Postman
Xiao Dou is a shy and naive mailworker living in Beijing with his sister. When a coworker is fired for reading people's correspondences Xiao Dou takes over the same mail route. He soon finds himself indulging in the same curiosity, eventually developing an obsession. Xiao Dou chooses to spend time reading letters instead of socializing with friends or coworkers. As he becomes increasingly tied to the letters, he begins to intervene in the lives of those who write and receive the letters.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a post-apocalyptic future, a drifter discovers a mail carrier's uniform and a bag of mail, deciding to impersonate a postman to survive. He begins to spread hope and inspire a scattered civilization to rebuild by delivering messages and forming a new government. However, his actions put him in direct conflict with a tyrannical warlord who controls resources and fears the return of a unified society.
Critical Reception
The Postman was a critical and commercial failure upon its release. Critics widely panned its excessive length, muddled plot, and Costner's perceived self-indulgence. Audiences also largely stayed away, contributing to its poor box office performance.
What Reviewers Say
- Overlong and bloated, with a heavy-handed message.
- Kevin Costner's performance and directorial choices were seen as self-indulgent.
- Lacked the emotional depth and compelling narrative to engage audiences.
Google audience: Audience reviews suggest that while some appreciated the film's hopeful message and ambition, many found it to be too long, slow-paced, and ultimately uninspiring. Some viewers felt the story did not live up to its potential.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for 5 Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture and Worst Actor (Kevin Costner).
Fun Fact
The film was shot in and around Cedar City, Utah, and the production built a full-scale replica of a frontier town for the movie.
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