’3 Days To Kill’ Interview: Why Kevin Costner is the Year’s Comeback Kid

Is it diminishing to refer to Kevin Costner as this year’s Hollywood Comeback Kid? Hell, no. If writers should write what they know, then actors should act in roles that play best to an audience. For Costner, that meant embracing being the classic face of Americana from baseball (“Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams”), remakes of classic thrillers (“The Untouchables,” “No Way Out”), and especially, the Old West (“Dances with Wolves,” “Wyatt Earp”). But it is risky to be so associated with certain genres. Replicate them too many times, you will find yourself languishing on the bench of mediocrity.

The Oscar winner couldn’t have been more ensconced in the Hollywood A-list. But after such expensive failures as “Waterworld” and “The Postman,” the subsequent media backlash turned Costner into a cautionary tale as to what happens when star egos run amok. Could he have done more to prevent the perceived downward spiral? Perhaps. It may have been his concentrated decision to devote more time to his growing family. Or, he fell victim to how the film industry punishes so many for bad creative choices or age. But maybe, like many of us do in real life, he needed to gain some hard won perspective. So, it should be no surprise that when Costner did become visible on screen again, it was with roles that fell right into his comfort zone.

In 2012, his return to the past resulted in the cable mini-series smash “Hatfields & McCoys,” bringing Costner an Emmy and Golden Globe. He followed up that success by being the best thing to happen to the Superman reboot “Man of Steel” and the recent “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. ” It is gratifying to watch the actor prove once again why he is still one of the best interpreters of the hero archetype. Will the upswing continue this week with the release of the Euro-action thriller “3 Days to Kill?” Perhaps. But, cynics be warned. He’s not just cashing in on the Liam Neeson Second Act/Action Hero Reinvention Sweepstakes.

Costner has never been more engaging on screen than he has of late, validating why certain actors just get better with age. Despite the industry’s determined interest in promoting a constant youthquake, the so-called elder statesmen of film still have one thing that their younger rivals lack: a truly cinematic personality. His quintessential California visage may be a little craggier these days, but the man wears it very well. Which is why it makes sense that French film provocateur Luc Besson, who steered Neeson into new box office territory with the controversial “Taken” films, would make a similar play to remix the Costner Mystique with “3 Days to Kill.”

Written by Besson and helmed by McG, the film displays its culture clash involving American CIA operative Ethan Renner (Costner) daring to complete one last deadly mission in Paris in more ways than one. All the while, he is desperately trying to restore ties with his estranged wife (Connie Nielsen) and headstrong teenage daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). Projected against the darker recesses of the famed City of Light, what the film does exceedingly well is allow Costner’s natural physicality and emotional reality emerge in the most accessible way. (To be frank, he overshadows Neeson’s work in “Taken.”) As director McG stated at a recent press conference in Los Angeles to promote the film, his intent was to present audiences the “best version of Kevin Costner.”

“He’s one of the great American film treasures,” McG continued. “I’m growing up on ‘No Way Out,’ I’m looking at ‘The Untouchables.’ I’m a kid from Kalamazoo, Michigan and here I am talking to Kevin Costner about where the emotional pivot is in a scene. It was humbling and it was exciting. His level of professionalism colored the whole picture.”

With a dance card that includes “Draft Day” and the Latino-themed sports biopic “McFarland” on tap for 2014, the Costner Comeback still has plenty more star power to unfurl. It was interesting to note how matter of fact Costner was about being so visible these days while fielding questions from the press on “3 Days to Kill.” The actor didn’t say it was part of an orchestrated effort on his part, he remains very aware of how to maneuver himself in today’s Hollywood.

“I had the babies,” Costner said. “I went and did ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ and then I lined up these movies. I wish they weren’t so packed. On the other hand, I’m glad I did them. That’s the way it plays out. I do not re-energize. I’ve always loved the business. I’m a romantic about it, but for me, this business is always pushing a rock uphill.”

Neophyte action stars should pay close attention what Costner has to offer on screen these days. Consider it a master class. Here’s more with the actor as he discussed the making of “3 Days to Kill” and more in this profile for Desde Hollywood.

QUESTION: You’ve forged a memorable career by being a truly physical actor on screen. How did you approach your work in “3 Days to Kill” because the film makes great use of some pretty dangerous practical stunts?

COSTNER: I’ve been involved in my stunt career. It used to be that with my stunt guy, we would talk about it, about when it was time for him to take over. The way you know you’re getting older is we look at the thing and he goes, “You could make it.” I can tell he starts getting scared. It was an evolving thing. Listen, I wanted to ride with the buffalo. Whenever you can put the audience in the car, on the horse, carrying your daughter, they’re now in the movie. But stunts have always had their place. I have to measure them right now. I’ve done things…if I make a mistake, you could die. Weird things happen. I have gone from doing everything to listening to “Maybe you shouldn’t do this.” [Laughter]

QUESTION: In addition to the visceral aspects of being a thriller, a lot of humor can be found in “3 Days to Kill,” particularly in how the character of Ethan Renner tries to keep a balance between being a killing machine and a dad. Did that resonate with you?

COSTNER: [Ethan] gets frustrated by women. My house is the same. [Laughter] There’s a level of humor that we try to bring into the movie without winking at the camera. It’s funnier if you don’t wink and say, “I’m really frustrated by you, by my wife, by my daughter.” There’s a part of the world where he’s very efficient in his life. He’s not that great in this particular in this particular aspect. He can be shut down.

QUESTION: With this latest round of films, do you feel as you’ve changed your approach to acting? Do you prefer being the director?

COSTNER: Well, I’m worn out now. [Laughter] I never changed my approach to acting. I’ve always felt like I’ve gotten better. I think that all of us can get better. I feel like I’m better than I was three pictures ago. I think about it. I’m a slow study. It takes me a long time to grasp the material in order to perform it. When I come to the set on the first day, I know the whole movie. That’s why I have to start so early. I have learned my own patterns. I have watched other good actors. I have done what every good actor does, steal ideas. You see things. You stand on the shoulders of people. I learned some things watching McG. I came prepared to do what I was supposed to do, which was act. I was always prepared. People who play sports, people who do anything, sometimes they have bad days. When I direct, I tell my actors, there’s going to be a day I’m not going to be as good as others. And on those days, I really need for you to be good. You have to deal with the whole life when you’re making a movie. Boyfriends, girlfriends…things. Some days you’re not as good. So for me, my pledge is always on that day, if McG will tell me, “Hey, I’m really not feeling that good,” I get a little bit stronger. I’m kind of a coaching player. I like to be on the floor. If the coach tells me what to do on the floor, I can get it done. I’m really comfortable being directed.

“3 Days to Kill” opens nationwide on Friday, February 21.

“In this heart-pounding action-thriller, Kevin Costner is a dangerous international spy determined to give up his high-stakes life to finally build a closer relationship with his estranged wife and daughter, whom he’s previously kept at arm’s length to keep out of danger. But first, he must complete one last mission – even if it means juggling the two toughest assignments yet: hunting down the world’s most ruthless terrorist and looking after his teenage daughter for the first time in 10 years while his wife is out of town.”