, Sally Gerber, to aide in the recapturing of the prisoners. The FBI has sent Bobby Lee to assist, but as a sniper. Butch and 'Buzz' steal a yellow Ford sedan and make their way across the back roads of Texas, trying to avoid roadblocks and escape. Marshall Garnett and his crew try to figure a way to get the boy out safely, while the Governor of Texas is making as much political currency as he can.

Review: Clint Eastwood's perspective on the human condition is remarkable. In this film he takes the best of each cadre of the cast and seems to make the entire thing about everyone's agenda. Keith Szarabajka is the perfect sociopath, and you can tell he is not long for the film. Kevin Costner is not a career criminal, just a wild youth who got sent up on the recommendation of Garnett years ago, a recommendation he is now regretting. Eastwood and Dern are the realists on the Law Enforcement side, trying to cope with a situation while dealing with the politics of the situation. Bradley Whitford should really be in the prison uniform, but instead plays the FBI sniper who is intent on proving to everyone his testosterone levels are up to the task. Throughout the film, the relationship between Costner and Lowther is the principle theme, and you can tell Costner's character is basically a decent person, although there are some things in his understand of life that need a little adjustment. The end of the film is as powerful as the beginning, and this early Eastwood epic ranks up there with Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby as a powerful film with a subtle, but provocative message. Rated R for violence, language, and sexual content. If you are an Eastwood fan, you are going to want this one for your collection.