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Kevin Costner stars as a professional bodyguard hired to protect a popular singer/actress (Whitney Houston, in her screen debut) who doesn’t realize she’s becoming the object of obsession for a disturbed and dangerous fan. As threatening letters are found and murder attempts are foiled, Costner and Houston’s characters enter into a hot-and-cold love affair that begins to interfere with his ability to protect her. Everything comes to a head at the Academy Awards, where the killer plans to kill Houston on live TV.
The Bodyguard is the sort of film I avoided watching until 34 years after its initial release. The concept sounded so cloying and calculated, I just didn’t think it would surprise me at all. Even though the film is indeed predictable, it’s much better than I was expecting. The charisma and easy chemistry of the two main stars cannot be understated. This is perhaps Costner’s best stab at the stoic hero archetype. The screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat, Silverado) handles these characters with more sophistication than its high, commercial concept might suggest. I like how Houston’s character pokes and prods Costner in a childlike, temperamental way, forcing him to loosen up and be a more fully-rounded human being. Their relationship never feels like one destined for long-term success, but it does capture the essence of a fleeting infatuation.
The overwrought climax veers into soap opera territory, but the finale sticks to landing. Director Mick Jackson (L.A. Story, Volcano) pulls off a number of surprise and suspense moments very well, with help from a dynamic score by Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future). Silvestri’s work, of course, is overshadowed by the film’s collection of hit songs, including two Oscar-nominated numbers, “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You”. (The biggest hit song from the film, the Dolly Parton-penned “I Will Always Love You”, was ineligible for an Oscar because it was not written for the film.) The songs are well incorporated, never stopping the narrative momentum, but adding a visceral ‘oomph’ whenever they pop up. The soundtrack album remains the highest-selling of all time, with more than 45 million copies sold worldwide.
With Gary Kemp, Bill Cobbs, Ralph Waite, Michele Lamar Richards, Mike Starr, and Tomas Arana.
Oscar Nominations: Best Song (“I Have Nothing”), Best Song (“Run to You”)