THE POSTMAN Explained: Much Better Than We Remember

…, or if it is because, despite what is said about him and what he is criticized for, he never descends below a certain level of quality in his films. Whether he is acting or directing, he is always the same serious guy with a concerned expression, wanting to silently convey something important. I remember that The Postman was once showered with buckets of criticism. People pointed out the slow pace, the pathos, and the boredom that lingered throughout the film. In fact, I almost fell asleep during my first viewing of the movie. After years and several rewatchings, I was enlightened, which is why I cannot agree with the general criticisms. Yes, it is not perfect cinema. However, it has such a strong spirit and a distinct message that it is impossible to pass by it indifferently.

The history of the making of the 1997 film proves that in the 1990s, creators with an established reputation could also enjoy great trust among producers, even if they had experienced some setbacks. Kevin Costner showed determination and great courage in bringing The Postman to life. Despite a successful entry into the 1990s, due to the undeniable artistic success of Dances with Wolves, the second half of the decade brought two significant financial flops for the American creator. The first, Wyatt Earp, was a western shot in 1994, telling the story of the famous lawman. With a budget of 63 million, it earned a meager 25 million. The second film was, of course, the notorious Waterworld, a futuristic vision of a world ravaged by ecological catastrophe, which Costner produced and directed hiding behind Kevin Reynolds’ back. With a budget of 175 million dollars, which at the time was a record, the film barely managed to break even, earning just over 250 million – from the film industry’s perspective, this is a far from satisfactory result.

It may seem surprising, but despite these experiences, the unyielding Costner, with his own funds, once again managed to persuade producers (this time from Warner Bros.) to give him the green light to shoot another high-budget project. Interestingly, the project followed a similar path to the previous ones, combining the genre features of the two aforementioned films. The Postman was supposed to be another film telling the story of a world after a catastrophe, in which communities had somehow regressed to the Wild West. Science fiction with elements of a western, bearing Costner’s face? Surely the big fish in Hollywood must have envisioned bags of green bills as the perspective of returns from The Postman. However, nothing like that happened – Costner experienced another significant flop, which clearly halted his career, both as an actor and, most importantly, as a director. So we come to the heart of the matter. Is it really true that the 1997 film is an artistic failure?

The answer is the same as if the question were asked about Wyatt Earp or Waterworld. No, of course not. These are not bad films, they are films that, apparently, were not properly understood. Audience expectations once again grew proportionally to the scale of the spectacle. Costner once again based the script on a proven source, in this case, the book The Postman by David Brin, and began carefully preparing another, exceptionally majestic vision – with adventure, melodrama, depth, and a moral. A post-apocalyptic world, however, requires a well-designed visual aesthetic. In other words, the film must, first and foremost, look good. Costume designers and set designers once again had plenty of work and once again performed their duties excellently. In The Postman, we see a post-war world that culturally still remembers the old order, but with one foot already contributing to the creation of a new one. A reset has occurred, and once again, the law of the fist and terror play a key role. The subtle visual setting, giving the impression of the “wear and tear” of the world we know, was convincing.

In the future, however, there will be more shortages. Food, clothes, and even… male semen. But what people will miss the most is hope. What may disturb in the 1997 film is its strongly American character. If you are watching a film with the flag of the USA already waving on the poster, you know what emotions you will be experiencing. This is a film meant to lift spirits, honoring postmen and, in a sense, placing their profession on a pedestal. For it turns out that the one who delivers letters is also the one who delivers hope to the people. This is why, in a fallen world, a certain wandering actor decides to put on another mask. However, this time, the role he adopts becomes his life’s role. Initially reluctantly, sensing the falseness in the entire procedure, over time, Costner’s character begins to realize that he has become an indispensable cog in the rebuilding of the nation’s condition and spirit. From hope comes courage, from courage comes rebellion, and from rebellion comes victory… or defeat. Is it worth taking the risk and opposing tyranny?

These accents are well distributed by the acting. After their joint performance in No Way Out in 1987, Kevin Costner once again faces off against Will Patton. They may not have the same screen time, but their charisma is equal, whenever they appear on screen. In the case of Costner, we encounter the standard profile of the character he has portrayed over the years. He is seemingly distant, but when the need arises, he is fully engaged. He is seemingly taciturn, but when the situation demands it, he says exactly what needs to be said and how it needs to be said. The novelty in this case is that Costner starts off as a zero who gradually becomes a hero. However, it is hard to believe this – from the very beginning, his face steals our sympathy, making his character’s occasional behaviors, which detract from the seriousness of the role, seem unconvincing. Let’s put it simply: Costner was simply born to play positive characters.

Will Patton is another quality altogether. It caught my attention that the actor did not even have to make a special effort to convince me. Without excessive expression, without overacting, without flamboyant characterization. Patton, with the grace of a quoted Shakespearean figure, ensures that every word he says carries the appropriate weight. Strength and wisdom are his key traits, which in this case work flawlessly. There are several interesting performances in The Postman, including Olivia Williams’ strong femininity and Giovanni Ribisi’s memorable cameo, but for me, it is Costner vs. Patton that the film relies on. How their confrontation unfolds, however, I would prefer to leave unmentioned, as the final fight contains more childishness than dignity, which we were accustomed to for the rest of the film. But perhaps this is exactly the point – to show the fallen world as a place where even those with Shakespeare on their lips end awkwardly, covered in dirt?

This is not the only moment in the film that cannot be swallowed without the appropriate distance and tolerance. Suffice it to say that watching The Postman late at night can be a challenge for those who do not know how long they’ve signed up for. This nearly three-hour viewing experience is demanding primarily because, as is often the case with Costner, it is full of many quiet, reflective, and sentimental moments, which may bore some. The film’s pathos is at times overwhelming, but what is most surprising is that even when the fluttering of the American flag may eventually make one feel nauseous, there is still a sense of exceptional sincerity in the filmmaker’s intentions. As if to spite the critics and expectations. So what if the author repeats himself, reworking long-expressed thoughts in a new way? He wanted to encourage unity again, and that’s what he did.

What I want to say is that after another viewing of The Postman, I believed in how important the idea conveyed in the film, promoting life in community, encouraging perseverance despite circumstances, and maintaining a constant bond that is meant to keep the strength of spirit alive in people, was to Costner. He may not have created the perfect message, but the cinematic letter sent by the director will likely eventually reach its recipient when the oversaturation of contemporary mainstream fluff starts to take its toll.