3000 Miles to Graceland

December 10, 2004

Rated: R Runtime: 125 min Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

If you were thinking perhaps 3000 Miles to Graceland might be the movie to really get Kevin Costner’s career back on track, do not hold your breath. This movie will likely be brutalized by most reviewers. But any real guy has the ability to kick his brain into neutral and just enjoy watching a good gun fight, car chase, explosion or a quality set of tah tahs. You’re gonna need neutral for this film.

Costner shares top billing here with Kurt Russell and a star studded supporting cast. Kevin and Kurt are ex-cons looking for a big score. Other than a bank where can you get millions of dollars in small denominations readily? That would be a Las Vegas casino of course! A scheme is hatched to knock over the Riveria’s vault under the cover of the International Elvis Convention. We do not spoil movies here, but suffice to say there are complications.

The cast is spectacular. In addition to Costner and Russell, the movie also includes Christian Slater, Bokeem Woodbine, Courteney Cox and unfortunately also her husband David Arquette. Arquette, known for his obnoxious long distance call collect commercials, is rapidly developing a knack for playing characters that are so annoying that they make us want to kick him in the jimmy. Courteney, if you ever read this, how do you stand it? And if you ever dump him, drop me an email at billybob@moviesforguys.com. That’s B-I-L-L-Y-B-O-B!

Speaking of Courteney, we see a lot of her in this movie, but none of the parts we’re really dying to see. We do discover that she wears thong undies though, which is something we hold in highest regard.

If you’ve seen the trailer for this movie, you get a general idea for the feel of the film. What the trailer may not prepare you for however is just how dark, cynical and violent this movie really is. For us, these aren’t necessarily bad things. There are story and plot holes you could drive a Kenworth through, but again check your brain at the door and just enjoy the action.

One of our primary complaints though is that the film gets caught up in style making it hard to watch some scenes. There’s all sorts of quick edits, sped up frame rates, intercuts, etc. A primary example is during the robbery of the casino the film keeps jumping between the robbery and a show going on elsewhere on stage at a pace which should require a warning label for epileptics.

Overall, our opinion is the movie has a great premise and a spectacular cast, but doesn’t quite live up to it’s potential. Despite that, there are some great action sequences and eye candy. We give it 3 stars. It does have the advantage of the fact that there isn’t another true action flick out right now. And this movie will make a great DVD in a few months, so if you miss it now, don’t miss it on video.

Posted by Billy Bob | Filed Under 3 Stars, Action, Christian Slater, Courteney Cox, DVD, David Arquette, Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, R