Postman, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2

Kevin Costner directs and stars in this post-nuclear war version of America. After a nuclear holocaust, the U.S. is fragmented with no roads, no communication. The survivors have returned to the agricultural life of the 1800s. An army of terrorists lead by General Bethlehem (Will Patton) control a group of towns with fear and merciless destruction. A wandering loner who performs Shakespeare (Kevin Costner) to entertain townsfolk and earn meals is drafted into Bethlehem's army. But he escapes and finds an old postal truck. Taking the uniform and undelivered mail, he hopes to con a town out of some food by posing as a representative of the restored United States government. But instead of a con, he finds the people believe in him and the hope he brings of restoring communication with others. But restoration is not what Bethlehem wants and he's out to destroy the Postman. The sometimes humorous references to life before the war will bring chuckles from older adults. The stirring themes of patriotism, hope and the power of an idea fueled by legend bring momentary thrills but the three-hour length would profit with tighter editing.

The Postman, as the wander becomes known, is a man of character who tries to be a loner but finds he must involve himself with society to survive. As he brings hope to the townspeople, one young man wants to be like the Postman and make a difference in people. A woman asks the Postman to be a surrogate father for her child since her husband cannot. At first he rejects the offer but gives in when she visits his room and drops her clothes. The prolonged sex scene includes breast and rear female nudity. Violence is often severe as Bethlehem demonstrates his idea that mercy is for the weak. Men are stabbed, hung, shot and branded. The Postman leads one especially violent shooting massacre as postal carriers ambush some of Bethlehem's men. Foul language further pollutes the film with many mild and moderate crude terms, 11 obscenities and God's name used in vain 9 times. THE POSTMAN delivers too much junk mail.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Warner Bros. 400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522