Fandango

I think that's there's a big difference between an actor and a star. An actor is someone who is willing to put the time and energy into a meaningful performance, while a star is someone who goes from one vanity project to the next. Now you can be both, Johnny Depp is a good example of this. But most of the time that line between actor and star is rarely crossed. Here's the thing, a lot of stars began their career in more meaningful roles until they have that star making performance that makes a paycheck more important than the quality of work that is being delivered. Take Kevin Costner for instance. I love a lot of his earlier films. American Flyers, Silverado, The Untouchables, Field Of Dreams, and No Way Out are great movies, and ones that Costner delivers a decent performance. But I think once Dances With Wolves came out, he used the newfound popularity, along with an Oscar win, and parlayed that into big paydays and vanity roles. Don't get me wrong, there have been some great roles in there. JFK, Mr. Brooks, and A Perfect World come to mind. But it seems like Costner is happy enough relying on his good natured charm in thankless roles in films like Rumor Has It and The Guardian. Today, I'm going to look at a movie that put his laid back charisma to good use, and was his first starring role. 1985's Fandango.

It's 1971, and a group of five frat brother friends, named The Groovers, who have just graduated decide to embark on one last hurrah before being drafted, married, and becoming men. Their weekend road trip leads some crazy antics and letting go of past ghosts.

Writer/director Kevin Reynolds made an impressive debut with this feature, which was based off a short film he made in college. Steven Spielberg saw that short and was so impressed that he funded Fandango. Spielberg wasn't impressed with the final cut however and has his name removed from the credits. He also did this with another director, Phil Joanou, and his first feature Three O'Clock High.

Costner turns in a great performance as the trouble making ringleader of the group. Judd Nelson, in one of his first starring roles, and Sam Robards are also terrific as Costner's fellow Groovers.

Costner enjoyed working with Reynolds so much that he was Costner's pick to helm Robin Hood:Prince Of Thieves and Waterworld. Their later collaborations weren't as enjoyable however and things became quite heated between the two. So much so that Costner took over directing duties on Waterworld. I kind of seeing this as Costner throwing Reynolds a bone. And since Costner won the Oscar for directing Dances With Wolves, I think Costner saw it as the student becoming the teacher. Just my thoughts.

This is what I consider to be a "guy's movie." In my opinion a "guy's movie" doesn't consist of muscle bound men blowing things up. It's about men having real conversations, and a little fun along the way. And Fandango definitely delivers in that department.

It's available on dvd.