The Postman (1997)

A nameless drifter dons a postman's uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America.

Director:

Kevin Costner

Writers:

David Brin (novel), Eric Roth (screenplay)

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate

7 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	The Postman
Will Patton	...	General Bethlehem
Larenz Tate	...	Ford Lincoln Mercury
Olivia Williams	...	Abby
James Russo	...	Idaho
Daniel von Bargen	...	Pineview Sheriff Briscoe
Tom Petty	...	Bridge City Mayor
Scott Bairstow	...	Luke
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Bandit 20
Roberta Maxwell	...	Irene March
Joe Santos	...	Colonel Getty
Ron McLarty	...	Old George
Peggy Lipton	...	Ellen March
Brian Anthony Wilson	...	Woody
Todd Allen	...	Gibbs

Storyline

2013,Post-Apocalyptic America. An unnamed wanderer retrieves a Postman's uniform and undelivered bag of mail. He decides to pose as a postman and deliver the mail to a nearby town, bluffing that the United States government has been reinstated and tricking the town into feeding him. However, he reluctantly becomes a symbol of hope to the townspeople there who begin to remember the world that once was and giving them the courage to stand up to a tyrannical warlord and his army.

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Plot Keywords:

year 2043 | year 2013 | worst picture razzie winner | character name as title | the postman character | 

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Taglines:

It is 2013. War has crippled the Earth. Technology has been erased. Our only hope is an unlikely hero.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first feature film based on a science fiction/fantasy book to star Olivia Williams. The film is based on the book of the same name by David Brin. Williams would later go on to star as Mam Ward in Seventh Son (2014), which was based on the fantasy book "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney.

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Goofs

The main character assumes his role because he found an old abandoned mail truck containing the remains of a long dead mailman and pilfered the uniform from the skeleton. The problem here is the condition of the clothing he takes. When a person dies, the body goes through many stages of decomposition on its way to being merely a skeleton. As the tissues break down, many chemicals and enzymes are released, including the hydrochloric acid of the digestive system. In the final stages of decomposition, this is referred to as liquefacation or liquiescence. Given enough time and a suitable environment this combination of byproducts, with the addition of the bacteria that will inevitably emerge, would make any cloth or fabric (with the exception of treated leather products) not only disgustingly filthy, but also so weakened from exposure to what amounts to a corrosive liquid, that the fibers would tear apart from any stresses put on them. Even the act of taking the jacket off of the remains (and certainly that of putting the jacket on himself) would have pulled the fabric apart.

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Quotes

General Bethlehem: Great men were made by other great men. Patton had Rommel, Grant had Lee, I get stuck with you.

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Connections

Referenced in Gilmore Girls: Richard in Stars Hollow (2002)

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Soundtracks

The Next Big Thing
Written by Jono Manson, Joe Flood and Jeffrey Barr
Produced and Performed by Jono Manson
Courtesy of Paradigm Records

User Reviews

not bad

I liked this movie, unlike most people, I hadn't heard anything at all about this movie prior to seeing it. I wasn't expecting to see a bad movie.

What I found was an interesting Epic. It isn't a great movie , but it is a good movie. I honestly don't understand why anyone would call this the "worst movie ever" as I have heard on several occasions.

Give this movie a chance, don't go expecting instant gratification.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Postman

Filming Locations:

Amado, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,260,324, 28 December 1997

Gross USA:

$17,626,234

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,626,234

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tig Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

177 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1