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Flesh and Bone

R Released Nov 5, 1993 2h 4m Mystery & Thriller List
70% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Haunted by memories of his father murdering a family, Arlis Sweeney (Dennis Quaid) prefers to keep to himself, focusing his energy on his work. One day, the traumatic past that eats away at him returns when he meets Kay Davies (Meg Ryan), a woman connected to the bloody event. Against all odds, Arlis and Kay fall in love. However, when his father, Roy (James Caan), reappears in his life -- with the coldhearted Ginnie (Gwyneth Paltrow) in tow -- Arlis must deal with his past demons.
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Flesh and Bone

Critics Reviews

View All (27) Critics Reviews
Anthony Lane New Yorker Although the plot comes to rely on a particularly outlandish series of coincidences, it's a credit to Kloves's skill that you can almost put this out of your mind... Sep 13, 2021 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: D+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The film is depressing for some of the right reasons, and all of the wrong ones. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …catches some top talents at various stages in their careers… something of a treat for fans of good acting… Rated: 4/5 Feb 28, 2024 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Four great characters. Four strong turns. The film takes them exactly where you expect, to a mildly meandering detriment. Still, there's authenticity about this slice of America & a staunch swerve away from the sentimental feeling that love conquers all. Rated: 3/5 Nov 27, 2023 Full Review Owen McNally Hartford Courant Quaid's solid performance holds the film's loose ends together. He's really very much at home on the range here...Ryan rises pretty much above her more usual perky, pretty image, giving a funky performance. Apr 18, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (62) audience reviews
KB B It was pretty good but the dialogue and plot could have been better. I wouldn't want to watch it again. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review Steve D The melodrama really doesn't work. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Great cast. These 4 actors fit their characters quite well. The main plot points and character beats are pretty strong but there is a lot of boredom in between those stirring passages. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review ronald h It's interesting to watch this 1993 film in 2021. Movies have changed since the 90's, but more to the point, I've changed, too. I'm more critical. Watching this one recently, I immediately saw the contrivance in the performances. Dennis Quaid is so deadpan, it's unbelievable. I don't think he smiles once in the entire film. Meg Ryan, who's playing a rough and cynical Texas girl, can't shed her uber-cuteness no matter how hard she tries. And she tries very hard. James Caan is a cinematic stereotype, an amoral man who sees no good in the world. As much of a pro as he is, he doesn't seem particularly invested in this role. Gwyneth Paltrow is the most interesting character, mainly because this was, I believe, her American film debut and she didn't have a reputation that set up any expectations. The contrivance, of course, also extends to the plot, which relies on unbelievable coincidences. It's light and mindless, but worth a skeptical watch. Any philosophical implications in this movie about the nature of evil and whether or not it's genetic can be dismissed. It's not thought-provoking. It's just Hollywood's idea of entertainment--amusing, but as disposable as a fast food wrapper. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Rich S It's not a great movie, but Flesh and Bone is an interesting film that gives an honest portrayal of four people's lives being blown around in the hot Texas wind. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/21 Full Review Audience Member I miss Meg Ryan, so I enjoyed seeing her in this movie even though it is an older one I had never heard of before. This is a movie about a narcissistic, abusive, murderous father, (James Caan) and the consequences his abusive and criminal behavior had and continues to have on his innocent son (Dennis Quaid), as well as ending the lives of Meg Ryan's character's father, mother, and brother. It was an infuriating moment in the movie when Caan's abusive character tries to blame Quaid's character for the murders that occurred 30 years earlier, when he was a child forced by his father into helping con the family his father ended up shooting when the con went bad. He then displays blatant disregard for his son again by telling him he was too emotional, and could not be trusted to keep the secret from Meg Ryan's character, whom he is in love with. The movie had an appropriate ending with Quaid's character killing his father (who displayed no empathy or remorse) rather than letting his father kill Meg Ryan's character (an innocent, fully equipped human being who has already suffered enormously due to the criminal activity of Caan's character). She was a baby when Caan's character shot and killed her father, mother, and young brother. Even though this is a movie, it appears that Caan's character got away with murder because he was never convicted and was still running around loose 30 years later. "No charges." So, one hopes that his now grown abused son will not end up in trouble with the law, and can finally not have to deal with his worse than worthless father anymore, heal, and start enjoying his life. Of course, if law enforcement had ever gotten around to effectively doing their jobs in those 30 years, Caan's character would have been incarcerated, maybe even on death row (so that the taxpayers only have to support him through approximately 10 years of appeals). (Excuse the sidebar, I realize this is only a movie). However, Pharisees in this situation would be the very first ones brow beating Quaid's character to "honor his father." The Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites (Christians) just prior to entering the Promised Land, to establish a new society. These are the kinds of situations where we promote the idea that God does not honor evil, nor does He expect you to. Additionally, a father is charged with protecting, and providing for his children, and instructing them in the ways of the Lord, which does not include causing them to become a part of their cons, abuses, or criminal activities. Additionally, a father is instructed not to provoke his children to anger. I have never seen a Pharisee mention any of the balancing instructions while they are trying to beat abused, and even severely abused adult children with the Bible. - KC3 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Flesh and Bone

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Cast & Crew

Presumed Innocent 86% 67% Presumed Innocent Consenting Adults 29% 31% Consenting Adults Light Sleeper 87% 65% Light Sleeper TRAILER for Light Sleeper Final Analysis 56% 44% Final Analysis The Good Son 25% 54% The Good Son TRAILER for The Good Son Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Haunted by memories of his father murdering a family, Arlis Sweeney (Dennis Quaid) prefers to keep to himself, focusing his energy on his work. One day, the traumatic past that eats away at him returns when he meets Kay Davies (Meg Ryan), a woman connected to the bloody event. Against all odds, Arlis and Kay fall in love. However, when his father, Roy (James Caan), reappears in his life -- with the coldhearted Ginnie (Gwyneth Paltrow) in tow -- Arlis must deal with his past demons.
Director
Steve Kloves
Producer
Mark Rosenberg, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter
Steve Kloves
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Mirage Enterprises, Spring Creek Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 11, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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