Flesh and Bone (1993)

Decades after, a son of a killer falls in love with a girl, which family's horrifying murder he saw in childhood.

Director:

Steve Kloves

Writer:

Steve Kloves

Stars:

Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, James Caan

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Around thirty years after Arlis witnessed his father murdering a family, he runs into Kay, who happens to be the family's baby, who was spared. Kay and Arlis suspect nothing about each other, but when his father returns, old wounds are reopened.

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Plot Keywords:

murder of a child | witness to murder | father son relationship | murder of a family | son of murderer falls in love with daughter of murder victim | 

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Taglines:

Evil is patient

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and a scene of intense violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Força de um Passado

Filming Locations:

Stanton, Texas, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$9,488,998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirage Enterprises, Spring Creek Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min 116 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The DVD sleeve notes state that this picture was the "first major feature film" of Gwyneth Paltrow.

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Goofs

When Arlis is a boy, the star tattoo is on the right side of his forehead. As an adult when Arlis pulls back his hair in a hotel room, the tattoo has moved to the left side of his forehead.

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Quotes

Waitress: Unless that little pastry inside comes with a bicycle pump and two sisters, there ain't gonna be a farm animal safe for three counties tonight.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood's Leading Ladies with David Sheehan (1993)

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Soundtracks

Bad To The Bone
Written by George Thorogood
Performed by George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Courtesy of EMI Records Group/EMI Records
Under license from CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

An underrated classic

Perhaps some people only want to see Meg Ryan in romantic comedies, or perhaps IMDb voters give this a low average rating because 'nothing happens', but look beneath the surface and you will find a dark and haunting drama of the first order, with the best work from all involved for many years before or since.

Steve Kloves, completely 'miscast' as the adaptive screenwriter for the Harry Potter films (he writes in American, for heaven's sake) here produces a great original work as a writer/director, utilizing some amazing visuals from Phillipe Rousselot (d.o.p.) and music from Thomas Newman (a score suitably subtle, haunting and moving). Caan, Ryan and a pre-fame Gwyneth Paltrow are all on top form but the real star here is Dennis Quaid, whose face, a canvas of tortured memories and struggling decency, says more than Kloves could ever hope to write. As director he chooses wisely; he gives Quaid a single line, then keeps the camera rolling.