Tuesday, January 12, 2016

24 Hours of Movies: Kurt Russell Rules

by Patrick Bromley
The Kurt Russell Rule is this: Kurt Russell rules.

With Bone Tomahawk released several months back and now Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight currently playing in theaters, there was a lot of talk about Kurt Russell (and his mustaches) in 2015. I have long been obsessed with Kurt Russell since I was a kid and basically wanted to be him (once I outgrew wanting to be Michael J. Fox which, to be fair, I never actually outgrew). It wasn't until I was watching Bone Tomahawk in late October that I finally came to a realization, writing something on Twitter to the effect of "I don't know why I always struggle to name my favorite actor when it is so clearly Kurt Russell." So there it is. With this in mind, I present over 24 consecutive hours of Kurt Russell movies.

10 a.m. - The Barefoot Executive (1971, dir. Robert Butler)
Kurt Russell made so many "family" comedies for Disney in the early '70s that it's hard to pick which one to start with, especially when I've never seen any of them. Reading the plot synopsis for several of them reveals a recurring theme: young Kurt gains super intelligence or young Kurt discovers a formula for invisibility or young Kurt discovers a formula for super strength. Not The Barefoot Executive, though. This one finds young Kurt befriending a monkey and the two of them pick hit TV shows together. Like, the story of a man and his monkey would be enough for almost any other movie, but then this one adds a whole aspect about network development? I can't see this fast enough. It makes sense to start here, not just because it represents the early days of Kurt Russell's career but also because it's early enough that my kids can join me for the first movie.

Noon - Escape from New York (1981, dir. John Carpenter)
Because I hope to include three of Russell's collaborations with John Carpenter, I need to space them out. Plus I like the idea of starting with a Disney comedy -- which defined the first part of his career -- and immediately following it up with the film and performance that would help redefine him as a movie star. Along with Marge Gunderson of Fargo, Snake Plissken is one of my favorite movie characters of all time, aided no doubt by Russell's brilliant performance -- a swaggering, whispering takedown of the Clint Eastwood antihero that's funny without ever going for laughs. I love almost every single thing about this movie: I love the music, I love the visual effects, I love the cynicism. I love the Kurt Russell.

2 p.m.Overboard (1987, dir. Garry Marshall)
From what I can remember, Kurt Russell has only ever made one romantic comedy (unless Tango & Cash counts). Though he's a versatile actor, there aren't many romcoms for which he would be a good fit; I guess it's a testament to Overboard that it plays to his strengths, plus allows him to act opposite his longtime partner Goldie Hawn. When you actually consider the implications of what happens in Overboard it is completely repellent, but the stars are so charming and Garry Marshall's touch light enough that the movie manages to be super pleasant so long as you ignore the implications of the plot. Marshall would pull off this same feat just a few years later with Pretty Woman, another sweet and innocent-seeming romantic comedy made from dark and ugly material.

4 p.m. - Stargate (1994, dir. Roland Emmerich)
For the record, Stargate is not good Kurt Russell. I'm not even sure it's a good movie, even though I feel like watching it once every year or two and am convinced for the first few minutes that I love it until I don't. I'm including it here because when you're scheduling 24 hours worth of movies, you have to make sure that it's stuff you're going to want to watch, stuff that fits together and stuff that offers different experiences. Jonathan Mostow's Breakdown, for example, is both a better movie and a better Kurt Russell performance and could easily fit into this slot, but I have too soft a spot for big, goofy science fiction like this. Also I'm realizing I should have put Breakdown on this list.

6:15 p.m. - Dark Blue (2002, dir. Ron Shelton)
What is maybe the most underrated movie in this lineup (unless Tango & Cash counts) also features what might be Kurt Russell's best performance ever. Directed by Ron Shelton (working outside his "flawed athlete" wheelhouse) and written by James Ellroy and David Ayer -- the patron saints of police corruption stories -- the movie casts Russell as a corrupt L.A. cop in the days leading up to the Rodney King verdict and subsequent riots. If you've never seen this -- and there's a good chance you haven't -- you should rectify that immediately. The movie is terrific and Russell is next-level great, turning everything we love about him against us.

8:15 p.m. - The Thing (1982, dir. John Carpenter)
Well, it's getting to be nighttime now, which means we're due for another Russell/Carpenter collaboration. For my money, this is their best work together and one of the five best horror movies of all time. One of the things I love about the movie (and which was lost on me watching it as a kid) is that even though Kurt Russell's RJ MacReady is the de facto hero of the film, it's mostly by default. He does make a few heroic choices, but he's also kind of a prick and behaves like a scared guy trying to do a job. Like Carpenter, Russell is great at minimalism. It's no wonder they work so well together.

10:15 p.m. - Bone Tomahawk (2015, dir. S. Craig Zahler)
The most recent film in the lineup is a great western in which Kurt Russell plays a lawman leading a rescue party into the mouth of hell. I don't want to say more about what's in store for these men -- including Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and a brilliant Richard Jenkins -- but this is a good movie for this spot because it begins as something fairly traditional (few genres are more traditional than the Western) and gives way to nightmarish horror. That so many great actors, including a star of Russell's stature, would sign on to this very low-budget indie is a testament to the strength of the material. This is a brutal, beautiful film, with Russell -- as he so often does -- holding it together at its center.

12:30 a.m. - Death Proof (2007, dir. Quentin Tarantino)
Taking the midnight movie spot is Quentin Tarantino's half of 2007 Grindhouse double feature, starring Kurt Russell as a slasher who uses his car to murder women. This is often referred to as Tarantino's "worst" film, but I don't agree with that a) because I love it and b) because I don't think "worst" and Tarantino's films belong in the same sentence together -- not yet, anyway. The role of Stuntman Mike was originally intended for Mickey Rourke, who probably would have been very good but who would have done something entirely different, and Kurt Russell is so good -- so charming, so menacing and ultimately such a cowardly pussy -- that it's impossible for me to imagine anyone else. His performance exposes the lie not just of all of cinema's killers, but of any American male who has ever tried to intimidate or hurt a member of the opposite sex. No way all of this is going on in anyone's "worst" movie.

2:30 a.m. - Used Cars (1980, dir. Robert Zemeckis)
Though he's been very funny in a few films that aren't overly comic, Kurt Russell has only made a handful of out and out comedies (and one of them is Captain Ron for what what's worth). His first post-Disney comedy, Robert Zemeckis' second feature Used Cars, is probably still his best. Playing fast-talking, morally flexible salesman Rudy Russo, Russell turns on the charm and makes a case that there's some darkness and a little bit of insanity behind his big smile and infectious laugh (which you'll hear a lot of if you listen to the commentary track included on the DVD; along with the three he has recorded with Carpenter, it's a must-listen for Kurt Russell fans). This is one of the great anarchic comedies of the '80s.

4:30 a.m. - 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001, dir. Demian Lichtenstein)
How great is Kurt Russell? He's so great that he manages to survive this mostly-terrible early 2000s action movie totally unscathed. This is a movie that opens with CGI scorpions fighting one another and doesn't necessarily get better from there. I'm not complaining -- I can literally watch it anytime it's on -- but this one seems to have gotten away from everyone. Russell co-stars with Kevin Costner as the leaders of a group of thieves who rob a casino dressed as Elvis, only to betray one another and get chased down by law enforcement and Ice-T carrying two guns and Courtney Cox as a single mom in tight clothes and a sarcastic kid masking his heart of gold. Costner is miscast as both a psycho and as an Elvis impersonator and the good cast (which also includes Christian Slater, Bokeem Woodbine, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Jon Lovitz and Thomas Haden Church) is wasted, but Russell is 100% charming and gets to riff on the role that made him famous in adulthood. The story goes that both Russell and Costner got to oversee totally different edits of the final film (which doesn't say much for anyone's faith in the director) and that Costner's more violent, action-heavy cut was picked by preview audiences over Russell's more character-focused version. See what happens when you don't trust Kurt Russell? You get 3000 Miles to Graceland. This movie is stupid trash that I can't wait to watch at 5 a.m.

6:30 a.m. Tango and Cash (1989, dir. Andrey Konchalovsky)
Speaking of stupid trash and chaotic productions. Few action films of the '80s are more wonderfully, gloriously stupid than Tango & Cash, which pairs Sylvester Stallone and a perfectly-coiffed Kurt Russell (stepping in for Patrick Swayze, who quit the movie) as rival cops trying to figure out who framed them and sent them to prison. Original director Andrey Konchalovsky was either fired or quit during production of this movie and Albert Magnoli was brought in to take his place, with scenes seemingly being made up as they went along. It's ridiculous and nonsensical and big and loud and so, so dumb and I don't care because I've seen this movie 20 times and practically recite it. If there was one movie that made me fall in in love with Kurt Russell at a young age, I suspect it was this one. Once again, he comes away from a disaster totally untouched. The guy is Teflon.

8:30 a.m. - Sky High (2005, dir. Mike Mitchell)
I know this is going to take us over the 24-hour mark, but I couldn't leave either this or the next film out of the lineup. Russell plays The Commander, a superhero whose son (Michael Angarano) is beginning a special high school for heroes despite not demonstrating any powers yet. Russell's role is limited, but he's hilarious as a guy who is sweet and heroic but not terribly bright. I still remember going to see this with my wife on a weekday afternoon and having basement-level expectations based on the marketing (we only saw it because it fit between two other movies we were seeing that day) and being beyond pleasantly surprised with what a smart, funny, colorful film this is.

10:30 a.m. - Big Trouble in Little China (1986, dir. John Carpenter)
There's really only one way to close out a marathon of Kurt Russell movies: his fourth (but not final) collaboration with John Carpenter and arguably his silliest, though a case could be made for Escape from L.A. If not for Snake Plissken, Jack Burton would be my favorite Russell creation of all time -- the macho, swaggering alpha who seems like an action hero but who is actually the incompetent sidekick. Nearly everything about Big Trouble demolishes audience expectations, which might explain why it underperformed and didn't become a cult classic until its cable rotation. Russell's willingness to lay waste to movie star convention time and again is a huge part of what makes him one of the great actors of our time. He's got the looks, the dramatic chops and the physicality to do anything but time and again works without ego. He's the best.

27 comments:

  1. Tango & Cash is absolutely a romantic comedy. The closing credits high-five is as sensual and erotic as any on-screen kiss I've ever seen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't think of a better way to spend 24 hours. Thanks for calling out Dark Blue. His performance is outstanding even though the movie itself isn't perfect. I recently saw Bone Tomahawk director S. Craig Zahler call it out as his favorite Kurt Russell performance. You're right, everyone should see it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patrick...you also rule.
    From one of Kurt's biggest fans, I thank you, sir.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I want to be MJF, too! Even in his current physical state, the guy just oozes cool.

    Also, I've never seen probably half of the movies on this marthon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This list just reminded me how much Kurt Russell I still need to see. It also makes me want to go back and watch some episodes of Stargate SG-1, which I'm suspecting doesn't hold up at all haha. Great premise for a show though, because it pretty much left the door open to any story idea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent list, but I'd get past the Stargate problem (SG-1, by the way, totally holds up) by watching SOLDIER instead.

    ReplyDelete
  7. He could do no wrong in the 80s and early 90s, but he broke my heart signing on to Escape from LA when it was already clear Carpenter had lost his way. I don't know if he did it out of obligation to the man or what, but even the most cursory look at the script should have warned Russell it was a dog. He's never really won me back after doing that to Snakes Plissken :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kurt co-wrote that script. I'm pretty sure they were doing exactly what they wanted to.

      Delete
    2. That makes things so much worse!

      Delete
  8. No love for Tequila Sunrise? That movie was the tits back in the 90's.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Little known Russell fact: He was the voice of Elvis Presley in Forrest Gump! Also played the singer in a TV movie in the 70s.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great list, although instead of sky high I'd put backdraft in there. Although it seems Russel's character is in more of a supporting role in Ron Howards opus to firefighting, he quite clearly, I think, removes the spotlight from William Baldwin in the movie as the older brother character.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Let's be honest. Overboard is the bomb. I seriously love that movie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup! I was just thinking all last week how much i have always loved Overboard.

      Delete
  12. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I can watch 3000 Miles to Graceland at the drop of a hat. I used to forget how bad it was until I had started it, but these days I don't even care, I just embrace the stink and get it all over me. We need a Blu-ray! Great list, P!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's a testament to Russell's breadth that you could compile such a great list and STILL have Tombstone left over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My thoughts exactly. On my planet "Tombstone" gets either "Overboard's" or "The Barefoot Executive's" spot.

      Delete
  14. Great list for a great actor.
    Although I already knew Kurt Russell from older movies like "Now you see him, now you don't", I consciously registered him for the first time in 1981 as Snake Plissken in Carpenter's "Escape from New York".
    This role made me fall in love a little bit with Russell, even before I realized being gay. That´s clearly Russell's fault.
    Since 1981, I have seen every Russell movie on the big screen, except of course the ones only launched on VHS or DVD and I actively skipped "Captain Ron" and "Overboard", as I tend to avoid comedies.
    He´s surely one of my but maybe not the favorite actor, but Russell is one of the most reliable stars who never gives the impression, even in his lesser films, that he acts only for the paycheck. He´s always fun to watch and I hope to see a constant stream of movies starring him in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let's be honest, when it comes to Kurt Russell, we're all gay.

      Delete
    2. Not Kathy, Gabby or any female member of the human race. ;-)

      Delete
    3. Them too. Or did you not see him in drag in Tango & Cash?

      Delete
  15. With some creativity you could make 2 great Kurt Russell 24 hour extravaganzas, a straight action one and a comedy-drama one. I just love Best of Times, one of Robin Williams best movies. Just a great, funny football comedy with Kurt perfectly cast as a former stud quarterback gone to seed. And Miracle with Kurt coaching the hell out of a hockey team while sporting hideous tight plaid bell-bottoms. A quality film.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If there was a Kurt Russell straight action 24 hour extravaganza, I gotta put Executive Decision in there. I know it was riding the wave of the Airplane Highjacking Movie fad of the 90's, but it's way superior to Con Air & Air Force One. We have Russell who played Snake Plissken, convincingly playing a reluctant intelligence consultant who's more comfortably behind a laptop than using a gun. Russell is great at being a badass, the common man, or a total wuss. Let's face it, Decision probably has the best Steven Seagal scene ever.

      Delete
  16. John Carpenter says that "Captain Ron" is his favorite Kurt Russell performance. Too awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have to End the Night with Tombstone..Kurt Russell is the Best.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kurt Russell,BACK DRAFT? BEST OF THE MAN'S MOVIES!!!... NEED I SAY MORE?

    ReplyDelete