The Bodyguard (B or 3/4 stars)
Kevin Costner & pop music superstar Whitney Houston star in director Mick Jackson's popular 1992 romantic thriller, 'The Bodyguard'. Costner plays Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent whose latest gig is to be the bodyguard for diva pop star/actress Rachel Marron, (Houston). At 1st, Frank declines, but after her manager (Gary Kemp) & publicist explain that, unbeknownst to Rachel, she has been receiving death threats from a stalker, Frank changes his mind & starts revamping her security, setting strict rules about Rachel's outings, & prioritizing her safety above anything else; including Rachel's own wishes for more freedom.
Rachel resents the need for a bodyguard & treats Frank with initial disdain. But in due course, after an intense situation with a horde of fans, Rachel becomes worried about her young son's safety. She comes around to Frank's rules and, the two start an edgy romance while trying to evade a lunatic's attacks. As Frank is haunted by personal demons involving an attack on a prior client, Rachel's stalker strikes close to home. Tensions & drama ensues.
'The Bodyguard' is a flashy, involving, fairly intense thriller that is more downbeat than expected {the villain, and their motive, are difficult to swallow}. It's far from a masterpiece. Some plot points may make you scratch your head. Cynics make scoff at the hokey, saccharine romance. And the movie did not need to be 130 min. in length. But there is something intangibly, compulsively watchable about the film, with these characters and, the music soundtrack is simply amazing -- the music pulls you through some of the spots that make you question the quality of what you're watching.
Said soundtrack includes some fantastic songs, including dance club anthem "Queen of the Night", a remake of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman", David Foster's Academy Award-nominated power ballad "I Have Nothing", Academy Award-nominated power ballad "Run to You" {my favorite}, & the film's signature cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" -- all incredibly performed. Yes, audiences came to see Whitney Houston act on the big screen. Yes, they came to see dreamy Kevin Costner in hero mode. Yes, they came to see the chemistry btwn. them, the romance, & the thriller elements. But the soundtrack is the main reason why this film made more than $410,000,000 worldwide on a relatively modest production budget.
This was Whitney Houston's movie debut and, she winds up being completely at home. She looks gorgeous. She injects the role of Rachel with a strong will, a free-spirited nature, some interesting egotistical dimensions, & also a sense of loneliness. Furthermore, watching her tear through the more emotional songs with her iconic powerful voice is something to experience, as well. Kevin Costner gives a tense performance, but that is by design. And you can see just how much he cares about Rachel; whether it is when he is hell bent on protecting her, or just quietly falling in love with her.
Best scene in the film {and there are many good ones}: the building sense of dread that forms during the Oscar ceremony in which Rachel - if she wins - will take the stage for her stalker to have a clear gun shot at. Pair that with Frank looking on in horror as that possibility might happen -- nerve-rattling! Director Mick Jackson depicts what happens when two people from very different social standings & from differing racial worlds blend into each other's lives. Jackson & lauded screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan shows how that - no matter your background - our lives can be smothered by our fears and even our desires. The film also shows the lengths that one person will go to protect someone else. Flawed movie, but an iconic & beguiling one.
Rachel resents the need for a bodyguard & treats Frank with initial disdain. But in due course, after an intense situation with a horde of fans, Rachel becomes worried about her young son's safety. She comes around to Frank's rules and, the two start an edgy romance while trying to evade a lunatic's attacks. As Frank is haunted by personal demons involving an attack on a prior client, Rachel's stalker strikes close to home. Tensions & drama ensues.
'The Bodyguard' is a flashy, involving, fairly intense thriller that is more downbeat than expected {the villain, and their motive, are difficult to swallow}. It's far from a masterpiece. Some plot points may make you scratch your head. Cynics make scoff at the hokey, saccharine romance. And the movie did not need to be 130 min. in length. But there is something intangibly, compulsively watchable about the film, with these characters and, the music soundtrack is simply amazing -- the music pulls you through some of the spots that make you question the quality of what you're watching.
Said soundtrack includes some fantastic songs, including dance club anthem "Queen of the Night", a remake of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman", David Foster's Academy Award-nominated power ballad "I Have Nothing", Academy Award-nominated power ballad "Run to You" {my favorite}, & the film's signature cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" -- all incredibly performed. Yes, audiences came to see Whitney Houston act on the big screen. Yes, they came to see dreamy Kevin Costner in hero mode. Yes, they came to see the chemistry btwn. them, the romance, & the thriller elements. But the soundtrack is the main reason why this film made more than $410,000,000 worldwide on a relatively modest production budget.
This was Whitney Houston's movie debut and, she winds up being completely at home. She looks gorgeous. She injects the role of Rachel with a strong will, a free-spirited nature, some interesting egotistical dimensions, & also a sense of loneliness. Furthermore, watching her tear through the more emotional songs with her iconic powerful voice is something to experience, as well. Kevin Costner gives a tense performance, but that is by design. And you can see just how much he cares about Rachel; whether it is when he is hell bent on protecting her, or just quietly falling in love with her.
Best scene in the film {and there are many good ones}: the building sense of dread that forms during the Oscar ceremony in which Rachel - if she wins - will take the stage for her stalker to have a clear gun shot at. Pair that with Frank looking on in horror as that possibility might happen -- nerve-rattling! Director Mick Jackson depicts what happens when two people from very different social standings & from differing racial worlds blend into each other's lives. Jackson & lauded screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan shows how that - no matter your background - our lives can be smothered by our fears and even our desires. The film also shows the lengths that one person will go to protect someone else. Flawed movie, but an iconic & beguiling one.