"The Best and Worst of" series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of "Molly's Game" star Kevin Costner.
Films starring Kevin Costner that I've seen:
Night Shift
The Untouchables
Bull Durham
Field of Dreams
Dances with Wolves
Mr. Brooks
Man of Steel
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
3 Days to Kill
Draft Day
McFarland, USA
Criminal
Hidden Figures
Best Performance: Draft Day (2014)
As someone who has a borderline unhealthy fascination with the endless drama, intrigue and misdirection that surrounds the NFL Draft year-in and year-out, Draft Day proved to be a riveting viewing experience for me. The immense entertainment value of this film was bolstered by Costner's terrific performance as protagonist Sonny Weaver Jr. He's believable every step of the way as a veteran general manager trying to maneuver the relentless chaos that occurs within an NFL team's headquarters on the first night of the draft.
As someone who has a borderline unhealthy fascination with the endless drama, intrigue and misdirection that surrounds the NFL Draft year-in and year-out, Draft Day proved to be a riveting viewing experience for me. The immense entertainment value of this film was bolstered by Costner's terrific performance as protagonist Sonny Weaver Jr. He's believable every step of the way as a veteran general manager trying to maneuver the relentless chaos that occurs within an NFL team's headquarters on the first night of the draft.
Worst Performance: Criminal (2016)
Like Liam Nesson and Denzel Washington before him, Costner, who has primarily starred in dramas for the bulk of his career, has become an AARP-action hero in recent years. While he's typically serviceable in these roles, he was horribly miscast in Criminal. Costner is way too even-keeled to convincingly play a violent, manic convict that gets the memories of a deceased CIA agent implanted into his head by government officials in an attempt to gain intel on the whereabouts of a renowned computer hacker (Michael Pitt) that has gained access to all of the world's nuclear launch codes.
Like Liam Nesson and Denzel Washington before him, Costner, who has primarily starred in dramas for the bulk of his career, has become an AARP-action hero in recent years. While he's typically serviceable in these roles, he was horribly miscast in Criminal. Costner is way too even-keeled to convincingly play a violent, manic convict that gets the memories of a deceased CIA agent implanted into his head by government officials in an attempt to gain intel on the whereabouts of a renowned computer hacker (Michael Pitt) that has gained access to all of the world's nuclear launch codes.
Best Film: The Untouchables (1988)
While its reputation is certainly good, I still feel like The Untouchables is a very underrated gangster movie. David Mamet's tight, well-constructed script paired with appropriately showy performances from a gifted ensemble cast (Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro) and director Brian De Palma's gift of staging elaborate action sequences (the notorious stair shootout in particular is a thing of beauty) makes this film an engrossing thrill ride from start to finish.
While its reputation is certainly good, I still feel like The Untouchables is a very underrated gangster movie. David Mamet's tight, well-constructed script paired with appropriately showy performances from a gifted ensemble cast (Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro) and director Brian De Palma's gift of staging elaborate action sequences (the notorious stair shootout in particular is a thing of beauty) makes this film an engrossing thrill ride from start to finish.
Worst Film: Criminal (2016)
Capturing the right tone is an integral part of making a successful action movie and that failure to establish a vibe that fits the content of the film is without question the biggest miscalculation Criminal commits. Criminal's flat-out refusal to brace the insanity of its concept and surprisingly sporadic and thoroughly inept fight scenes make it an insufferable slog to watch.
Capturing the right tone is an integral part of making a successful action movie and that failure to establish a vibe that fits the content of the film is without question the biggest miscalculation Criminal commits. Criminal's flat-out refusal to brace the insanity of its concept and surprisingly sporadic and thoroughly inept fight scenes make it an insufferable slog to watch.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". The next victim of my praise and ire will be "Insidious: The Last Key" star Lin Shaye.
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