Improbable thriller in which a bunch of ex-cons, led by Kurt Russell, dress up as Elvis impersonators to rob a Vegas casino. But things go wrong when a psychotic member of the gang (Kevin Costner) double-crosses them, leaving Russell and his girlfriend (Courteney Cox) to go on the run...
I remember seeing this movie when it first came out and remember enjoying it immensely at the time, it was a fun crime caper with guys dressed as Elvis, cant go wrong really. I recently saw it added to the lovefilm player and though, why not. Also had a quick look on a few sites to see the general reaction to this and most are not good! But I have to say i enjoyed again.
The story is simple enough, Kurt Russell, fresh out of prison, and Kevin Costner, sporting some of the greatest sideburns in movie history, lead a gang in a daring casino heist dressed as Elvis!
Costner, who does a great job departing from the usual character and plays a bad guy. The great thing about this film is that all the characters are bad guys, we just have to decide how bad they are and how much we want to let ourselves care about them. Our allegiance goes with Russell, who seems to be playing the cliche of 'bad guy out to retire after one last big score', but its Russell's ability to play the 'average guy' that makes us side and to an extent care about and route for him.
The supporting cast is very impressive but a little underused, with Davids Arquette playing the goof, and Christian Slater playing the cool guy of the gang and having a brilliant exchange with Costner post robbery. Both perfect for these roles but we don't see enough of them.
We also meet Kevin Pollock and Thomas Haden Church as FBI agents chasing them after the robbery, again both great supporting actors who are sadly a little underused but are always enjoyable when on screen.
**Spoiler ahead**
The opening heist scene is the highlight of the movie, we follow the Elvis clad gang as they pull of an almost impossible heist in a casino, during an Elvis impersonator convention.
Its loud, fast and violent, and that's exactly what you want from a casino heist. but their plan is almost undone as they are discovered on their way out and a shootout ensues. seemingly trapped they head for the car park roof and their ingenious escape route, via helicopter. But not all make it as one of the team is shot and killed.
This is the catalyst to the main story of betrayal amongst thieves!!
An argument breaks out back at the motel about how to divide their dead comrades share, and Costner's character betrays and shoots the rest. But Russell's character survives!
The money has bee stolen by a kid, the son of Russell's love interest, a motel dwelling single mother played by Courtney Cox.
The movie becomes a cat and mouse chase across country as they rush to launder the money, and try and outwit or kill the others, culminating in a shootout wit Costner, backed up by Ice T, Russell and the police and that's not going to end well!!
After the explosive and stylish opening heist, the movie falls into a dialogue driven movie as the characters chase and double-cross each other in an effort to get the cash! The comic scenes, like Costner's encounter with a football fan, scattered throughout the movie help but the dialogue is not strong enough to to live up to the opening and lets the movie down a bit in the middle and the predictable end!
However if you enjoy fun thrillers with a bit of style, this definitely one to check out
7/10
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