Flesh And Bone (1993)

67% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
39% of users liked it
(3,723 ratings)

Small-time Texas businessman Arlis Sweeney (Dennis Quaid) can never shake the memory of his father's (James Caan) wasted life. What particularly sticks in his craw is the murder committed years earlier by his father and a teenaged accomplice. While going through the by-rote motions of his job (he… More Small-time Texas businessman Arlis Sweeney (Dennis Quaid) can never shake the memory of his father's (James Caan) wasted life. What particularly sticks in his craw is the murder committed years earlier by his father and a teenaged accomplice. While going through the by-rote motions of his job (he supplies vending machines), Arlis strikes up a friendship with hardcase hitchhiker Kay Davies (Meg Ryan). Slowly, Kay helps Arlis put his life in order. And then, Arlis suddenly realizes where he's seen Kay before. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Steve Kloves
Written By: Steve Kloves
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Nov 5, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Apr 16, 2002
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
the whole movie rests on the interaction of the two characters and the appeal of the stars who embody them
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
A downbeat, elegiac mood piece and character study about angry, damaged people whose lives are as desolate as the dusty West Texas landscape they inhabit.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
A nice, heavy movie, if a bit depressing.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Haunting film, with unexpectedly great supporting performances by Caan and Paltrow
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A captivating thriller with three solid performances
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
The film starts better than you've heard, but soon gets worse than you predicted.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Explores the searing power of evil.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
The best film of 1993. Seriously. Great breakthrough performance by Gwyneth Paltrow also.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Dry and a bit slow, but there are a few rewards to be found.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Flesh and Bone", Arlis(Dennis Quaid) is a vending machine operator in rural Texas. His machines run the gamut from "Brainy Chicken" to condom dispensers. He has a regular schedule of dropoffs, pickups and women to take care of but no… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Flesh and Bone", Arlis(Dennis Quaid) is a vending machine operator in rural Texas. His machines run the gamut from "Brainy Chicken" to condom dispensers. He has a regular schedule of dropoffs, pickups and women to take care of but no ambitions to spread his operations wider. But one evening, when attempting to order take-out food at a bar, he comes across a bachelor party where a stripper is scheduled to jump out of a cake, but Kay(Meg Ryan) has had too much to drink, and instead stumbles, vomits and passes out. After she wakes up the next morning and gets dressed, Arlis agrees to give her a ride home to Bayview.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Flesh and Bone" is a very compelling, well-directed movie with some unexpected flashes of humor about whether nature or nurture shapes us the most as adults. The Texas countryside where time moves forward but not much changes is lovingly photographed. The movie is well-acted by a very capable cast.(Meg Ryan is an underrated actress, having performed well in "Hurlyburly" and "Courage under Fire". It is just when she acts cutesy that I have to reach for the air sickness bag. And Gwyneth Paltrow portrays dimwits well.) My main problem with the movie is that it all hangs on one very large coincedence. [/font]

Cast

            Dennis Quaid as Arlis Sweeney

            Meg Ryan as Kay Davies

            James Caan as Roy Sweeney

            Gwyneth Paltrow as Ginnie

            Scott Wilson as Elliot

            Chris Rydell as Reese Davies

            Joe Berryman as Plump Man

            Lisa Blount
            
            Angie Bolling as Woman with Crying Baby

            Betsy Brantley as Peg

            Gail Cronauer as Emma

            Nik Hagler as Earl

            James N. Harrell as Woody

            John Hawkes as Groom

            Ron Kuhlman as Clem Willets

            Julia Mueller as Sarah Willets

            Vic Polizos as Pudge Riley

            Joe Stevens as Kyle

            Barbara Alyn Woods as Cindy

            Risa Bramon Garcia
            
            Libby Villari as Waitress

            Travis Baker as Sullen Kid

            Ryan Bohls as Scotty Willets

            Jerry Swindall as Young Arlis

            Craig Erickson
            
            Gerardo Johnson
            
            Hector Garcia
            
            Julia McNeal
            
            Parker Webb
            
            Christopher Rydell
            
See full cast