SummaryA 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.
Directed By:Clint Eastwood
Written By:John Lee Hancock
A Perfect World
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
29% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
This is a movie that surprises you. The setup is such familiar material that you think the story is going to be flat and fast. But the screenplay by John Lee Hancock goes deep. And the direction by Clint Eastwood finds strange, quiet moments of perfect truth in the story.
88
A Perfect World is one of the Academy Award-winning actor-director's most unexpected, most satisfying films. This isn't the first time that Eastwood has turned the tables on our expectations, but he's never been this bold in the past, or this sure of himself.
User score
Generally Favorable
82% Positive
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
16% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Apr 12, 2022
9
One of my favourite works among those directed by Clint Eastwood. I saw it multiple times and I recommand it to anybody who wants to start with the filmography of this great director.
Feb 4, 2022
8
I'm a little split on 'A Perfect World', but one thing that is for certain is that I definitely enjoyed watching it. The reason that I'm split is because of how it portrays the lead character. I completely get the angle the filmmakers were going for, I'm just not convinced they pull it off. It's fun to watch, but I never once felt a connection to root for Kevin Costner's Butch. There are many a time where I was just like "Huh?". It shows a number of events that you can tell are supposed to make you connect to Butch, but I just couldn't - he is super unlikeable, like the very first thing we see him do 'on the outside' defines him and the whole film. They could've wrote him in so many different ways, to give him a positive reason for what he does. Yet, despite that it is entertaining, I cannot deny. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it works as a film for sure, but given it tries (too hard?) to attempt thought-provoking and deeper meaning I think it falls over itself - logically, I couldn't get on board. As a popcorn flick, I'm all in. P.S. How amusing to see the 'Casper' connection, given the directing/acting Clint Eastwood would later make a cameo in the live-action film almost two years after this was released.
75
Eastwood keeps the tension humming from his director's chair and contributes a little too much comic relief, but gives Costner an eye-opening, image-shattering showcase that adds a sheen to his often-criticized acting career. [24 Nov 1993, p.6B]
70
Star Kevin Costner and director Clint Eastwood deliver lean, finely chiseled work in A Perfect World, a somber, subtly nuanced study of an escaped con’s complex relationship with an abducted boy that carries a bit too much narrative flab for its own good.
63
Though A Perfect World may deserve to be attacked for its casual pacing and occasional clumsy staging, and for one or two less-than-fabulous performances, the darn thing kind of grew on me. [24 Nov 1993, p.E2]
60
Although the acting is of a high calibre as expected, the story disappoints with little character development or action.
42
The trouble with Eastwood’s attempt to make a thriller with heart is that, in retreating from his darker impulses, he muffles his own voice as a moviemaker.
Oct 31, 2018
7
Stockholm Syndrome at his finest. A good character driven film that pulls you along for the ride or in this case a kidnapping.
Sep 17, 2018
7
it is fair and exhilarating.. A Perfect World A Perfect World is a character driven drama about a guy who is on a run along with an abducted child with whom he grows an unbreakable affection. The father figured Costner and a disciple of his Lowther, has an amazing chemistry to feed off the audience easily in its long course. Distributed in long bold varied highly pitched emotional sequences the feature flows fluently where not only the verbal sparring but the silent pitches on screen too chills down the spine. Eastwood's world in here is surprisingly calm and fair than we usually get, it doesn't rely upon gunpowders and explosives but meaningful essential morale projected through Costner's ideology and fair deeds. The background score isn't extraordinary but well crafted along with stunning cinematography and fine editing. The live locations, mesmerizing visuals and neat road trips along with stunning camera worth that elevates the momentum. The narration is elaborative with strong and exquisite script that is perfectly balanced to offer the anticipated cinematic experience especially on such large scale. Costner oozes fair trial in his portrayal with bold nuances that you may get afraid with, adored with and be affected with instantly. Eastwood is supporting decently but fails to create the anticipated magic on screen althoughh Dern deliver unflinchingly as always. Armed with a gritty script by Hancock's whose details are off the hook, Eastwood offers these characters deserved and palpable surrounding where he might be weak on few sequences but never vulnerable. The gem-like sweet and sensible conversations between Costner and Lowther, layered screenplay that enfolds eye popping revelations and Costner at the heart of it who fuels this allegory are the high points of the picture. A Perfect World is accurately titled on terms of Costner's track as it is fair and exhilarating equally.
