Top Box Office Movies - 3000 Miles to Graceland

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) Warner Bros. / Franchise Pictures
2 hrs. 5 mins.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Christian Slater, David Arquette, Courtney Cox.
Directed by: Demian Lichtenstein

3000 Miles to Graceland

Rating:

E-MAIL GIANCARLO DE LISI

Photo: Warner Brothers

Director Demian Lichtenstein assumes that a film can be thoroughly entertaining with two action sequences, a terrible script, trashy dialogue and what I have termed 'chop-shock' editing. Unfortunately, he is wrong. Furthermore, Director Demian Lichtenstein assumes that he can take two washed out actors who have not appeared in a respectable film in a long time and turn them into action heroes. Once again, he assumes wrong. Director Demien Lichtenstein also assumes that 'style over substance' can overshadow a horrible script and create an entertaining picture. He is dead wrong. The only decent thing is the potential this director can bring to the film industry in terms of his vision.

Do not get me wrong. I enjoy a flashy and kinetic action picture as much as the next male testosterone driven man, yet, it is clear that John Woo is the master of 'slow-mo' shoot 'em ups and anyone who imitates this unique imported style is a 'plagiaristic voyeurist'. This is what I kept telling myself during the Kurt Russell / Kevin Costner film '3000 Miles to Graceland'. As you have probably guessed, this film has sold itself as an action film. Yet, one would be gravely mistaken to limit this film to that one specific genre.

As for the action, allow me to summarize this aspect. There are two action sequences that take up about 15 minutes of this film. Lichtenstein finds his peace recycling frames from Michael Bay to John Woo in regards to his action scenes. Yet, the rest of the film is a dark crime drama with bits of comedic relief given by Jon Lovitz and David Arquette respectively.

Lichtenstein teamed with Richard Recco to script this awful story about a gang of thieves who disguise themselves as Elvis impersonators in order to rob a casino during Elvis Convention week. In siding with the trailers for this film I had to admit the premise of a gang of Elvises robbing a Casino was inventive. Yet, after watching this film and seeing the first gunfight 23 minutes into the film, after the casino scenes it was clear that this film was going nowhere and I would have to sit through another bad film. Aside from shooting the gunplay during the robbery in an exciting fashion, and apart from showing a glint of De Palma-esque buildup for the confrontation outside the Casino - this film is a wretched mess.

The film opens up with a computer generated scorpion fight in the middle of the desert, which in my opinion confused me as to whether or not I was watching a kiddy film or a male oriented action film. Evidently, I was wrong on both guesses. Much to my satisfaction, Costner plays an unconventional character compared to his other roles and seems effortlessly at ease in a role requiring him to be a crude, vulgar and violent criminal with a remorseless character. Russell seems to be the protagonist of the two as he brings Courtney Cox along for this boring ride as everyone is after a lot of money. Christian Slater, Ice-T and David Arquette all appear for a brief amount of time in the film and if you know your action films - you know why.

A lot of things seem to be wrong with this picture, yet the fact remains that this is a boring, action-less action film with some bad acting and an even worse script. Perhaps this talented young director should stick to directing and let others write for him.

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Giancarlo De Lisi
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