It started with Steve McQueen in mind.
It proved a huge hit for Kevin Costner.
Theres not a sequel in the Costner canon to date, and thats no coincidence.
Two things about it before we get going.
To this day, that probably remains one of theDaily Express favourite ever stories.
Secondly, its one of the few films that hinges on Costner holding a gun.
For a major movie star, hes surprisingly bereft of weaponry in some of his films.
This one, he woos a pop star, and shoots his weapon.
Help yourself to that.
So: isThe Bodyguardreally that bad?
Shamelessly, Im going for a no.
But Id take it over at least seven different Adam Sandler movies (and counting).
Whats perhaps more interesting aboutThe Bodyguardis the film that it could have been.
It would be fair to say that you dont confuse McQueen and Costner while watching the film, though.
Kasdan establishes that Frank Farmer is great, because he successfully repels an attack, and earns appreciation.
As the title card comes up, Costner is in his gun firing pose.
There was promo shot number one for the film right there.
Most of them will hit, even if youre not aiming properly.
It takes what feels like an exhaustive amount of time to get through some fairly uninspiring storytelling.
The romance simply never seems to work.
Some of the dialogue doesnt help.
But I cant fuck you?
replies Houston, wishing she was morepowerfulin movies so she could demand better things to say.
But then Houston was a novice actress in her first film role here.
No, thats the last thing you should do.
Furthermore, producer Jim Wilson reveals in the disc extras that Costner did keep asking her for more.
Costner, meanwhile, can do this kind of role without pushing himself too much.
Thats part of the point, of course.
From that point on, you know youre in for a treat.
Costner has since revealed that this is the sequence hed change about the film.
Im glad that never happened though, as said Oscars scene never fails to delight.
you could see why Costner wanted it out, as its just too funny to be taken seriously.
Before the Oscars though, director Mick Jackson delivers a really good sequence.
Moving the target into the middle of nowhere, for some quality bonding and an escalation of threat?
Even on rewatch, I found myself opening up a fresh bag of popcorn.
I ate it quietly, of course.
Footsteps in the snow, just as Whitneys having a sing song?
A boat on the lake, with Marrons son, Fletcher?
Costner predatingWaterworldby diving in to pull Fletcher from the boat!
Its a false alarm isnt it?
Within minutes, we have a nighttime pursuit through the woods.
Rachels sister gets killed, and Frank has a chat with his dad.
Incidentally, Franks dad you may remember fromCliffhanger, where he pulled this very special face…
So, the Oscars.
The key problem though is that this is when the tension is supposed to escalate.
Now, the films winter retreat had tension.
The Oscars bit doesnt.
Still, the shooting is worth it for Houstons pose here….
…. and for Costners natty arm sling.
More recently, Costner has been sanguine aboutThe Bodyguard.
I liked it for the part, he said.
Kasdan, meanwhile, has talked of story issues that he couldnt quite resolve on the film.
It also has that sodding song in it, which wasnt even supposed to be in it.
Jim Wilson stumbled on, well, lets call it the other one.
But still,The Bodyguard.
Bottom line is that its still quite weak.
Its not outright terrible.
And that haircut, no matter what Mr Costner said, has not caught on.
Im an authority on haircuts.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
