One of my all-time, can-watch-anytime movies.

This is one of my can-watch-anytime movies: no matter what mood I’m in, this movie hooks me every time. The combination of the clever, sassy script by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy; the workman-like direction of Andrew Davis; the pacing, storytelling, acting and dialogue are all so, so great. Harrison Ford at his heroic-lead peak; Tommy Lee Jones cementing his persona and totally the charming scene-stealer of the whole thing (and in the role that would see him typecast for many years to come). I like it that these guys only have two scenes together; the rest of the time, I’m watching two really riveting movies in one.

Harrison Ford’s embattled Dr Kimble is mute for most of his film, desperately on the run and on the trail of the one-armed man, tirelessly piecing together the mystery of his wife’s murder. On his trail is US Marshall Tommy Lee Jones, who is amazing in his movie: wise-cracking, equally relentless, and backed by a fantastic, similarly wise-cracking team (including Joe Pontaliano playing, as always, Joe Pontaliano).

So many elements in here – including an additional twist in the murder mystery – with thoughtful details which neither condescend to nor seek to overwhelm the viewer, or get in the way of the action. In other words: the macguffin is clever, but it’s still macguffin.

Totally watchable, and (at least at the time of writing) it seems to date well, probably because the individual elements are so perfect, and they are balanced so perfectly.