Its title gives away the story. Obviously, The Fugitive must be a modern hunting tale, with people as the targets. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones head a cast of opposite sides: one plays a prison fugitive and former doctor determined to prove his innocence, while the other is a U.S. marshal equally determined to catch him. However, in the midst of following an exhausting trail of evidence that Ford leaves behind, Jones helps the audience see beyond a simple case of retribution and justice. The corruption in the health care industry and the extreme "profit" of pharmaceutical companies on harmful drugs is black and white against the main characters’ discovery of clues that glue together the pieces of a puzzling murder. Ironically, Ford’s character adheres to his desire to expose the real killer, which fuels Jones’ character’s need to capture him.
However, it is the marshal’s relentless, inexplicable drive to go after Ford in this breathless chase that helps Ford’s investigation. Both characters are needed in the end to uncover a mass crime that includes members of the law enforcement and respected physicians. Set in former Mafia city Chicago, bloody cash and hidden records are only part of the reason why Jones and Ford are almost murdered themselves. The Fugitive does its work well: the mystery is slowly but effectively solved, the twist comes out as a complete shock, and the ending is satisfactory. There are enough gun fights, clever deceptions on both sides, and medical insights to keep the plot and the thrills going without any melodramatic stops.
The Fugitive is available on DVD wherever movies are sold in Fresno and online; it also can be rented for free from local libraries.
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