The Fayetteville Observer

June 6, 2007

Costner finds a killer role

By BOB THOMAS
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Costner entered the hotel lobby with an apology, “I’m sorry I’m late. I just got off the ‘Tonight Show.’”

It’s hustle time for the actor-filmmaker, working late to get the word out on his new movie, “Mr. Brooks.” And for this one, his fans just might need a little of his coaxing. In it, he makes a major departure from his usual upstanding or amiable western, law-enforcing or sports-playing roles (“Dances with Wolves,” “Field of Dreams,” “Bull Durham,” “Wyatt Earp,” “The Untouchables,” “Tin Cup,” etc., etc.).

His Earl Brooks is a well-known industrialist, benefactor, community leader, husband and father, which all has a familiar Costner ring to it. But his Mr. Brooks leads another, nastily nefarious life. Under the direction of his bloodthirsty alter ego (William Hurt), he plans and commits murders, leaving zero clues behind. Brooks’ nemesis is a no-nonsense detective played by Demi Moore in a welcome return.

Costner led a visitor to his hotel suite and with a smile invited him to the next room. On a king-sized bed lay a tiny, sweet-faced baby sleeping soundly.

“This is Cayden Wyatt Costner,” his father announced. “He was born 14 days ago,”

Cayden’s mother, Christine Costner, a willowy blonde, emerged and cast a disapproving look at the intruders. “It’s all right,” the father assured, but a quick exit was in order.

Relaxing on a living-room couch, he related why he chose “Mr. Brooks.”

“I don’t like to go to pictures about serial killers,” he admitted. “They make me feel very uncomfortable.

“When I read the script to ‘Mr. Brooks,’ I felt like it was an American original. I felt the writers really found a window to delve into a very original, horrific life style.” Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon wrote the script, and Evans directed.

Since finishing “Mr. Brooks,” for which he also served as co-producer, Costner has taken a year off, as is his custom.

“I work as much as I want,” he said. “As I play out the second part of my artistic career, I want to work under certain circumstances.

“When I take time off, I don’t announce it. I just kind of evaporate. I’ll just sit back and either write or develop.”

Costner’s work habits may stem from his late arrival to stardom. He was in his late 20s when he achieved his first starring role in “Silverado.” Before that he played bit roles in sub-B movies, had one line in “Frances” and lost his first big chance in 1983’s “The Big Chill.”

The film hit big with its focus on the changing lives of a group of once close and carefree college friends who reunite years later after one of the group dies. Costner didn’t get to enjoy the film’s success, as his character was the one who died and all the flashback scenes ended up cut. Director Lawrence Kasdan made it up to him, however, by casting Costner two years later as the rip-roaring cowboy in “Silverado.” The role supercharged his career.

Costner was asked when he became aware that he could become an actor.

It happened, he said, when he was 22 and a senior at California State Fullerton, south of Los Angeles. He figured the wisest course would be to get a degree in business.

“I was being very, very practical,” he recalled, “because I came from a very practical background. But I also felt that I had been very theatrical in my life. Whenever I thought about it I knew the reaction: ‘Oh, you want to get a real job.”’

When he was in night school, he heard about an audition for actors in Hollywood and he signed up. He failed the audition, but on the way out of the building he saw a sign in a window: “Acting Classes.”

“I signed up for one night,” he said. “One night became two nights, then three and four. I suddenly realized I was a good student, which I hadn’t been before.”