Arts & Entertainment

Jones, Del Toro save 'The Hunted'

By Geronimo Rodriguez
The Daily Cougar

These days, watching fine actors turn a bad script into a valuable piece of film is as rare as catching a glimpse of the streaking Halleyis Comet. So unless youire Stanley Kunitz, The Hunted is worth its time.

Itis not going to win any awards, it wonit make a lot of money and itis far from being anything close to a masterpiece. But with the help of Benicio Del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones, William Friedkin directs a blood-soaked ride that slices out all the things that make for an intolerable movie.

When Jonesi scruffy L.T. Bonham isnit sprinting after Del Torois scarred Aaron Hallam, Friedkin makes use of the old adage "less is more," straying from lengthy dialogues between the feds and spooks, sappy romances and poor death scenes.

The plot is simple. Hallam, a U.S.-trained assassin, is haunted by all the throats he slit for the sake of completing a mission. When the voices in his head wonit let him sleep, Hallam takes to the woods and picks off wildlife hunters at a rate that would make People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals proud.

Enter Bonham, a tracker who trains assassins on the side. The race begins when Bonham is asked by the FBI leaders to snarl Hallam.

The few times they meet up, the two skip the small talk and aim for the one of those pressure points. For the rest of the film, Bonham is sniffing out Hallam, which leads to lengthy chases.

At one point, it seems Jones and Del Toro run more than Forrest Gump. Aside from being in pursuit, the two donit exchange many words.

The film gives a feel similar to that of Rambo: First Blood, The Fugitive and even Deliverance, but thanks to fine acting, The Hunted isnit smeared when compared to these films.

In their own way, Jones and Del Toro are comfortable enough to raise the level of the film without looking like theyive made a big mistake. Even in the fight scenes, thereis a lot more going on than just the two trading blows.

By the time Johnny Cashis "The Man Comes Around" hits full tilt, Jones has created a character out to do more than please the FBI, and Del Toro has grown into something more than a brainwashed soldier gone haywire.

Since the Oscar winners have gotten pretty good at this thing, itis no surprise the lead actors even made the rest of the cast look as if they were acting.

The Hunted

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Benicio Del Toro

Rated: R

Paramount Pictures

The verdict: Itis a good thing The Hunted takes no time to explain.

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