I have two issues with John Lee Hancock's screenplay. The first is the moment where Kevin Costner gets all murderous with farmer who's whacked his grandson. It makes the character really creepy whereas before we've thought of him as basically a not bad person who's a good influence on sheltered Jehovah's Witness boy T.J. Lowther. The second is the ending, which just seems protracted and stupid. Otherwise very enjoyable.
Clint plays a Texas lawman after him, Laura Dern is a criminology student along for the ride. Their silver caravan thing reminded me very specifically of the one in Sullivan's Travels, and the moment it crashes is also a specific reference to Sturges' film.
The normal Malpaso team are on hand, Jack Green, Lennie Niehaus, Joel Cox, Henry Bumstead. It's set in 1963 Texas.
Costner had a tantrum on set when the actor playing a farmer kept missing his cue, and stormed off. So Clint used Costner's double and filmed him giving a wave from behind. When Costner objected Clint told him he'd shoot the whole film with the double if he had to and Costner fell into place. Clint directs the boy well.
I didn't think I'd seen it but had on 11 March 1995. "The pursuers seem redundant in this film (although they provide some nice stabs at local government) and the ending is needlessly downbeat; Eastwood's "I don't know nuthin'" seems to have come from another film. Still, the script is good and the relationship between Costner and the boy interesting and likeable. Framing suffers on small screen."
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