The Postman

Name: The Postman
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama
Released: December 25, 1997
Duration: 177 min
Rating: 29
Cast: Kevin Costner, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, Will Patton

1997

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 67 Ratings

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The Postman

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 1997 | R

Starring: Kevin Costner, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, Will Patton

Summary: Set in the year 2013, after a war has devastated America, the film focuses on a lone drifter who becomes the reluctant leader of the fight against the forces of destruction. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Kevin Costner

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 177 min

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Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy

Although The Postman conveys a thoroughly imagined vision of a future society, its basic concerns are actually far from those of traditional sci-fi, as it quickly comes to feel more like a Western than anything else. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

It's tempting to accuse director and star Kevin Costner of taking the idea of vanity production to a new level in this frontier adventure based on a book by David Brin. Read full review

James Berardinelli

If you take The Postman at face value - that it's a straightforward, post- apocalyptic adventure tale, then it could seem like one of the worst movies of the year, if not of all time. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Goofy and gee-whiz when it isn't being post-apocalyptic glum, it is such an earnest hodgepodge that only by imagining "Mad Max" directed by Frank Capra can you get even an inkling of what it's like. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

But since Costner canít save his movie, it's something of a stretch to think he might be able to save the world. Read full review

Peter Stack

The dragging pace is one of several agonizing defects in this bloated sci-fi action drama. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Every truly awful movie epic has a point of no return, a moment when the accumulated bad lines and bogus sentimentality become so cloying that the best defense against a mounting queasiness is an awed amusement. The Postman, offers a new opportunity for levity every few minutes after its first hour. Read full review

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User Reviews

gdonaldson

Feb 7, 2012

What a great performance and story line. This is without a doubt one of my top 5 films. The storyline for me had me at every turn. Costner was certainly given the raw end of the pro critics but I've made a few films and appeared and it was just brilliant

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Craigk

May 15, 2021

awesome movie, who cares about the book, or critics that have self importance

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wobbles

Jul 21, 2013

While slightly longer than needed this was a good movie that was over trashed by critics. Was it completely realistic? No. Neither is any high dollar Batman movie ever made. That's why they call them movies.

If you don't allow yourself to be told what to like by profession critics tryWhile slightly longer than needed this was a good movie that was over trashed by critics. Was it completely realistic? No. Neither is any high dollar Batman movie ever made. That's why they call them movies.

If you don't allow yourself to be told what to like by profession critics try it. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Toasty87

Jul 17, 2020

Gets way to much hate I see why some people hate it but it's not a bad film run time could be shorter.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

adamadamadamada

Nov 27, 2021

Fazla milliyetçilik yaptığını düşünüyorum. Onun dışında sürükleyici ve güzeldi.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Apr 25, 2018

This film takes place in 2013, at a time when the World was destroyed by the Third World War. Communities have become isolated, there is no government, United States seems to have disappeared and armed militias on horseback are oppressing the people. However, a man will change that when,This film takes place in 2013, at a time when the World was destroyed by the Third World War. Communities have become isolated, there is no government, United States seems to have disappeared and armed militias on horseback are oppressing the people. However, a man will change that when, somewhat accidentally, it triggers a movement of resistance to oppression.

The center of all history is the way a man, with no name but who is nicknamed "Shakespeare" due to his survival as an artist and itinerant declamer, ends up giving rise to a movement of resistance to a strong and fierce armed militia, when he disguises himself as a postman to be able to receive help from the people, averse to the visit of strangers. He comes to be seen as a symbol of hope when he lies, assuming himself as a representative of a Restored Government, which does not even know whether it exists or not.

The central idea is great, and the film is interesting by the ideas it presents and by the good work of the leading actors, Kevin Costner and Will Patton. The two actors worked well and their characters are very interesting. Costner gave life to a hero by chance, full of internal conflicts and a complex psychology that he managed to explore; Patton was an insensitive and bloodthirsty villain, cultured but cruel. The sub-plot created between the Postman and Abby turns out little and does not seem very happy by the way she quickly forgets her husband. But worse are the three hours lenght, which are not justified by the plot and denounce a bad post-production and editing work. There's a lot left in this movie and lots of details that don't matter and should have been taken off. Another problem is the time when everything is happening: the year 2013. Okay, the movie was shot in 1997, but we're in 2018 today, and it seems silly that they thought of a future so near as something so apocalyptic. The film should have been thought for 2113, not 2013.

Despite all the flaws, the film is interesting and tells a good story of freedom, resistance to oppression and tyranny, survival and companionship. Despite the long lenght, it entertains who has not watched it, but its not worth more than two or three views.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Jul 3, 2019

Du post-apo de pacotille qui tient plus du western gnangnan que de l'univers à tendance falloutienne ou madmaxienne, hélas ! Costner fait le faux modeste et roule des mécaniques sans en avoir l'air, ce qui le rend encore plus énervant que dans l'autre daube de 3 plombes qu'il a commise, leDu post-apo de pacotille qui tient plus du western gnangnan que de l'univers à tendance falloutienne ou madmaxienne, hélas ! Costner fait le faux modeste et roule des mécaniques sans en avoir l'air, ce qui le rend encore plus énervant que dans l'autre daube de 3 plombes qu'il a commise, le western moisi avec les loups...

Un film très poussif et convenu donc mais également bien mal développé en ce qui concerne le background, très pauvre : une guerre a eu lieu, quand, comment, pourquoi ? c'est quoi cette secte de cow-boys qui se fait passer pour une armée (accessoirement raciste d'ailleurs) avec à sa tête ce méchant qui cumule les clichés à deux balles ?

Et puis Kevin, arrête de te donner l'air intelligent en citant et récitant du Willy Jexpire à la cantonnade : t'es qu'un facteur fade et ballot qui nous les casse, un point c'est tout. On te préfère nettement dans Waterworld, un vrai post-apo celui-là !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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59	#59 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
29	#29 Most Shared Movie of 1997