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 usicians come
and go, but very few remain the king. That's probably why you could spot
him almost anytime of year, donning his lamb-chop sideburns and flashy
sequined pants.That man is Elvis, and he's been the subject of imitation and impersonation since his death in the '70s. Now you can catch him on the big scream once again, err, make that see Kevin Costner on the big screen dressing up as one of the most popular singers of the 20th century. Alongside Kurt Russell (Soldier), Costner puts on the studs and does his best shimmy to attract audiences into his newest action picture, 3000 Miles to Graceland. Costner, whose roster includes Dances with Wolves and Waterworld, had his face in the limelight over Christmas with a flick about the Cuban missile crisis, Thirteen Days. Now playing the leader of an unorganized crime team of four petty crooks, Costner will have to prove once again if he can sizzle at the box office. |
actors Kevin Costner Kurt Russell Christian Slater Courteney Cox-Arquette Howie Long Jon Lovitz David Arquette director location outtake |
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But he isn't alone on this one, and
is supported by a star-studded cast, including David Arquette (Ready to Rumble) and real-life wife Courteney Cox-Arquette (Scream 3), Christian Slater (The Contender), Ice T and football legend Howie Long (Broken Arrow). It all starts with a bright idea: rob the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Vegas as Elvis impersonators, grab a five-man crew fully loaded with a deadly arsenal, and storm the vault. In and out, no one's hurt. But they fail to realize that anyone in an Elvis suit doesn't get off the hook that easily. With major glitches in their heist, things go awry and trouble brews. Although the team of bandits dramatically escape from the law, the men must face their own reality: greed. With $3.2 million in stolen loot, they could do Elvis impersonations for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, they won't. Now outlaws on the run, the team has to shake, rattle and roll from Nevada and find a safe place to divvy up the winnings and stash the loot. But Costner's character, Murphy, decides that his old cell buddy and cohort in crime, Michael, played by Russell, doesn't need the cash so he schemes to snake his way into his buddy's cut. 3000 Miles to Graceland also shows Costner as a villain, something he rarely plays on the big screen. Russell was initially cast as the villain, but at the last minute director Demian Lichtenstein opted for Costner. We'll see who plays the best Elvis yet. While Costner was busy dancing with wolves, Russell portrayed Elvis in a 1979 TV movie and his performance was nominated for an Emmy. He has also said that he acted alongside the King when he was 11 years old, and was scripted to kick him in the shins. If you want to see how this strange tale plays out, just check out 3000 Miles to Graceland. - Zack Medicoff |