The Fugitive (antagonist, villains) ?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
Watched and analyzed The Fugitive yesterday. More complicated than most in terms of pigeon holing the antagonist(s) and villains. Tommy Lee Jones plays the US Marshall, an antagonist because he opposes the goal of the protagonist (Dr. Kimble, Harrison Ford). So here we have a likable antagonist, unusual. Typically the protagonist battles mano a mano with the antagonist at the end of a story, but in The Fugitive we have the protagonist battling with two villains-- the one armed man who killed his wife, and his shapeshifter (archetype) medical colleague Charles behind it all. I just find this story interesting in how it bends some of the 'rules' of classical storytelling. Just some observations. Open to feedback, agreements, disagreements on this. ~randall
 
IMO this is a Good story, in part because the Hero continues to express his goodness throughout the story at the risk of getting caught while he tries to solve the crime. Hes' the victim of villians (betrayal) and (law) incompetence. It's a story full of great chase/escape twists, good vs. bad, it portrays a situation when, 'good' can actually be 'bad' (Tommy), etc, ... it appeals to my taste. Two thumbs up!

In the end the hero is fighting 4 villians, Federal Marshall & team, Doctor friend, One armed man, Chicago police. The intensity of all these against an innocent doctor that can outsmart em and solve the crime is a great ride. A true classic hero, & it confirms our suspicion: doctors are really smart.

Harrison Ford IMO, is great because he is able to use his face effectively to show great suffering -- and then joy. This ability alone makes him come across the screen with convincing credibility.
 
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10s said:
Harrison Ford IMO, is great because he is able to use his face effectively to show great suffering -- and then joy. This ability alone makes him come across the screen with convincing credibility.
Click to expand...

He definitely has this ability. Even in something like Patriot Games he excels at gaining the audiences full empathy with a few moments of screen time (he's simply looking in on his injured daughter in the hospital)...etc.

The Fugitive is a far better storyline but I'm just agreeing with your assessment of Han Solo :)

-M
 
Another way to look at it is Tommy Lee is like the 'Atonement with the Father' in The Heroes Journey.

Although on the surface he appears to be the ANTAGONIST, is he really just a part of The Road of Trials for our Hero ?

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How many Antags in film become an Allie at the end of the day ?




 
'Atonement with the Father' in The Heroes Journey. Good catch Hudson, fits well.

Anyone know the story on how this story was written?
 
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