Take probably the most beautiful pop singer of the past 30 years, give her a slew of obvious hits to be and a thrilling story, and you've got the makings of a smash movie. Give her probably the biggest movie hero of the past 30 years, and you've got the makings of the stuff that legendary screen romance is made of. They are Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, and once you get past the feeling that this is a forced interracial romance, you can actually see how it progresses.
Her character of Rachel Maron is undoubtedly based on Houston herself, and once you get past what the press has said about her and see her safely away from the spotlight and just able to be herself, you really route for her. As she says about her reputation, it's only because of what's been said about her that she has become that way, and that's only when she feels she has no choice.
Also, being surrounded by a bunch of people that won't tell you no, it's difficult not to become a little spoiled. It's amazing to watch her character express her vulnerabilities, especially when Costner insists after a night together that he shouldn't have allowed it to happen. He's very concerned about the fact that there's possibly a psycho killer after her since a slew of pasted threatening letters have come to her attention.
It's rather a wistful experience seeing this again for the first time in many years because the emotions with the story and the facts of Houston's life can get in the way. But that wouldn't have mattered much had this not been a good movie and had Houston and Costner not had chemistry. You really get to see the goings on in the life of a superstar and the hassles of fame, her kindness to fans and how she treats her staff, which includes a her sister who gave up her own dreams and an adorable son whom Costner comes to adore. Ralph Waite is also memorable as Costner's father.
This has many classic moments and if it is an old fashioned type of movie, that makes it all the better. A great star of the cinema gets a very funny cameo in the Academy Award sequence which is filled with tension, as is a concert scene where she is accosted by the fans watching and Costner must go into action. He's perfectly quiet yet brave knowing all eyes are on her, and she really proves herself to have star quality as an actress as well as a singer. The soundtrack is still played today, and I can see it easily standing the test of time to where it will be played still in another 30 years.
Her character of Rachel Maron is undoubtedly based on Houston herself, and once you get past what the press has said about her and see her safely away from the spotlight and just able to be herself, you really route for her. As she says about her reputation, it's only because of what's been said about her that she has become that way, and that's only when she feels she has no choice.
Also, being surrounded by a bunch of people that won't tell you no, it's difficult not to become a little spoiled. It's amazing to watch her character express her vulnerabilities, especially when Costner insists after a night together that he shouldn't have allowed it to happen. He's very concerned about the fact that there's possibly a psycho killer after her since a slew of pasted threatening letters have come to her attention.
It's rather a wistful experience seeing this again for the first time in many years because the emotions with the story and the facts of Houston's life can get in the way. But that wouldn't have mattered much had this not been a good movie and had Houston and Costner not had chemistry. You really get to see the goings on in the life of a superstar and the hassles of fame, her kindness to fans and how she treats her staff, which includes a her sister who gave up her own dreams and an adorable son whom Costner comes to adore. Ralph Waite is also memorable as Costner's father.
This has many classic moments and if it is an old fashioned type of movie, that makes it all the better. A great star of the cinema gets a very funny cameo in the Academy Award sequence which is filled with tension, as is a concert scene where she is accosted by the fans watching and Costner must go into action. He's perfectly quiet yet brave knowing all eyes are on her, and she really proves herself to have star quality as an actress as well as a singer. The soundtrack is still played today, and I can see it easily standing the test of time to where it will be played still in another 30 years.