Kevin Costner - a Tribute

I was playing trivia the other night with some friends at a bar and one of the bonus questions was designed to award points to the team that could name the most movies featuring Kevin Costner. My team won. I named 14. I figured I needed to do something about this. I mean, if you figure that each movie is at least 90 minutes and that I have seen Robin Hood, a low ball, 20 times, Tin Cup - 30 times, Dances With Wolves - 10 times, Bodyguard - (somehow) 5 times, Field of Dreams - 15 times, Bull Durham - 10 times, well, then, I have spent a decent amount of time watching Kevin Costner movies. As a result, this is the first in a series of posts wherein an actor's filmography will be discussed and ultimately ranked. So here is to Kevin Costner!

My rankings of the 14 Costner movies I named in the bar:

1) Tin Cup

I hate when people ask me what my favorite movie of all time is. I usually answer differently each time. I would say, though, that I have answered Tin Cup more than any other movie. It is one of the most fun movies every made. I'm indebted to all those involved with its making.

2) Field of Dreams

I've never rooted for a protagonist more than I have Ray Kinsella.

3) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

This movie shaped who I am and want to be. Only Swiss Family Robinson and Last of the Mohicans were more formative.

4) Dances With Wolves

Game changer. Took epics to a new level. It re-made an archetype better than those before it and has been re-made by others only in vain.

5) Bull Durham

Only Costner and Sarandon can weave baseball and romance without seams.

6) The Bodyguard

Impossible not to get sucked into this thriller every time it is on TBS.

7) Waterworld

I have never been more confused in my life as I was when everyone hated this movie. I am consistently baffled when people bash it.

8) For The Love of the Game

I love how much Kevin Costner loves sports.

9) JFK

Probably the best performance of his career.

10) Open Range

I thought going in that I wouldn't believe him. I believed him and I believe that he is still out there somewhere in Montana.

11) 13 Days

I only trusted that Kevin would lead us out of this mess.

12) The Gunrunner

A lesser known Costner movie. Yet, I think, the movie that made the rest of them possible. He needed to leave Bull Durham behind, get in touch with the deeper Costner and then deliver on Ray Kinsella - the meshing of a drifter and a baseball lover.

13) Rumor Has It...

I have seen it twice.

14) The Guardian

I mean this movies was terrible but I loved the crap out of it.

Again, here is to Kevin Costner, always consistent and always A-OK in my book.