Hidden Movie Gem: “A Perfect World”
Today’s Hidden Movie Gem guest post comes from Bretton Zinger
Movie Title: A Perfect World
Year: 1993
Writer: Original screenplay by John Lee Hancock
Starring: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Laura Dern, T.J. Lowther
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot Synopsis: 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.
Why I Think This Movie Is A Hidden Gem: In his review of the film, Roger Ebert wrote, “Both Costner and Eastwood are fresh from triumphs at the Academy Awards, but in neither ‘Dances With Wolves’ nor ‘Unforgiven’ will you find the subtlety and the sadness they discover here. …’A Perfect World’ has the elements of a crime genre picture, but the depth of thought and the freedom of movement of an art film.”
That says it perfectly. I taught film at the high school level for eight years, and I showed this film to every class. I chose it because it’s a great film, but also because it is one that the students’ parents probably don’t have in their home libraries (meaning the students hadn’t already seen it). And because it is a great example of the kind of movie we are seeing less and less of: the modestly budgeted movie for serious film fans, small in scope and scale but heavy with ideas and quality.
Every year for eight years, this was the movie more students chose as their favorite over any others — and those others included films like “Jaws,” “Rear Window,” “North By Northwest,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “E.T.,” and many more classics.
My Favorite Moment In The Movie:
… is also …
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:
Butch (Kevin Costner) has kidnapped Phillip (T.J. Lowther), 8 years old, and they have just escaped from the police, who are in pursuit down the backroads of the Texas panhandle. Phillip had the chance to get away, but chose to go with Butch because Phillip had stolen a Halloween costume at a general store where they had stopped to get supplies. The following is copied from the PDF of the script but plays nearly identically in the finished film.
INT. FORD — DAY
The car is parked in a field of some sort. Butch reaches in the back seat for the bag of clothing.
BUTCH Here, take them nasty skivvies off and put on yer’ jeans.
He spots Phillip’s not so successful effort to hide the costume box.
BUTCH Whatya’ got there?
PHILLIP A ghost suit.
BUTCH From the store? You kyped it?
Phillip nods, expecting the worst.
BUTCH Well, hell, Phillip, put it on.
PHILLIP You ain’t mad?
BUTCH Let’s unnerstan’ each other here. Stealin’s wrong, ok? But if there’s somethin’ you need bad and you ain’t got the money, then it’s okay to take a loaner on the item. It’s what ya’ call an exception to the rule.
Phillip tears into the box, rips out the costume, looks at it, starts to take off his underwear then balks. Butch notices.
BUTCH What’s wrong?
PHILLIP Nuthin’.
Butch notices Phillip’s hands covering his crotch.
BUTCH What? You don’t wanna’ get undressed, is that it?
Phillip shrugs.
BUTCH You embarrassed caus’ I might see yer’ pecker?
PHILLIP It’s… puny.
BUTCH What?
PHILLIP It’s puny.
BUTCH Well hell, lemme’ see.
Phillip still hesitates.
BUTCH Go on. I’ll shoot ya’ straight.
Phillip gingerly pulls off his underwear. Butch smiles a broad grin.
BUTCH Hell no, Phillip, it’s good size for a boy yer’ age!
Phillip, remasculated, smiles and starts to put on the costume.
BUTCH Here they come.
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie: Watch it for Kevin Costner’s hands-down best performance in a dramatic role.
Watch for Bradley Whitford in an early role as the smarmy FBI agent assigned to tag along with Eastwood.
The best Clint Eastwood line ever: “I do like tater tots.”
The waitress at “Dottie’s Squat & Gobble” is played by Linda Hart, who later played Kevin Costner’s ex-wife in “Tin Cup.”
When you are halfway through viewing the film, ask yourself, “What would be a happy ending to this film?” Or even, “What would be the right ending for this film?” Hancock and Eastwood do a masterful job of dealing with a protagonist who is, overall, unlikeable. Even though we are rooting for him to a degree, it’s not to the point where we necessarily expect or even hope he will succeed.
Movie Trailer:
Thanks, Bretton! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
Tomorrow: Another Hidden Movie Gem!
Note: We filled up the month of October, so I don’t need any more guest posts. Thanks to everyone who participated!
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