On the outset of 1987, Kevin Costner was greatest often known as the cocky gunslinger Jake in Lawrence Kasdan’s Western romp “Silverado.” This was a make-good position from the director, who’d lower Costner out of “The Huge Chill” as a result of his portrayal of the deceased Alex did not play effectively with check audiences; mainly, the ensemble forged had achieved such an important job of build up Alex’s significance that the then unknown Costner could not stay as much as the legend. And whereas it was a pleasant gesture on Kasdan’s half, “Silverado” did not fairly catch hearth on the field workplace in the summertime of 1985.
So when Costner landed the plum position of Eliot Ness in Brian De Palma’s 1987 gangster saga “The Untouchables,” Paramount Photos mounted a publicity offensive to promote the interesting 32-year-old actor as a significant film star who’d in the end arrived. Decked out in positive Giorgio Armani threads and armed with razor-sharp David Mamet dialogue, Costner was mainly taking batting observe with a corked bat. How may he not ascend to full-blown film stardom as Ness with De Palma behind the digicam, and Sean Connery and Robert De Niro as his foils?
Most individuals will inform you Costner delivered as anticipated, however he’ll counter that he may’ve achieved higher. How so? By bringing to his position the one factor his co-stars had in spades and he lacked: expertise.
Kevin Costner felt outgunned on the set of The Untouchables
In a 2024 interview with GQ tied to the discharge of his as-yet-uncompleted Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga,” Costner opened up in regards to the making of “The Untouchables.” Whereas the movie is an unimpeachable basic that grossed $76 million within the U.S. (ok to complete sixth on the field workplace in 1987), Costner thinks he introduced a knife to a gunfight.
“‘The Untouchables’ was a extremely well-written script,” mentioned Costner. “David Mamet had written actually a really excellent script, and so I wished to be part of it. Brian de Palma directed it, and naturally, Sean Connery was in it, you realize, Robert De Niro, and it was a very good second for me to be in that film.” It was a very good second, however it wasn’t the proper time for Costner. “I really did not assume Sean was the form of man that was gonna like me,” he mentioned. “I do not know why, however he did. He was good to me. And I discovered quite a bit as a result of my eyes have been open. I want I used to be a greater actor after I did ‘The Untouchables’ however I used to be the place I used to be at.”
Some critics have been unkind to Costner again in 1987. Roger Ebert wrote, “The script would not give him, and [Costner] would not present, any of the little twists and turns of character which may have made Ness into a person.” I disagree with this. No matter we all know of Ness’ post-prohibition life (e.g. that he grew to become a barely employable drunk) has no buy in De Palma’s film. Historical past, usually, has no buy. Do you assume Ness led a Canadian-border liquor raid with the Mounties? Pure fantasy. De Palma and Mamet’s Ness is a boy scout as a result of that is what this method gangster movie requires. Costner does as forged and directed. Had he been extra assured, he would possibly’ve second-guessed De Palma as he is achieved with different administrators, and that will’ve gone poorly. De Palma received him on the proper time, and Costner was the proper of naïf. Right here, as Sean Connery’s Malone would say, endeth the lesson.
