# 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

### reviewed by
Bob Bloom

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courtney Cox, Christian Slater, David Arquette, Bokeem Woodbine, David Kaye, Kevin Pollack and Howie Long. Written by Richard Recco and Demian Lichtenstein. Directed by Lichtenstein. Rated R.

The reaction to watching 3000 Miles to Graceland is probably akin to attending one of those Elvis nostalgia shows, but with the guy who does the older, fatter Elvis.

You enjoy the show, but are embarrassed and feel foolish about it.

The same emotions tend to rear up during this outlandish crime caper.

3000 Miles to Graceland is, like Elvis, chintzy retro. It is ultra-violent and bloody, but in such a cartoonish manner that you can neither take it seriously nor really be offended.

This foray into foolishness is so outrageous, so near camp that all you can do is sit back and go along for the ride when, at times, all you wish you could do is ìReturn to Sender.î

You watch this movie with disbelief at times, jaws agape at how preposterous and excessive this entire venture can be.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around a quintet of ex-cons who, during an Elvis impersonation convention at a Vegas hotel, dress up as The King to knock over the joint.

The robbery isn't the filmís main focus, though, except that it is kind of kinky seeing Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Christian Slater, David Arquette and Bokeem Woodbine all decked out in their best rhinestone-studded Elvis paraphernalia.

No, it is the post-robbery double dealings that occupy most of the filmís approximate 2 hours and 10 minutes.

What we get is a combination chase, road movie and love story, all courtesy of screenwriters Richard Recco and Demian Lichtenstein, the latter also serving as director ó or ringmaster, depending on your outlook.

The bulk of the movie follows the cat-and-mouse game between Russellís Michael and Costnerís Murphy for possession of the $3.2 million Vegas loot.

Along for the ride is con woman Cybil (Courtney Cox) and her precocious 10-year-old son, Jesse (David Kaye).

The body count is mega-high, and that is disturbing, especially in this post-Columbine climate in which officials are breathing down Hollywoodís neck to tone down cinematic violence.

It is like the filmmakers are thumbing their noses at the establishment. But, of course, being Hollywood, the filmís creators try to have it both ways by putting together an end-title sequence that seems to say, ìHey, folks, don't get all riled up, we're only kidding around and having some fun here.î

One of the filmís weak points is Costnerís performance. The man cannot be taken seriously as a badass ex-con. No matter how hard he tries, or how many people he kills, he retains that Kevin Costner, all-American good guy image. He even curses like a wuss.

Russell fares better as the ex-con with a conscious. You can tell heís the movieís good guy because heís the only one who doesnít mow down a dozen cops or gamblers during the heist sequence.

This is a movie in which the performances are really secondary to the overall ambiance of the film. Director Lichtenstein uses hyper-drive camera movements and lots of fancy angles to disguise the fact that what he has created is merely a ferocious crime drama.

3000 Miles to Graceland is a movie you may find entertaining, then question your reaction afterwards.

It is a savage, destructive outing with a modicum of wit, some style and many disturbing images.

However, you have to appreciate Lichtenstein and his crew for doing things their way.

Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at bobbloom@iquest.net More of Bloom's reviews can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on golafayette. Bloom's reviews also can be found on the Web at the Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom

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