![]() ![]() What goes beyond the formula is the sincere love propelling the plot and corralling our hearts. The usual Western tropes apply like the corrupt sheriff, bad grandma and sons, the kind stranger, the tough mother, and the epic ending battle. Let Him Go adds an authenticity to the thriller formula by emphasizing the devotion of the loving couple to each other and their quest to keep the family whole, or at least provide a fitting family life for their grandson. This is a different, more nuanced role for them when they were Superman's parents. Lane and Costner are in top-aging form, tough and tenderhearted enough to fight the Weboy clan for the grandson. Former daughter in law Lorna (Kavli Carter) has left abruptly with new husband, Donny Weboy (Will Britain), and grandson, relocating under duress to North Dakota and his family- Weboy territory where matriarch Blanche (Manville) wields absolute power. Retired Montana Sheriff George (Kevin Costner) and his wife, Margaret (Diane Lane), search for their grandson, Jimmy (Bram Hornung and Otto Hornung) after the death of their son, James (Ryan Bruce). The craggy mountains and little towns complement the late fifties setting when love and crime occur in simple but stark ways. It's also satisfying to see the searching-for-family motif of contemporary super-hero films played out in the Western plains even if it was filmed in Calgary. It's fun to see the bad guys get roughed up. The search has elemental film roots with mental and physical violence enhanced by Leslie Manville as a bad grandma and her wicked sons. ![]() Despite its sappiness at times though, it’s beloved for a reason and you’ll definitely need to watch it to complete your Kevin Costner experience.Let Him Go is a western-gothic crime thriller with a North Western setting and some resemblance to vintage oaters like The Searchers. One night, he hears the now-famous words “If you build it, he will come” in his head and from there, the movie turns into a sentimental fantasy espousing the glory and importance of baseball but also family. Instead, he plays Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer with regrets about his poor relationship with his baseball-loving father. Unlike in Bull Durham, Costner isn’t playing a pro here. “If you build it, he will come” is probably one of the most quoted - and misquoted - lines in movie history. While not my favorite on the list, or even my favorite baseball movie on the list (see above), Field of Dreams is undeniably a classic. Of course, you can’t have a list of Kevin Costner movies without including Field of Dreams. Its reception from critics and audiences has some nuance, primarily the “white savior” character that is Costner’s Dunbar but also the lack of depth in how it covers the Lakota Sioux culture, but overall it is still considered an important film well worth watching provided you have several hours to spare. ![]() It would go on to win seven of those, including Costner’s only Academy Awards to date. Ultimately though, it's a tale that sheds light on the tragic end of the Great Plains Native American cultures, specifically the Lakota Siouxĭance with Wolves went on to be a smash hit, grossing $424.2 million and accumulating numerous awards - including 12 Oscar nominations. Dunbar’s journey as a Civil War veteran who wants to see the wild, untamed western frontier before it disappears. Released in 1990, this movie is a sprawling (three hours!) Western based on the 1988 novel of the same name. ![]() If The Untouchables is the start of Kevin Costner’s stardom then Dances with Wolves is undoubtedly the peak. ![]()
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