"3 Days to Kill" Proves Costner's Still Got It

Kevin Costner is starring in the new action flickand he is bringing his charm and charisma with him.
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Movie Review Jackie K Cooper
3 Days to Kill (Relativity)

Kevin Costner is starring in the new action flick 3 Days to Kill and he is bringing his charm and charisma with him. Costner has co-stars in the movie, notably Amber Heard and Hailee Steinfeld, but the success or failure of this film rests on his shoulders and his unique talent. At one time in his career every project he touched turned to gold but in the last few years that "Midas touch" has evaporated. This movie however indicates a large portion of the Costner charm is still on view.

Costner plays government hit man Ethan Renner. He is one of the best in his business but his health is deteriorating. Faced with the diagnosis that he is dying Ethan returns to Paris where his wife Christine (Connie Nielsen) and daughter Zoey (Steinfeld) live. He wants to connect with them one last time.

Ethan does not tell his daughter of his condition which means that her hostile feelings towards him continue. To further complicate his life, a CIA operative named Vivi (Heard) tells him she has an experimental drug that can extend his life. She will provide it if he will do one last job for the Agency. He agrees even though he has promised his wife he is out of this business.

The film, which is based on a screenplay by Luc Bresson among others, revs up the violence quotient and keeps Ethan dodging bullets. Bresson is the man behind the celebrated action films Taken and The Transporter. He definitely knows how to keep audiences enthralled in the action on screen.

As Ethan, Costner creates the same kind of romantic hero he perfected in movies such as The Bodyguard and Field of Dreams. In this film Ethan picks Zoey up in his arms to carry her to safety. This brings back those chilling moments when he did the same for Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguard."

Heard, Steinfeld and Nielsen give strong support to Costner in this film. Heard creates a character who is a cool killer but also an alluring ally. Nielsen adds to the emotionalism of the film as the woman who hates what Ethan does but loves him just the same. Steinfeld makes Zoey as complex and adorable as any teen can be.

The film is rated PG-13 for profanity, brief nudity and violence.

This movie is not without its flaws. The violent scenes are a bit redundant and the length of the film is too long. Still for those who have wanted Costner's star to return to its orbit 3 Days To Kill is a pleasant surprise.

I scored 3 Days to Kill a slain 6 out of 10.

Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com

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