50 years from now....

This week's Newsweek magazine has a feature on which movie stars will have their work survive in the long term. I'll post the web site that has a brief summary:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8424990/site/newsweek/

But the print edition seems to have the main article, which says that a low percentage of the movies of some stars, including Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, will be remembered half a century from now, as it currently stands. The article primarily focuses on actors and actresses born after 1960. It doesn't mention KC, but where will he stand 50 years from now? Let's see.

Not counting bit parts and cameo roles, KC has played either a leading or principal role in 27 movies (with Rumor Has It not released yet), from "Stacy's Knights" to "The Upside of Anger." What will people remember? How about:

--Silverado--The one great western of the 1980s, and the one that made KC into a name

--No Way Out--One of the great thrillers of the last two decades, with twists and turns (both in the plot and in the limousine ;) ) that are still discussed.

--The Untouchables--One of the great cop-and-crook movies, with many memorable scenes.

--Bull Durham--Many have called it the best sports movie ever made. Memorable for the quotes, the romance and the sports.

--Field of Dreams--My choice for KC's best movie, with scenes that leave you catching your breath and wiping your eyes.

--Dances With Wolves--The film that, once and for all, shattered the idea that Hollywood would cast non-Native Americans to play Native Americans. Just look at the DVD and you see how personal a project this was to KC.

--JFK--It forced the early opening of records related to the assassination and reminded people that it is our obligation to question.

--Waterworld--Whether people like it or not, the movie is still on people's lips. Perhaps some of those people will actually sit down and watch the movie before they criticize it.

--Tin Cup--To golf what Bull Durham is to baseball. And to me, there has never been a more quintessentially Kevin Costner scene than Roy McAvoy's 12 on the 18th hole. "Greatness courts failure" isn't just Roy's motto--it's KC's.

--The Postman--Blasted by many critics and general moviegoers, but I've never heard KC fans defend one of his movies more passionately than this one.

--For Love of the Game--This has quietly become the movie many athletes point to when discussing how they focus on their competition. Clear the mechanism.

--Thirteen Days--Snubbed by Oscar, but it went into space with the shuttle astronauts and into the White House. It has also become required viewing for many students and leaders.

--Open Range--The shootout has become so iconic that historic reenactors are recreating it. And the movie's just 2 years old. :)

You can also add Robin Hood and The Bodyguard, both still very popular movies, to the list.

The full Newsweek article calculated the "batting average" for actors and actresses, and which movies were likely to have staying power. For KC, the average would be .481 (or 48 percent of his films). Not bad for a guy who's made the best baseball movie. :)

"It's immortal!" Molly Griswold, Tin Cup