Flesh and Bone (1993)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Steve Kloves

Writer (WGA):

Steve Kloves (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Evil is patient

Plot:

Some thirty years after Arlis witnesses his father murdering a family, he runs into Kay, who happens to be the family's baby who was spared...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Motel | Small Town | Gun | Sex Scene

Cast

Julia McNeal	...	Sarah Willets (as Julia Mueller)
Ron Kuhlman	...	Clem Willets
Jerry Swindall	...	Young Arlis
Ryan Bohls	...	Scotty Willets
James Caan	...	Roy Sweeney
Dennis Quaid	...	Arlis Sweeney
Ez Perez	...	Boy in Suit
Craig Erickson	...	Tiny Ted
Barbara Alyn Woods	...	Cindy
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Ginnie
Joe Berryman	...	Plump Man
Meg Ryan	...	Kay Davies
Scott Wilson	...	Elliot
James N. Harrell	...	Woody
Gerardo Johnson	...	Juan

Runtime:

126 min | Germany:116 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | France:U | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Mirage

Trivia:

The murders at the beginning of the film evoke the 1959 murders of Kansas farmer Herb Clutter, his wife and their two teenage children. This case was later documented in Truman Capote's book "In Cold Blood", which in turn was made into a film (In Cold Blood (1967)) starring Scott Wilson and Robert Blake as the two killers. Wilson appears in this film in the role of Arliss' employee.

Goofs:

Continuity: In a scene where Kay holds a revolver a bullet inside the cylinder appears, disappears and then reappears.

Quotes:

Kay: I figure the bed's one of those vibratin' numbers, so that explains all the quarters. Nobody could possibly fancy pretzel twists that much so I reckon you won some kinda weird contest. As for the condoms, well, either you got a yen for cheerleadin' squads or we had the night of all nights, whatever, there's an explanation. As for the blue chicken, I need a little help with that one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-03)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Papa Come Quick (Jody & Chico)

Underrated Gem

"Flesh and Bone" remains to be one of the great films of the nineties, sitting alongside "Bright Angel" as one of the decade's most tragically neglected classics. Perhaps the fact it contains such a high degree of subtlety was why it wasn't appreciated when it was first released, the most frequently stated criticism being that its climax is dramatically unsatisfying, yet its somber ending works perfectly. Outside of "Hurlyburly" it is unquestionably Meg Ryan's finest performance, the same going for Quaid who gives his character a quiet desperation that becomes quite devastating by the end. Caan is great as always, but it is Paltrow who really impresses, playing a role bereft of the sugary sweetness that plagued the majority of her roles that followed. Scott Wilson also shines in a small but memorable role. "Flesh and Bone" may never receive the attention it deserves, which is a shame because it is unquestionably a lyrical masterpiece, beautifully shot and acted, recalling those low-key gems of the seventies like "The Rain People". Highly recommended.