February 13, 2012: In Memorium: Whitney Houston

By Sylvia Gurinsky

From 1992, here's an episode of the MTV program "The Big Picture" about the making of "The Bodyguard," including interviews with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, in memory of Houston, who died Saturday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kvr0HpzrMQ&feature=related

May 25: KC In a Family Feud (No, Not the Game Show)

Kevin Costner will be part of "The Hatfields & the McCoys," a miniseries about the infamous family rivalry that will be filmed for the History Channel.

Let's hope this one goes better than the History Channel's first try at a miniseries - the hatchet job on the Kennedys that the network ultimately did not run when serious accuracy and bias questions were asked.

It's not the most encouraging news that the producer is Leslie Greif, whose only scripted success was the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger," which starred Chuck Norris.

But more encouraging is the news that Ted Mann, who worked behind the scenes on such programs as "NYPD Blue" and "Deadwood," wrote the script for this one.

I must admit, I would have been much happier to see KC work on that other miniseries, "A Little War of Our Own," that he initially had planned for HBO. But we'll see how this goes.

May 17, 2011: Super Dad and New Doc

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Sorry, fellow Costner fans. I know it's been a while since the last post, and a lot has happened. Life happens, which is why I haven't been updating the blog.

Of course, it has been well publicized that Kevin Costner will play Jonathan Kent, father of Clark Kent, in "Man of Steel." (Incidentally, Glenn Ford played the character as "Pa Kent" in the terrific 1978 film "Superman.")

These days, superhero movies tend to take on lives of their own with rumors and counter-rumors, so the focus here will be exclusively on KC's role until the movie is released.

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If you visit southern California, you don't have to wait for "Man of Steel" to catch KC in a new production. He's narrated a new documentary about the Channel Islands, part of the National Park Service.

Also, "The Company Men" DVD will be released June 7. It will include various extras, including deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a making-of documentary and commentary by John Wells, the movie's director. It can already be pre-ordered online, of course.

Review: The Company Men ***

“The Company Men” may be the most relevant movie of these times.

Yet, it was shabbily treated by The Weinstein Company, which gave it the obligatory December pre-Oscar release in New York and Los Angeles and then a limited release in early 2011. Perhaps the theme of job layoffs hit too close to home for Weinstein, which has laid off its share of employees.

It’s too bad, because the movie warrants a viewing for its themes and for its outstanding cast.

Ben Affleck stars as Bobby Walker, a rising executive in GTX, a maritime-connected company that has become too big not to fail its employees. Bobby, who has a Porsche and a steady date on the golf course, is among the first executives laid off.

The movie is at its best with his story of dealing with the four stages of job loss: Denial, anger, depression and acceptance, and how it affects him and his family, including his wife, Maggie (Rosemarie DeWitt, also excellent) and their children. Bobby and Maggie discover the true meaning of what’s lost and what’s gained.

Bobby learns this lesson in part from Maggie’s big brother Jack Dolan, played by Kevin Costner. Jack builds houses and offers Bobby some help. Bobby later learns that Jack also understands the art of sacrifice. (Did John Wells, who wrote the script and directed the film, intend some sort of symbolism by using the names “Jack” and “Bobby”?)

With shades of “Thirteen Days,” KC uses a Boston accent, which is jarring at first, but not noticeable later on. He does his usual solid job as a man who understands the value of any kind of work.

Bobby isn’t the only one laid off. Chris Cooper is heartbreaking as Phil Woodward, a mid-level manager who also loses his job. And Tommy Lee Jones does fine work as executive Gene McClary, who gets a pink slip from his supposed best friend, James Salinger, who is played with cold, heartless efficiency by Craig T. Nelson (I may never be able to watch another episode of “Coach” after this.)

The hiccups in Wells’ script come in the personal stories of Phil and Gene, particularly relating to the women in their lives. There’s little explanation or context about situations involving the health of Phil’s wife or about Gene’s relationships either with his wife or with GTX’s personnel director, Sally Wilcox, played by Maria Bello. Also, Wells doesn’t delve far enough into various aspects about the layoffs, including ageism.

But it has a realistic ending: The bad guys don’t get their comeuppance. Some of the good guys suffer. But others manage to grow. “The Company Men” is, ultimately, a film about lives. Our lives.

Rating: 3 stars. Terrific acting performances; some wobbles in the script.

What Are Your Top 10 KC Films?

Reelzchannel.com has a poll, allowing fans to list their top 10 Kevin Costner films:

http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/8785/vote-for-your-top-10-kevin-costner-movies

October 22: "Company Men" Date Moved

Those expecting to catch "The Company Men" this weekend will have to wait until the weather gets a bit nippier.

The movie will now be released December 10. In the meantime, the Weinstein Co. is trying to juice its award chances by placing it in film festivals.

Here's hoping for good tidings.

Review: "The New Daughter"

The New Daughter **1/2


The popularity of horror movies as a genre is lost on me. If I want to get scared, all I do is turn on the news.

Horror movies can also be a contradiction for movie studios and marketers. They seem to do a lot better at the box office when big stars are not attached.

That may explain why New Line Cinema (the Costner-killer, as I call them, for the way they treated “Thirteen Days” and “The Upside of Anger”) and assorted other studios played hot potato with “The New Daughter” and wussed out on releasing it. Anchor Bay Films, which wound up with the movie, really wussed out and gave it only a cursory weekend release before plopping it on DVD.

It’s unfortunate, because it’s a well-made film, with a steady performance from Kevin Costner and impressive ones from the two young actors – Ivana Baquero and Gattlin Griffith - who play the children of his character, John James.

The story is set in South Carolina, where John takes those children, Louisa and Sam, to a new house to live after John splits up with his wife. The family feels displaced both physically and emotionally – and that’s where it starts, especially for the teenaged Luisa. Soon, Luisa starts acting strange and becomes increasingly drawn to what appears to be a burial mound in back of the house.

Critics who have reviewed the film have provided coming-of-age analogies for the changes Louisa undergoes and John’s struggles to understand them. So did director Luis Berdejo in his commentary for the film on the DVD. Of course, most coming-of-age stories don’t usually come with some of the characters this one does.

It’s difficult to say more without giving away important plot points. The film also includes a nice performance from Samantha Mathis as Sam’s teacher who tries to help John with Louisa, and a somewhat over-the-top performance by James Gammon (“Wyatt Earp”) as a previous tenant of the house where the James family now lives.

The extras are solid, including Berdejo’s commentary, various deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.

Trivia: One of the deleted scenes and a picture in the movie include Rena Sofer as John James’ ex-wife and the children’s mother. During the 1990s, Sofer played Lois Quartermaine in the long-running soap opera “General Hospital.” Recently, she has been seen in the CBS drama “NCIS” as an attorney.

Film: Two-and-a-half stars. The work of the cast is the strong point. The movie deserved a lot better than it got.

DVD: Three stars, with decent commentary and extras.