I wish he would stop casting himself in his movies. His directing is usually pretty good, it's just...
IMO nearly every role I've seen him act in would have been a much better movie if he would have cast someone else for the role he chooses for himself.
I do believe that Kevin is a great all around person, but his acting leave a lot to be desired. Open Range could have been a 5 star movie, but it's not. Duvall is so good that he makes up for Costner's lack of quality acting.
Every Costner movie I watch, it's the same story. He's just not convincing.
I like Costner's more understated and quiet brand of acting. Too many actors like to really let you know that they're acting, really giving it all for the Oscar. Pacino and Hoffman act their little socks off in every film and too often it just appears false - they act TOO much, to the extent that the character doesn't come across as a real person. Costner may appear bland or even wooden but he's always seemed 'normal' on screen, maybe not chewing the scenery or showing histrionics but it's all the better and more believable for it.
shareKevin Costner is smashing in JFK, A Perfect World, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Dances With Wolves, Message In A Bottle, Dragonfly, Fandango---he's misunderstood and misjudged. So many people base their opinions on what they hear a critic bitch about or one of their friends or something like that. He has a very laid back style. And he has been compared many times to Gary Cooper.
shareAnd they blame him for movies he only acted in. Does any other actor get so ripped apart for just being in a few poor films? Does Tom Cruise get ripped apart for Night and Day or Jerry Maguire? Sheesh. Costner is the tall poppy that many people in the industry wanted to cut down, and in many ways, they managed to. The film goers who just couldn't pigeon hole the guy easily bought into the critics' panning. Honestly though, his most disappointing films are no worse than any other 'A grade' actor out there who are adored despite anything they do, AND he has directed two stellar films.
PS: I think many people don't realise that 1) 'producer' and 'director' are not the same thing, which is proven by how many people are fooled by marketing every day, and 2) ANOTHER Kevin directed the trouble Waterworld, and while Costner did step in to salvage the film, he wasn't the helmsman.
I do wish I could understand why Kevin is so harshly judged over stuff that's come and gone. He continues to do roles he likes. Other actors accept roles for what reason? Do they really want to do them or do they just want to keep acting? Do they just look at the money end of the deal? What is people's problems with a great and talented actor that KEVIN COSTNER IS with doing what he wants to do? The bottom line is many movie goers are lazy because they want somebody else to tell them whether or not they should go. So if a critic's opinion is don't waste your time, the lazy movie goers believe them and don't go. Personally, I hate somebody telling me I shouldn't waste my time and money. I will see what I want to see and nobody's opinion of it will change my mind. I very much wish that people would start taking jabs at somebody else.
shareThat's as good an opinion of Costner as I have ever heard. I, too, think he is a much maligned actor, for whatever insane reason! The comparison to Gary Cooper is very true....that same "understated style". No other actor could have played Roy in "Tin Cup"....or Ray in "Field of Dreams". My all time favorite was Charlie Waite in "Open Range"!
shareI agree.
If you're in any doubt of his acting abilities, I suggest you watch "A Perfect World". He nails the character, in all it's subtleties.
I've been a fan since 91 and Robin Hood POT...Watch KC in No Way Out, The War, Mr. Brooks, A Perfect World, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Message in a Bottle, Dragonfly, 3 Days to Kill (really awesome performance here), The Hatfields and McCoys...of course Dances with Wolves and of course Open Range...and Fandango...jeez, I could go on forever. He has the right expressions, the on target eye for detail...and I should also mention JFK, The Postman, Waterworld...each character is like a different flavor of ice cream! And if you don't like him no matter what, then don't come to the boards and diss him. Leave it alone.
shareI can never understand why Costner gets such a bad rap. Silverado-great movie, Wyatt Earp-great movie, Dances With Wolves-Epic classic, Waterworld's production was a total fiasco and the story was ill-conceived. But I had no problem with the Postman, I thought it was pretty good. The bodyguard was not my cup of tea, but it made a fortune, and turned Whitney Houston into a mega star. Yeah, he did a couple of Rom-Coms. Nothing to appalling, or any worse than most other rom-coms.
Don't forget Field of Dreams, another really good movie. Open Range was far superior to alot of Eastwoods over the top stuff.
Ok, I agree Costner isn't the greatest actor in the world...by far. However, I think he was a perfect fit for Dances With Wolves, and for those of you who have read the book, I think you will agree, Costner nailed it. And I thought he did well in this film also, and I found him to be fairly decent in Mr. Brooks. So he has his moments. But I agree, he is a much beter director than actor.
"I'm talking about God, the Devil, Hell, Heaven! Do you understand?! Finally?!"
I don't know what people wanted him to do here. The character wasn't supposed to be a loud in-your-face maniac.
Who could've done better? Pacino, my ass.
I thought this was an excellent movie, and Costner was excellent in it.
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I must agree that Mr. Costner is an exceedingly weak actor in this film and
frankly,every one.
Please bear with me for a moment.Costner made a fine effort in Tin Cup,however....the moment Don Johnson arrived Kevin was blown off the screen.
In the "Untouchables,"Costner and Andy Garcia were invisible when the great Sean Connery took over.........behind the camera for Kevin is right."A gopher?"
You have NO IDEA what you are saying. KC weak in a film? NO! Give me a break. You do not know good and great acting when you see it. Stick to your cartoons and mindless action flicks, dude. You are clueless.
shareHey Aragorn et al,
While I think Waterworld was a bad film, I have to disagree with you folks about Costner's acting ability in this and other films. He worked just fine for me. He convinced me that he was Charlie. It seems to be in vogue to denigrate Costner by some folks, and I just do not understand it.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
"A Perfect World"- his best work as an actor (imho).
shareKevin's great in this movie - and every other movie he's done. And I love Waterworld and The Postman, two of my favorite movies of all time. I don't care what anyone who hates Kevin or his movies has to say. They are entitled to their opinion. But my opinion is that Kevin's a great actor and and an absolute genius director. He won an Oscar for his directorial debut for Heaven's sake! The man is a master of his craft.... both of 'em - directing and acting.
shareHonestly, I think it takes guts to cast yourself alongside of Robert Duvall, the finest actor of his generation.
IMO Costner very much held his own in Open Range, delivering a well-crafted understated performance. There is more to acting than chewing up the scenery.
Indeed I can't say enough about the cast, from top to bottom. Hollywood is teeming with highly skilled character actors and it seems most of them gathered in Alberta to make this film. I have never seen Annette Bening better, and if you're familiar with Michael Gambon's body of work, you have to take your hat off to his astonishing range.