USA 1998
Director: Stuart Baird Actors: Tommy Lee Jones
In a traffic accident, the police find a gun in Special Agent Sheridan's car (Wesley Snipes) with which two men were murdered in cold blood. He is arrested immediately because of an arrest warrant for him. Although Sheridan asserts his innocence over and over again, he is not believed, especially because of the overwhelming burden of proof, and so he is to be taken to another prison by plane. During this flight, an attempt to assassinate Sherian fails. However, this incident will damage the machine and make it land in an emergency. During the general panic Sherian manages to escape. Capturing escaped criminals is a task for US Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his special unit, which is supported in this case by a special agent named Royce. Sherian is mercilessly hunted first through swamps and then across America. He not only tries to escape from his hunters, but also tries to prove his innocence. This is what Royce, his ex-colleague, tries to prevent by all means: Sherian himself has pushed the murder into his shoes in order to continue his illegal business with foreign countries undisturbed...
Whoever knows the film' Auf der Flucht' will ask himself how' Auf Der Jagd' differs from it. And in fact, the differences at first glance are quite small. The plot is almost identical: In both films, an innocent man is mercilessly hunted by US Marshal Gerard. The hunted can prove his innocence. So the movie is not really a' Auf der Flucht 2', but rather a slightly modified, new remake. Basically, this wouldn't be bad either, because' On the Run' is a really very good thriller. Furthermore, the basic prerequisites are correct: The main actors are identical except for Harrison Ford, and this one is replaced by Wesley Snipe's reasonably well. Technically, you can't complain either, even if special effects are not needed. Apart from the apparently' standard' exaggerations, the movie lacks what distinguishes a good thriller: suspense. The film is quite entertaining, but most of the time it is just as funny. Almost all scenes in which suspense should arise are too easy to see through. Moreover, you don't need to look for any moments of surprise. It doesn't help that Jones and Snipes do their usual good work. However, if the film were to be described as a "cheap copy" of Auf der Jagd, it would be wrong. In spite of everything, you will be entertained properly. However, this film doesn't match the quality of its predecessor. Thus, this film moves "beyond good and evil", just below 8 stars. In short: a thriller that is not bad, but lacks moments of tension and is inferior to its predecessor.
A movie review by Jörn
