Flesh and Bone (1993)

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 | Gun | Stealing From Dead Body | Offscreen Child Murder | Texas

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:

Shot at the Sunset Motel in Monahans, Texas, owned and operated by Doris Barker. Daughter Jeanie Barker Scott's stepdaughter got a walk-on role when a young actress called in sick. Shooting the week there were 'James Caan', Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow.

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:

Sometimes You Just Can't Win

Haunting and lovely

Arlis (Dennis Quaid) is a vending machine owner who roams from town to town in West Texas. Greatly disturbed by horrific memories from his childhood, Arlis fails to connect with the women he meets. He prefers trysts with married women where no strings are attached. All of this changes the day Arlis meets Kay (Meg Ryan). Running away from an abusive and spendthrift husband, Kay encounters Arlis in a bar under amusing circumstances. Soon after, she is traveling with him on his circuit and they are falling in love. Bliss, however, is short. Arlis' evil father (James Caan) re-enters the life of his son and Arlis must once again suffer the consequences of the ties that bind them. Will it be possible for Arlis to break free from his past and begin a new life with Kay?

This is, truly, one of the most haunting films ever made. The story is a multi-faceted study of the nature of good and evil. Quaid and Ryan give such depth to their doomed and complex characters that the viewer stays mesmerized as the story unfolds. Caan, too, is a wonder as the bad-to-the-bone father. As for the sweeping and lovely cinematography, it perfectly realizes the beauty and desolation that is west Texas. The final scenes are guaranteed to put a lump in anyone's throat, tears included. Recommended highly for discriminating movie fans everywhere.