What the Hell Happened to Kurt Russell?

Kurt Russell has had an extremely long career.  So long that a lot of audiences probably don’t remember his career as a child actor.  Russell started making TV appearances in the late 1950s through the 60s.  In the 70s, he became the top star at Disney.  In the 80s, Russell and director John Carpenter created iconic anti-heroes.  Russell continued to work in various dramas throughout his career.  And yet, over the course of his long career, he never quite reached A-list status.

What the hell happened?

Let me state up front that Russell had the kind of career most actors would kill for.  He has worked steadily for decades without ever being pigeon-holed to a certain genre.  Even in his 60s, the guy is still working in some pretty high-profile movies.  So this article isn’t about a career implosion like some others in the series.  The question here is why Russell wasn’t bigger.  Why didn’t he achieve the same level of stardom as some of his co-stars?

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Kurt Russell – Child Actor

Russell’s father, Bing Russell, was a character actor who appeared on several TV shows in the 50’s.  He introduced his son to acting as a child.  They frequently worked on the same projects.  Bing had a guest role on the Western, Sugarfoot which lead to a recurring role for Kurt.

Wait!  Sugarfoot was real?

As a fan of Arrested Development, I know Sugarfoot from an episode in which Jason Bateman tried to win favor by pretending to remember the show’s theme song.  I always assumed that Sugarfoot was a funny-sounding name made up for the show.  But no, it’s real.  Russell played the role of “Boy” on the pilot episode.  In case you ever need to sing the theme song to impress Dick Van Patten, here it is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wblOUBVH4sg]
Kurt Russell - Dennis the Menace - 1962
Kurt Russell – Dennis the Menace – 1962

In 1962, Russell appeared as one of the neighbor kids in an episode of the popular sitcom, Dennis the Menace.

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Kurt Russell – It Happened at the World’s Fair – 1963

Russell made his movie debut with an uncredited role opposite Elvis Presley in the 1963 movie, It Happened at the World’s Fair.  As we’ll see later, Presley is a significant figure in Russell’s career.  Here’s a clip of a young Russell kicking the King in the shin:

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Kurt Russell – The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – 1964

In 1964, Russell made guest appearances on several popular TV shows.  Here he is with Robert Vaughn on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

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Kurt Russell – The Fugitive – 1964 – 1966

Russell also played Lt. Phillip Gerard’s son on the adventure series, The Fugitive.

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Kurt Russell – Guns of Diablo – 1965

Russell appeared in several Westerns including Gunsmoke and The Virginian.  He starred in the short-lived Western series, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.  The final episode of the show was then expanded and adapted into a movie called The Guns of Diablo (pictured above with Charles Bronson).

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Kurt Russell – Gilligan’s Island – 1965

In 1965, Russell guest starred on Gilligan’s Island.  He played “Jungle Boy”.

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Kurt Russell – Daniel Boone – 1965 – 1969

Russell also appeared in five episodes of the Walt Disney hit show, Daniel Boone.

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Kurt Russell – Lost in Space – 1966

Russell appeared in so many TV shows in the mid-60s that I am cherry-picking here.  Otherwise, this article would go on for days.  Here he is in a 1966 episode of Lost in Space.

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Kurt Russell – Follow Me Boys – 1966

That same year, Russell appeared in Follow Me, Boys opposite Fred MacMurray and Vera Miles.  It was the first of ten movies Russell would make for the Disney company over the next ten years.  It was also the last film released by the Walt Disney Studio during Walt Disney’s lifetime.

The film’s title song was written by Disney’s in-house song-writing team, the Sherman brothers.  For a time, after the film was released, the Boy Scouts of America was considering using the song as their anthem.

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Kurt Russell – The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band – 1968

In 1968, Russell appeared in his second film for Disney, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.  In a twist of fate, Russell’s future partner, Goldie Hawn, made her film debut in a small role.

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Kurt Russell – The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit – 1968

Later that same year, Russell appeared in his third Disney film opposite Dean Jones in The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit.

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Kurt Russell – Guns in the Heather -1969

In 1969, Russell appeared in Disney’s “international spy thriller”, The Guns in the Heather, which according to the poster was “adultivated”.  I’m not sure what that means, but it doesn’t sound very Disney.

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Kurt Russell – The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes – 1969

Later that year, Russell starred in Disney’s The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

Russell played a student who was struck by lightning while installing a spare part in a computer at his school.  Rather than being imbued with Flash-like super speed powers, Russell’s character becomes a human super computer.  His new abilities allow him to excel at a television quiz show where he wins prizes for his school and becomes a celebrity.

The villain was played by Cesar Romero, aka the Joker from the Batman TV show.

The movie took place in the same setting as Disney’s Absent-Minded Professor films, the fictional Medfield College.  The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes was a big enough hit to inspire two sequels.  In 1995, it was remade as a TV movie starring Kirk Cameron.

Russell was still making appearances on TV shows like Love American Style, Men at Law and Room 222.  As he was under contract to Disney, he made several appearances on the company’s TV programs like Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color and the following Disneyland Showcase from 1970:

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Kurt Russell – The Barefoot Executive – 1971

In 1971, Russell starred in Disney’s high concept comedy, The Barefoot Executive.

Russell played a mail room clerk at a TV station who discovers that his girlfriend’s pet chimp can predict whether or not TV shows will be a hit.  Russell’s character uses the adorable primate’s abilities to advance his career in televsion.

The movie also marked the film debut of John Ritter.  It was also remade as a Disney Channel movie in 1995.

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Kurt Russell – Fools’ Parade – 1971

Later that year, Russell appeared opposite James Stewart and George Kennedy in a non-Disney film, Fools’ Parade.

Stewart and Russell played inmates released from prison.  Stewart’s character is given a large check for his many years of prison work.  Kennedy’s character plans to take the check before the inmates are set free.  He sets up a train robbery and frames Stewart sending the former inmates on the run.

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Kurt Russell – Minor League Baseball

Russell’s father had been a baseball player.  In the early 70’s, Russell played second base for the California Angels minor league affiliates.  During a play, he was hit in the shoulder by a player running to second base; the collision tore the rotator cuff in Russell’s shoulder.  The injury forced his retirement from baseball.

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Kurt Russell – Now You See Him, Now You Don’t – 1972

In 1972, Russell returned to the role of science major Dexter Riley in the Disney sequel Now You See Him, Now You Don’t.

In this one, the students invent an invisibility spray which Cesar Romero wants to steal.

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Charley and the Angel – 1973

In 1973, Russell had a supporting role in Fred MacMurray’s final film for Disney, Charley and the Angel.

MacMurray played a work-obsessed father who is visited by an angel played by Harry Morgan (of TV’s MASH).  The angel informs him he doesn’t have long to live, so MacMurray starts to put his affairs in order.  Russell plays a young man dating MacMurray’s daughter.

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Superdad – 1973

 Later that year, Russell played another troublesome boyfriend in Disney’s Superdad.

Superdad starred Hogan’s Heroes star, Bob Crane as a dad (presumably a super one) who thinks his daughter is hanging out with a bad crowd.  This being a Disney movie, the bad influence is a bunch of surfers.  Russell played the boyfriend Crane tries to separate from his daughter.

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Kurt Russell – The Strongest Man in the World -1975

In 1975, Russell played Dexter Riley for the last time in the Disney sequel The Strongest Man in the World.

This time, Dexter accidentally creates a breakfast cereal that gives him super strength.  Of course, Cesar Romero makes an attempt at stealing the formula having not learned his lesson the previous two times.

This completed Russell’s ten-year contract with Disney.

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Kurt Russell – The Quest – 1976

With his film contract ended, Russell went back to TV.  After a couple of TV movies, Russell starred opposite Tim Matheson in a short-lived Western series called The Quest.

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Kurt Russell – Star Wars poster mock-up – 1977

Around this time, Russell auditioned for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars.  George Lucas auditioned numerous actors before finally casting Harrison Ford.  Fortunately, Russell’s audition has been saved for posterity:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nix_PID3oiA]

 Russell had a bit of a career lull post Disney.   After the cancellation of The Quest, Russell didn’t work much until …

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Kurt Russell – Elvis – 1979

Russell starred in John Carpenter’s 1979 TV movie about the life of Elvis.

Russell had appeared in one of Prseley’s movies as a child in 1963.  Sixteen years later, he was playing the King himself.

The movie was the start of a collaborative partnership between Russell and Carpenter.  The TV movie was highly rated and Russell was nominated for an Emmy.

While filming Elvis, Russel met and married actress Season Hubley.  The couple had a son the next year.

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Kurt Russell – Used Cars – 1980

In 1980, Russell starred opposite Jack Warden in Robert Zemeckis’ rowdy comedy, Used Cars.

Russell played an unscrupulous car salesman (is there any other kind?) with political aspirations.  He works for a down-on-his luck dealer played by Warden.  Warden’s chief rival is his brother (also played by Warden) who runs a more successful dealership across the street.

Reviews were mostly positive.  However, Columbia pushed up the release date from August to July.  The studio botched the film’s marketing.  What’s more, the new release date was shortly after the comedy smash Airplane!  So in spite of mostly good reviews, Used Cars was overlooked at the box office.  Over time, it has developed a cult following on video.

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The Fox and the Hound – 1981

In 1981, Russell returned to Disney as the voice of Copper (as an adult) in the animated feature The Fox and the Hound.  Young Copper was played by Corey Feldman.

The Fox and the Hound was a transitional film for Disney animation.  Disney’s legendary animators known as the Nine Old Men started production on the film in 1977.  But over the course of animating the project, the next generation of Disney animators took over the project.  A power struggle ensued which saw several animators leave Disney.  As a result, the film missed its Christmas release date and was instead released the following summer.

In spite of mixed reviews, The Fox and the Hound was a hit at the box office.

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Kurt Russell – Escape from New York -1981

At the same time The Fox and the Hound was playing in theaters, Russell starred in John Carpenter’s Escape From New York.

Russell played Snake Plissken, a former special forces soldier turned one-eyed criminal.  In a dystopian future, the island of Manhattan is separated from the rest of the country and used as a prison.  When the president is taken hostage by the inmates in Manhattan, Plissken is recruited and sent on a suicide mission to rescue him.

Carpenter wrote the script for Escape From New York during the Watergate scandal.  But he lacked the clout to get the film made.  After the success of Halloween, Carpenter signed a two-picture deal.  The first movie in the deal was The Fog.  The Philadelphia Experiment was supposed to be Carpenter’s second picture.  But when it was delayed over script issues, Carpenter revisited Escape.

The studio wanted to cast Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones in the lead role.  Carpenter rejected Bronson on the basis that he was too old.  He wanted to cast an actor who wouldn’t challenge his authority on the set.  So he pushed for Russell who was eager to shed his lightweight Disney image.  Russell stayed in character the entire time with the exception of wearing the eye patch which effected his depth perception.

Reviews were mostly positive and the low budget film was a hit at the box office.  Over the years, the film has built a larger cult following.

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Kurt Russell – The Thing – 1982

In 1982 Russell reunited with Carpenter for The Thing, a remake of the 1951 sci-fi film, The Thing From Another World.

Russell played a tough as nails helicopter pilot stationed at an American Antarctic research station.  The scientists uncover a shape-shifting alien life form that infiltrates their group by assuming their form.  The group becomes paranoid because they can never be certain who has been replaced by the alien.

The Thing featured what was at the time state-of-the-art special effects.  The physical effects were heavy on slime and gore which put off many critics.  While they praised the technical prowess of the special effects team, many critics disparaged the content as being repulsive.  Roger Ebert called The Thing  “a great barf-bag movie”.  Reviews were mixed and the film disappointed at the box office.  One theory for the film’s weak box office performance is that it was released shortly after E.T. which presented alien encounters as a positive experience.

Since its release, The Thing has become a cult classic.  In 2012, a prequel was released which was practically a remake using CGI effects instead of the physical effects of the original.

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Kurt Russell – Silkwood – 1983

In 1983, Russell co-starred opposite Meryl Streep and Cher in Mike Nichols’ drama, Silkwood.

The movie was based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, a labor union activist who died in a mysterious car accident after investigating possible wrong-doing by her employer.  Russell played Silkwood’s supportive live-in boyfriend who is pushed to the breaking point by the investigation.

Silkwood received positive reviews and was a hit at the box office.  Russell was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.  The film was a major breakthrough for Russell who had finally shed his Disney image.  What’s more, he showed that he could be successful outside of Carpenter’s low budget genre films.

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Kurt Russell – Swing Shift – 1983

In 1983, Russell co-starred opposite Goldie Hawn in Jonathan Demme’s World War II film, Swing Shift.

Hawn played a woman who goes to work at a factory while her husband is away fighting in the war.  She befriends her neighbor and a musician played by Russell.  The three of them enjoy their time together until Hawn’s husband returns from the war.

Conflicts arose on the set between the stars and the director.  Hawn and Russell saw the film as a light comedy.  But Demme wanted to make a more dramatic film.  Hawn and the studio requested reshoots and the film was recut to be more comedic.  In spite of mostly positive reviews, Swing Shift flopped at the box office.

Russell was going through a divorce at the time he was filming Swing Shift.  He and Hawn started an off-screen romantic relationship.  Although they never married, they have been one of Hollywood’s longest lasting couples.  In 1986, they had a son together.  And Hawn’s children from her previous marriage, Kate and Oliver Hudson, came to view Russell as their father.

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Kurt Russell – The Mean Season – 1985

In 1985, Russell co-starred opposite Mariel Hemingway in the thriller, The Mean Season.

Russell played a reporter who finds himself being drawn deeper and deeper into a story he is investigating.  Russell’s character is covering a serial killer who begins calling him to tell him that he will kill again.

Reviews were mixed and the movie disappointed at the box office.

Kurt Russell and Robin Williams - The Best of Times - 1986
Kurt Russell and Robin Williams – The Best of Times – 1986

In 1986, Russell co-starred opposite Robin Williams in the football comedy, The Best of Times.

Williams played a banker who is haunted every day by the day he dropped a perfect pass during a big high school football game.  He believes that if he had caught the ball, his life would be better.  Thirteen years later, he convinces both teams to stage a rematch.  Russell played the quarterback who threw the fateful pass.

The Best of Times was written by Ron Shelton who went on to write and direct several sports movies including Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump and Tin Cup.  It was directed by Roger Spottiswoode who is Canadian and didn’t have the best grasp of American football.  Williams later admitted that he may not have been the best choice to direct the film.

The movie received mostly negative reviews and flopped at the box office.

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Kurt Russell – Big Trouble in Little China – 1986

Later that year, Russell reunited with Carpenter for the action-comedy, Big Trouble in Little China.

Russell played truck driver Jack Burton.  With an all-American name like that, Burton couldn’t help but be John Wayne-esque tough guy.  Russell’s character gets drawn into a bizarre underworld of kung fu and Eastern mysticism when he agrees to help a friend.  He’s also trying to get back his truck.

Originally, Big Trouble was written as a Western which might help to explain why Russell does a John Wayne impression through the whole movie.  The original script was deemed “awful” and was rewritten to a modern setting.  Carpenter eventually agreed to direct after turning down the similarly themed The Golden Child.  After learning that the rival film had cast Eddie Murphy, Carpenter and the studio sought to cast a similarly big box office draw.  Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson were considered but were not available.

The studio liked the idea of casting Russell as they considered him a rising star.  But Russell was reluctant.  Eventually, Carpenter sold Russell on the idea of playing a flawed hero.  Russell described his character thusly:

“Jack is and isn’t the hero. He falls on his ass as much as he comes through. This guy is a real blowhard. He’s a lot of hot air, very self-assured, a screw-up.  At heart he thinks he’s Indiana Jones but the circumstances are always too much for him”.

Big Trouble raced to beat The Golden Child to theaters.  Carpenter commented,  “How many adventure pictures dealing with Chinese mysticism have been released by the major studios in the past 20 years? For two of them to come along at the exact same time is more than mere coincidence.”  Big Trouble in Little China managed to beat The Golden Child to theaters.  Both films received mixed reviews.  But Big Trouble flopped at the box office.  The Golden Child was a hit based on Murphy’s popularity at the time, but it failed to live up to expectations based on Beverly Hills Cop.

Like a lot of Carpenter’s films from this period, Big Trouble developed a cult following on video.

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Kurt Russell – Overboard – 1987

In 1987, one year after the birth of their son, Russell and Hawn co-starred in Gary Marshall’s comedy, Overboard.

Hawn played a rich, spoiled woman who hires a carpenter played by Russell to redo the cabinets on her yacht.  When the work is complete, Hawn’s character refuses to pay and pushes Russell’s character overboard (thus the title).  Later, Hawn’s character falls overboard herself and develops a case of rom com amnesia.  When Russell’s character learns of the situation, he decides to exact his revenge by pretending to be her husband and forcing her to help raise his unruly kids.

Longtime readers know my low opinion of most of Hawn’s films.  She kept making unambitious comedies that relied on her charisma to carry them.  I am also on record for having a low opinion of director Gary Marshall’s film work.  He makes uninspired romantic comedies that are better suited to TV sitcoms.  Overboard is exactly what you would expect when you combine these two talents.  It is mildly entertaining enough to watch on video but instantly forgettable.

Overboard received mixed reviews and did so-so box office.  It fared better on video and has become a staple of basic cable.

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Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer – Tequila Sunrise – 1988

The next year, Russell starred opposite Mel Gibson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Robert Towne’s crime drama, Tequila Sunrise.

Gibson played a drug dealer trying to go straight.  Russell played his friend, an LA detective who is duty-bound to bust his friend should he deal drugs again.  Pfeiffer played the insanely beautiful woman they both fall for.

Reviews were mixed to positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  At the time, all three actors were on the rise.  Tequilla Sunrise helped to establish Gibson and Pfeiffer as big name stars.  But as the third wheel in the romantic triangle (talk about your mixed metaphors!) Russell didn’t get the same career boost.

I suspect that audiences got whiplash from the way Russell was switching genres.  The previous year, he was starring opposite Hawn in a sweet, sappy Gary Marshall rom com.  The next, he’s battling Mel Gibson in a sexy noir thriller.  We’ll see this again and again over the course of Russell’s career.  But it’s hard for audiences to identify him with one type of role or movie.  In some ways, it’s great to have that kind of range.  But it can also make an actor less marketable at the box office.

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Kurt Russell – The Winter People – 1989

In 1989, Russell starred opposite Kelly McGillis in the Depression-era drama, Winter People.

Russell played a widower with a daughter who moved into a small, poor Appalachian community during the Great Depression.  McGillis played a single mom who takes in Russell and his daughter.  Everyone is poor and Appalachian which is depressing enough.  But then you set the story during the Great Depression and it just becomes, well, depressing.

The movie received poor reviews and flopped at the box office.

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Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone – Tango and Cash – 1989

Later that year, Russell co-starred opposite the reigning action star of the 80’s, Sylvester Stallone in Tango and Cash.

Russell and Stallone played cops who (stop me if you’ve heard this one before) don’t get along.  Stallone played the buttoned-up Tango while Russell played the maverick Cash.  It was Lethal Weapon without the racial diversity, plus more homophobic humor and cross-dressing.

Tango and Cash came out at a time when Stallone was trying to grow beyond his Rambo image.  Little by little, he tried to introduce more comedy to his films.  In theory, Russell was cast for his ability to do both action and comedy.  But that helps to illustrate another problem with Russell’s career.  He was a comedic actor who wasn’t especially funny and an action star who wasn’t especially macho.

Also, do you see what I mean about whiplash?  Winter People and Tango and Cash came out within months of each other.

Reviews were mostly negative and the film disappointed at the box office.  The film was nominated for several Golden Raspberry awards including Russell for Worst Supporting Actress (due to his scene in drag).

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Kurt Russell – Backdraft – 1991

In 1991, Russell headed up an all-star cast in Ron Howard’s firefighter drama, Backdraft.

Russell played a firefighter along with Scott Glenn and one of the Baldwins who isn’t Alec.  Stephen maybe?  Daniel?  Grumpy?  Is there a Grumpy Baldwin?  Oh right, that’s Alec.  Billy!  It was Billy Baldwin.  The movie also co-starred Robert DeNiro as an investigator tracking down an arsonist, Donald Sutherland as an arsonist DeNiro interviews Hannibal Lecter-style and Rebecca De Mornay and Jennifer Jason Leigh as dutiful spouses.  In other words, the movie had a lot going on.

Reviews were mixed to positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  Unfortunately for Russell, the movie is so cluttered it’s easy to forget he was in it.  Billy Baldwin, the least of all Baldwins, got about as much credit for Backdraft’s success as Russell did.

(I kid Billy.  Everyone knows Daniel is the least of all Baldwins.)

Kurt Russell and Madeliene Stowe - Unlawful Entry - 1991
Kurt Russell and Madeliene Stowe – Unlawful Entry – 1992

In 1992, Russell starred opposite Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe in the thriller, Unlawful Entry.

Russell and Stowe play a couple of yuppies who befriend a cop played by Liotta.  Because the cop is played by Liotta, he is of course a complete psychopath who becomes obsessed with Stowe.  Although really, can you blame him?  In 1992, I was obsessed with Stowe too and to the best of much knowledge I was not being played by Ray Liotta.

I don’t even know what that means.

Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a modest hit at the box office.  Unfortunately it came out during a glut of similarly themed thrillers.

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Kurt Russell – Captain Ron – 1992

Later that year, Russell starred opposite Martin Short in the Disney comedy, Captain Ron.

Short, a brilliant comedian who starred in a lot of shitty movies, stars as an uptight family man who inherits a yacht and decides to take his family on a trip.  He hires the zany Captain Ron played with Russell who once again sports an eye patch.  Why?  Because if he didn’t hire the wacky sailor there wouldn’t be a movie.

Reviews were negative and the movie flopped at the box office.  But against all odds, the movie has developed a small but devoted cult following.

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Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer – Tombstone – 1993

In 1993, Russell played Wyatt Earp opposite Val Kilmer’s Doc Holiday in the Western, Tombstone.

Russell and Kevin Costner had planned to make a Wyatt Earp movie together.  However, the two could not agree on the focus of the film.  So Costner went off and made his own Earp movie with Lawrence Kasdan.  It bombed.  Russell went on to develop Tombstone with a smaller budget.  Originally, Willem Dafoe was cast as Doc Holiday.  But Beuna Vista refused to distribute the film with Dafoe because he had starred in the controversial Last Temptation of Christ.

Costner had used his clout to convince every other studio to refuse to distribute Russell’s Wyatt Earp movie.  So Russell had no choice but to replace Dafoe with Kilmer in order to get his film released.

Originally, screenwriter Kevin Jarre was hired to direct.  But Russell and Kilmer agreed the script was too long with too many characters and subplots.  Jarre refused to cut his screenplay and was fired as director.  Russell went about trimming down the script cutting many of his own scenes in order to give the other actors more screen time.  The film was already two weeks behind schedule and the studio panicked.

According to Russell, he ended up directing Tombstone.  But the studio heads wouldn’t trust him with first time director duties.  So he was forced to hire George P. Cosmatos to officially direct the film.  Cosmatos came recommended to Russell by Sylvester Stallone who had hired him to ghost direct Rambo II.  Russell claims he promised to keep his directing duties a secret while Cosmatos was alive.  After Cosmatos’ death, Russell took credit for directing Tombstone.

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Kurt Russell – Stargate – 1994

In 1994, Russell co-starred opposite James Spader in Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi action film, Stargate.

Spader played a scientist who discovered a portal to another world which is oddly Egyptian but with space ships and laser weapons.  Russell played the military guy tasked with keeping America safe from whatever was on the other side.  Which as it turns out was Jaye Davidson from The Crying Game.  So, they probably didn’t need a military guy after all.

Reviews were mixed because, let’s face it, Stargate is nonsense.  But audiences like a little sci-fi nonsense from time to time and Stargate was a surprise hit.  Emmerich had planned to make sequels, but instead the movie spawned a never ending series of TV shows.  I hear some of the TV shows were good, but I have never personally attempted to watch them.

Also, rumor has it that Russell provided the voice of Elvis for Forrest Gump in1994.  If the rumor is true, Russell was uncredited.

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Kurt Russell – Executive Decision – 1994

In 1996, Russell starred opposite Steven Seagal, Halle Berry and John Leguizamo in Die Hard on a Plane… er, Air Force Two… I mean Executive Decision.

Russell played a guy with a gun who stops bad guys on a plane.  Do I have to be any more detailed than that?  Spoiler alert: Seagal dies early. 

Executive Decision was originally in development at Paramount.  Paramount traded the film to Warner Brothers in exchange for the script to Forrest Gump which was seen as a troubled project at the time.

Reviews were mixed to positive and the movie was a modest hit.

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Kurt Russell – Escape from LA – 1996

Later that year, Russell reprised his role as Snake Plissken for the sequel, Escape From LA.

The sequel has basically the same plot as the original only set on the opposite coast.  Reportedly Russell pushed for years to make the film because he said Snake Plissken was his favorite character to play.

Reviews were mixed to negative and the film flopped at the box office.  There has been talk of completing the trilogy with Escape From Earth, but the poor performance of the second film has almost certainly killed any chances of that happening.

Incidentally, the dystopian future depicted in Escape From LA takes place in 2013.

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Kurt Russell – Breakdown – 1997

In 1997, Russell starred in the crime thriller, Breakdown.

Russell played a yuppie whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.  Before you know it, his wife has been kidnapped by truckers.  The movie follows Russell’s increasingly desperate efforts to rescue his wife from rednecks lead by J. T. Walsh.

Reviews were mostly positive and the movie was a modest hit at the box office.

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Kurt Russell – Soldier – 1998

In 1998, Russell starred in Paul W. S. Anderson’s generically titled sci-fi action movie, Soldier.

I have been known to give Anderson grief because he uses not one middle initial but two which is pretentious on a level few can over hope to match.  But also because the guy is a hack best known for the Resident Evil movies.  I haven’t seen Soldier, but I was surprised to read that it is about a soldier played by Russell.  Apparently the film was intended to be an unofficial sequel to Blade Runner.  Because robots.

Russell broke his ankle during the first week of shooting which presented some problems.  The shooting schedule was rearranged so all of Russell’s scenes in which he could lie down were shot first.  Talk about lying down on the job!  AmIright?  Ouch.  Sorry.

Soldier got bad reviews and tanked at the box office.

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Kurt Russell – 3000 Miles to Graceland – 2001

In 2001, Russell starred opposite his Wyatt Earp rival, Kevin Costner in the Elvis-themed crime drama, 3000 Miles to Graceland.

Russell and Costner starred as criminals who knock over a Vegas casino with a gang of Elvis impersonators that includes Christian Slater and David Arquette.  Costner plays the unstable criminal whereas Russell plays the soulful criminal who really just wants to settle down with a conwoman played by Courtney Cox.

The movie tries really hard to be Tarantino-style cool.  But it falls into camp without being much fun. The best scene is the musical number during the closing credits in which Russell shows he still does a mean Elvis.

Here, now you don’t have to watch it:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EwMHtri1rg]

Did anyone tell Costner he was supposed to be dancing?  Oh, that’s how he dances?  My bad.

russell - vanilla sky
Kurt Russell – Vanilla Sky – 2001

Later that year, Russell had a supporting role opposite Tom Cruise in Cameron Crowe’s sci-fi mind trip, Vanilla Sky.

Cruise played a Tom Cruise-type who is involved in a not so Tom Cruise-ish car accident which leaves him horribly scarred.  He spends the rest of the movie wearing a Phantom of the Opera mask while dealing with the possibility that he may be crazy, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz may be the same person and maybe Cameron Crowe isn’t the best director for sci-fi thrillers.  Russell played the psychologist who helps Cruise grapple with these and many other issues.

Vanilla Sky was based on the Spanish film Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes) which also starred Cruz.  Expectations were sky-high for Crowe and Cruise’s follow-up to their hit film, Jerry Maguire.  But neither audiences nor critics knew what to make of Vanilla Sky.  Reviews were extremely mixed.  The movie opened at number one, but quickly fell as word of mouth spread.  Although the movie crossed $100 million dollars, it was still considered a disappointment given the fact it starred the top box office draw in the world at the time.

For Russell, Vanilla Sky was initially looked at as something of a comeback role.  But when the movie didn’t live up to expectations, the comeback never materialized.

russell - dark blue
Kurt Russell – Dark Blue – 2002

In 2002, Russell played a corrupt cop in Ron Shelton’s crime drama, Dark Blue.

The movie is based on a story by James Ellroy and takes place during the days leading to and including the Rodney King trial verdict.

Once again, there was comeback buzz, but reviews were mixed and the movie flopped at the box office.

russell - miracle
Kurt Russell – Miracle – 2004

In 2004, Russell starred in Disney’s sports drama, Miracle.

Miracle told the story of the 1980 US hockey team.  Russell played coach Herb Brooks who lead the team to victory over the Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics.  They actually beat Finland to win the gold medal, but beating the Ruskies was especially satisfying.

The movie opened to decent reviews and was a modest hit at the box office.

russell - sky high
Kurt Russell – Sky High – 2005

In 2005, Russell starred opposite Kelly Preston in Disney’s super hero comedy, Sky High.

Russell and Preston played the world’s most famous super heroes who aren’t owned by Marvel or DC Comics.  The movie centers on their son who attends a school for super heroes.  Since their son has no powers, he is scheduled to enter training to be a sidekick.

Reviews were generally favorable and the movie was a modest hit at the box office.

russell - dreamer
Kurt Russell – Dreamer – 2005

Later that year, Russell starred opposite Dakota Fanning in some horse movie called Dreamer.  Seriously, I have never heard of this movie.  Apparently the reviews and box office were decent.  After the film was done filming, Russell bought Fanning a horse which she named Goldie.

PD-7610
Kurt Russell – Poseidon – 2006

In 2006, Russell starred in Wolfgang Petersen’s remake of the 1972 disaster flick, The Poseidon Adventure.  The remake was called Poseidon.

Russell played a former NYC mayor who boards the doomed cruise ship, the Poseidon.  And before you can say “Shelley Winters”, the boat turns upside down.

The remake received negative reviews and flopped at the box office.  Some might even say it was a disaster…

Really, what is it with me today.

russell - death proof
Kurt Russell – Death Proof – 2007

When an actor is down on his luck, it is common for fans to say that he needs to work for Quentin Tarantino who is well known for his ability to revive flagging careers.  In 2007, Russell did exactly that in Death Proof which was shown as a double bill with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror under the title Grindhouse.

Russell played an evil stuntman who uses his stunt car which is supposed to be death proof to run down and kill unsuspecting young girls he meets at a bar.

Tarantino had tried to cast a number of big names.  But none of the actors he wanted were available.  Eventually, he settled on Russel because as he puts it:

“For people of my generation, he’s a true hero…but now, there’s a whole audience out there that doesn’t know what Kurt Russell can do. When I open the newspaper and see an ad that says ‘Kurt Russell in Dreamer,’ or ‘Kurt Russell in Miracle,’ I’m not disparaging these movies, but I’m thinking: When is Kurt Russell going to be a badass again?”

There was definitely comeback buzz surrounding Russell’s performance in Death Proof.  Unfortunately, Tarantino was in a bit of a slump at the time.  Reviews were generally positive, but Grindhouse disappointed at the box office.

russell - cutlass
Kurt Russell – Cutlass – 2007

Later that year, Russell appeared in Kate Hudson’s directorial debut, Cutlass.  Cutlass was a short film which costarred Virginia Madsen, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart and Chevy Chase. 

russell - touchback
Kurt Russell – Touchback – 2012

In 2012, Russell again played a coach.  This time in the football movie, Touchback.  It received mostly negative reviews and was only given a limited theatrical release.

Russell - the art of the steal
Kurt Russell – The Art of the Steal – 2013

In 2013, Russell co-starred opposite Matt Dillon in the heist movie, The Art of the Steal.

Russell and Dillon played brothers who get their old gang back together in order to pull off one last score.  Jay Baruchel and Terence Stamp co-starred.

Reviews were mixed.  Richard Roeper called it ” a low-budget, Canadian version of Ocean’s 11, with about half as many characters and about one-tenth the charm and style.”  So a Canadian 3000 Miles to Graceland then?

Russell - Furious 7
Kurt Russell – Furious 7 – 2015

In 2015, Russell will appear in what is expected to be the final movie in the Fast and Furious series, Furious 7.

The movie stars series regulars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Jason Statham.  That’s a lot of regulars, but the new blood has kept the series fresh at the box office.

The movie made headlines in 2014 when Walker was killed in a car crash during filming.  The movie was changed to show Walker’s character retiring.  Body doubles and CGI were used to create the scenes which will end his character’s involvement in the series.

Russell is also scheduled to reunite with director Quentin Tarantino  in his upcoming film, The Hateful Eight.  Russell never reached the same heights as fellow 80’s action stars like Stallone and Schwarzenegger.  But he’s reached a point in his career where he is cool enough not to have to appear in The Expendables either.

So what the hell happened?

Let me reiterate that Russell’s decade-spanning career is beyond impressive.  But despite appearing in a truly staggering number of movies, Russell never became an A-list actor as many expected.

Over the course of his career, Russell faced a number of challenges.  Like any child actor, he struggled to be taken seriously as an adult.  On top of that, Russell had the stigma of being a Disney kid during one of Disney’s least cool decades.  Russell was surprisingly successful at overcoming these obstacles.  But even as an adult, Russell struggled with an identity crisis.

He made a name for himself in low-budget action films.  But that lead to him being associated with B-grade films.  He branched out into comedy, but he was never really seen as a comedian.  He received praise for his dramatic work in Silkwood, but never managed to capitalize on that success.

You’ll notice that I used the term “modest success” describing many of Russell’s films.  To use a baseball analogy, Russell scored a lot of base hits.  But over the course of his long career, he never really hit one out of the park.

In retrospect, Russell appears to have had the last laugh. While he never became an A-list leading man, his career is more vital today than those of the action stars who over-shadowed him in the eighties and nineties.

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Jake
Jake
10 years ago

I’ve always liked Russell. I forget where I read this, but someone once compared him to Sterling Hayden in that he was in a lot of memorable stuff, even though he himself never, as you put it, ‘hit one out of the park.’

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I was surprised how many movies he did which were fairly big, well-known movies. It really seems like he should have been bigger. But he’s one of those guys where you remember the movie and forget he was in it.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I guess I’m like a lot of the American public. I always enjoyed Russell, but he made enough movies I had no interest in that I had to think twice before going to see something he was in. I appreciate his versatility quite a bit, but as Tarantino pointed out, when he wasn’t being a badass or giving a really emotional performance, he just always seemed “solid.” Not a reason to go to the movies, but not a reason not to go either. As a big Haunted Mansion fan, this appearance stands out for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYbFTkYtHjY I can guess that… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Even when Russell is the star, you never think of it as a “Kurt Russell movie.” No one ever said, “Hey, let’s go see that new Kurt Russell movie.” Ever. Looking back, I’m really impressed by all the things he could do. But in any one movie, he is merely “solid” as you said. He does the job without really standing out. I have not seen Dark Blue. A friend of mine really wanted me to go see it with him and told me it was getting great reviews. So I was actually a little surprised to read otherwise researching… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Kurt Russell: What happened to him? http://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/569498-kurt-russell-what-happened-him.html #48 As for Kurt Russell, he just got “played out.” When certain actors reach a certain point in life, they’re either endurable despite their weight gain, or they’re repulsive. Kurt kind of became repulsive. He tried to be “cool” in Death, but it was borderline pathetic. And films like that Elvis Impersonators with that other washed up actor Kevin Costner. Costner is another actor who lost his looks early in the game (after JFK, he became unwatchable to me). #64 ‘Dark Blue’ struck me as probably his best performance. He never took movies… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

This is different than any other WTHH. Fascinating overview and enjoyable witticisms of course. But a very different career trajectory. I found myself saying ‘yep…yep’ a lot while reading this. Too MUCH range? Is this part of the famous “paradox of acting”? And as you said, he works… he continues to work… I would say that in the 60s he was THE A list movie actor, certainly among preteen and maybe teen audience. Brady Bunch and Partridge family owned TV. After that, how to categorize? wow, no one could have written this better. In this vein, may I suggest, another… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

Back in the day, I had a separate series for actors who seemed like they would hit the A-list but never did. Since WTHH was more popular than the other series, I eventually combined the two. Had I kept them separate, Russell would have been in the other series. To some extent, I think every career is unique. What strikes me about Russell’s career is how consistent he was. Across multiple decades and genres, he was dependable for low and mid-budget pictures. If you could make a movie that only needed to gross $60 million, Russell was your guy. Otherwise,… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago

I’ve never heard of this guy but from reading this article I get that he was in a lot of movies. I can’t stand most action movies so I guess that’s why I completely missed him. I have seen Sky High but he played the forgettable dad. I rewatched that Seagal trailer and I vaguely remember seeing that before but… it had Seagal. But I got a lot out of this article! He had some good movies that I may watch. But I also learned what to avoid: specifically 3000 Miles to Graceland. I couldn’t even finish watching the song!… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

Never heard of Kurt Russell! Wow. That’s surprising. 3000 Miles to Graceland is pretty bad. I went in with low expectations and actually kind of enjoyed it. Russell and Cox have a lot of chemistry. But the story is a mess. And it tries so hard to be Tarantino. Only Tarantino can pull off Tarantino. Costner embarrasses himself trying to be a hard ass bad guy. The early films with Carpenter are all worth checking out. The Thing is a great, gory horror movie. The old school effects are even better now that we are all so used to CGI.… Read more »

Mwerty
Mwerty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I’ve seen trailers with him. But I only saw the action movie ones. In general I just can’t stand action movies. I’ve seen Goldie Hawn’s and Kate Hudson’s movies but he seems to have much more range than they do. I will watch Tombstone and Captain Ron. I’ll also check out the Carpenter movies. I’m surprised by Tombstone. Perhaps after Tombstone he could have branched out doing directing and seen more success. He seemed to work a lot with Costner who has made my least favorite movie in world. One one hand, when he directs movies he ends up with… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

It’s a shame Russell was sworn to secrecy about directing Tombstone. It was one of his more successful films and could have lead to more directing work had he been credited with directing it. Although Kilmer really steals the show. I’m not a big fan of Westerns, but I know people who love it.

MaryAnn
MaryAnn
8 years ago
Reply to  Mwerty

Who the hell living in the US has never heard of Kurt Russell?? Come on..now are you living under a rock ???! Just sayin’

Deano
Deano
10 years ago

In the late 80’s and early 90’s Kurt Russell was considered an A-list actor. When he starred it things like ‘Tango and Cash’ which put him on level billing with Sylvester Stallone. Even thou that film was a massive hit, Russell was still considered A-list at that time. As the 90’s wore on he’s star power faded.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Deano

It depends what you mean by A-list. Russell had second billing in Tango and Cash. His name was above the title, which counts for something. But Stallone was the draw. If Stallone had backed out and been replaced by say Jim Belushi, the movie’s budget would have been slashed because neither Russell nor Belushi were A-list draws. Russell was the king of the B-list for a long time. And during the late 80s and early 90s, he flirted with the A-list. But I would argue he never quite crossed over. For example, Russell only appeared in one movie that broke… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

As for why “Tango & Cash” didn’t perform better at the box office (I think it just barely broke even at the box office), I think part of it had to do w/ it being released in December, which is a considerably odd time to be releasing an action romp. Then again, “Licence to Kill” (the second and last James Bond film to star Timothy Dalton) in part failed at the American box office because it got lost in the shuffle among other summer movies from 1989. Also, by 1989, Sylvester Stallone was for whatever the reasons post-“Rambo II”/”Rocky IV”… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Deano

Actors / Actresses whose promising careers stalled? http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6743824&postcount=61 Quote: Originally Posted by Sam Stone I don’t know, I think Russell was in the top tier there for a few years. Movies like Executive Decision, Tango and Cash, Tombstone, Backdraft, Escape from New York… Not all of them were good, but they were all marketed with his starring role being a major selling point. For a while there, he could carry movies. Yeah, he’s kind of in the middle on this issue… every time he made a good movie as an adult, the reviewers would be all over it with “Hey,… Read more »

Joe
Joe
10 years ago

Sci-fi nonsense is actually my favourite genre. 🙂 And I do like the Stargate movie. You may think it’s just another SF action movie, but it has a bit going for it. You see, Russel is USAF colonel Jack O’Neil. Recently, his son acidentally shot himself with Jack’s gun. Jack is planning to commit suicide when he’s called up for, essentially, a suicide mission. Over the course of the mission, he meets a native boy, Skaara. He becomes Jack’s replacement son, as these things often go. Jack rescues Skaara and rest, losing his deathwish in the process and going home… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Joe

There’s nothing wrong with sci-fi nonsense. But Stargate didn’t do much for me. I think most Stargate fans prefer the TV shows to the movie, don’t they?

Mastro
Mastro
10 years ago

Russell is probably one of the most impressive actors for longevity.

His biggest problem was it seemed like he would do an embarrassing movie right after one of his hits. He really needed to hire a better agent/manager.

Its a shame The Thing wasn’t a hit- but I guess you won’t have a big popcorn movie if everyone is reaching for a barf bag…

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
10 years ago
Reply to  Mastro

Now this is one write-up I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, Lebeau, I’m glad you finally got around to Kurt Russell. I’ve long been a fan of Russell’s, and a part of his appeal has been that he was always mixing it up, doing dramas, sci-fi, action, comedy, thrillers, westerns, etc. I agree probably the main reason why he just missed being on the A-list is that he didn’t let himself become a brand by constantly doing one type of movie. Breakdown is one of my favorites of his, it’s a taught, tense thriller, it was a… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

I was out there doing my own thing for the last couple of months. So I figured it was time to get back to the will of the people with the poll results. I couldn’t agree with you more about Breakdown. I actually watched it for the first time on Netflix while researching this article. The premise is more than a little silly. But the execution is extremely good. It reminded my of early Spielberg along the lines of Duel. And come on! How awesome is JT Walsh. He was killing it around that time with Breakdown and Pleasantville. The… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Good call on Breakdown being reminiscent of Spielberg’s early thriller Duel, spot on. Johnathan Mostow wrote and directed the film, it’s a shame he didn’t become a bigger name afterwards, Breakdown, his first film, showed real promise. The film is also, unfortunately, the modestly-budgeted type of film that Hollywood has no interest in making anymore. The 90’s were the end of an era in a way, nowadays studios only want to gamble huge amounts of money chasing after even more huge amounts of money (look at Johnny Depp’s The Lone Ranger, a film that cost $250 Million to make; add… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

Totally agree with you on Breakdown, mid-range movies and Depp’s comments about The Lone Ranger.

I miss mid-budget movies. They used to be the bread and butter of studios. And you would often get pleasant surprises like Breakdown. The mid-budget films were where sleeper hits came from. Those were always my favorite movies. Old man sigh.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Re: The disappearance of mid-range movies. That was one of the primary points of my “Why Must Blockbusters Be Dumb” article:: that the mid-range studio movie has all but died out or been relegated to TV or the Indie world. When even established directors such as Spielberg or Spike Lee or Ridley Scott are having trouble getting those movies made, it’s troubling.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

What a post! A really impressive carreer. I never thought I made anything apart from “Escape from New York”. Seems pretty like Stanley Tucci, he starred in many successful movies though many don’t even remember he was in it.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I knew Russell had a long history with Disney in the 70s. I didn’t realize he averaged a movie a year for decades after that!

andymovieman
andymovieman
10 years ago

Hey lebeau how are you? I heard you are writing about Kurt Russell and all I can say is that Kurt Russell was a great actor but during the 2000s he was miscast in terrible films like vanilla sky, and sky high. I thought he would do better films like the expendables. I mean that franchise was written for guys like him who were big during the 1980s and 1990s. he would have been better to play the role of church before Bruce Willis got the part. Kurt needs a good action film to come back to that is theatrical… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  andymovieman

Hey Andy! How ya been?

If Russell doesn’t make the cut for Expendables 3, there’s always Expendables 4. I agree that Russell is a really good actor. It’s a shame he was never more popular. I think he was under-rated.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  andymovieman

My understanding is that Russell has no interest in the Expendables. He doesn’t see himself that way. Which I respect. He seems to be making a return wtih The Art of the Steal and some other things in the pipeline. He’s one of my favorite actors, and underrated. He’ll keep doing what he’s best at, starring in mid budget films, and popping up here and there in films like Fast & Furious 7.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Understand that I have never seen a single Fast and Furious or Expendables movie. But with that in mind, if I had to pick a franchise to be a part of, it would be The Fast and the Furious hands down. That series has been going strong for years and only seems to be gaining momentum as time goes on. I won’t be surprised if Expendables 3 is the end of the party.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

I think Kurt Russell himself (as evidence from an interview he did w/ Graham Norton) is kind of aware of the overall history of his career (at least as an adult actor), in that for the most of it, Kurt starred in films that were at first, only really mildly successful at best but over time, gained cult followings (for instance, “Big Trouble in Little China”):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2l9_nZTPY

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

I wonder if in retrospect, Kurt’s status as John Carpenter’s favorite leading man actually did more to hurt his career as a potential box office star (in other words, giving people the perception, that he was a “B-movie cult actor” a la Bruce Campbell) than help? What I mean is that, John Carpenter’s films to the best of my knowledge normally did better overseas than in the United States.

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46334&page=4

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Here’s another thing to think about regarding John Carpenter (I guess I’m making a case for him to get his own WTHHT): http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46334&p=829772&viewfull=1#post829772 The problem with Carpenter is that he’s never known how to cash in on his own success. He makes films he wants to make and that isn’t always popular. I mean, MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN wasn’t exactly a low-budget film; it was intended to be a blockbuster, no doubt about it, but it wasn’t very good. So I’d argue that, less than the success of THE THING, Carpenter’s own unevenness did him in. At times he’s… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

I’ve while going through this particular thread, have read the suggestion that “The Thing” starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter was the movie that perhaps really hurt Carpenter’s chances at becoming a true “big league director”. Granted, Carpenter did direct “Starman” shortly thereafter (which earned Jeff Bridges a Best Actor Academy Award nomination), but Carpenter himself, arguably didn’t really benefit or gain much from it.

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46334&p=829785&viewfull=1#post829785

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

I’m working on a WTHH entry on Carpenter.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Looking forward to it!

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Directors Chewed Up by The Machine – Page 4 http://www.chud.com/community/t/159470/directors-chewed-up-by-the-machine/150#post_4321446 Yeah Carpenter has been pretty open about being screwed over b y the studios, though not always deliberately. Most famously, The Thing was released the same month as ET…and got steamrollered by audiences as a result. I doubt any ad campaign could have saved that: the Zetigeist was all wrong. But don’t forget Carpenter was the Golden Boy after Halloween: that was for a time the most profitable Indie movie of all time (I think Blair Witch blew it out of the water). That got him into the Studio system.… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrhBv-hfsAc 15 Laziest Movie Sequels Of All Time: http://whatculture.com/film/15-laziest-movie-sequels-time.php/6 Escape From L.A. (1996) John Carpenter’s cult B-movie Escape from New York is one of the director’s best works, a thinly-disguised Western that offered both action and satire, as well as introducing audiences to Kurt Russell’s iconic Snake Plissken. A minor commercial hit in 1981, it was a full 15 years before the sequel arrived, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a patch on the original. The basic plot of Escape from New York saw the island of Manhattan as a maximum-security prison, with Snake sent in to rescue the President whose plane… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Video: Escape from L.A. (1996)

http://www.agonybooth.com/video1646_Escape_from_LA_1996_Movie_Review.aspx

The sequel to one of the John Carpenter’s best films.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

The shot-for-shot symmetry of Escape From New York and Escape From L.A.: http://www.avclub.com/article/shot-shot-symmetry-escape-new-york-and-escape-l-225525 By Philip Cosores@Philip_Cosores Sep 18, 2015 10:01 AM Separated by 15 years, John Carpenter’s two films following antihero Snake Plissken’s missions into the futuristic hellscapes of New York and Los Angeles are technically sequential. But anyone that’s seen the movies knows that Escape From L.A. follows more than just the story arc of the original Escape From New York, and even recreates many of the original shots. Now, a new side-by-side comparison video from director Pablo Fernández Eyre shows the lengths to which Carpenter went to duplicate… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
8 years ago

I only kind of like “Escape From L.A.”. I liked seeing Snake again, but I just prefer “Escape From New York”. Man, I really love what John Carpenter does with the instrumentals; it always takes me to a cool place in my mind.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

John Carpenter’s Escape From L.A. is underrated, as satire and as pulp http://www.avclub.com/article/john-carpenters-escape-l-underrated-satire-and-pul-235296 Escape From L.A. (1996) Something went haywire with Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking during the 1990s, as studios tried to replicate the big spending and star-driven events of the ’80s, but with little of the sense of wonder or fun. The result was a succession of oppressively lead-footed actioners, nostalgia pieces, and family pictures, like Casper, Godzilla, Congo, The Flintstones, Eraser, Volcano, etc., etc.. That’s important context for John Carpenter’s under-appreciated Escape From L.A. As a sequel to one of Carpenter’s best films, Escape From L.A. is a mild… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

DOES CAPTAIN RON DESERVE CULT STATUS?

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/does-captain-ron-deserve-cult-status/

NATHAN RABIN RE-EXAMINES THIS OSTENSIBLE WHAT ABOUT BOB? KNOCKOFF THAT’S LARGELY SAVED BY THE INIMITABLE SWAGGER OF KURT RUSSELL.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

He’s right that it depends on your definition of an A-lister. I adhere to a relatively strict definition. It’s all about being a box office draw, ability to “open” a movie or to get a project greenlit. Russell has shown he can get work. He’s a respected actor and has been for decades. But over decades, he hasn’t shown that he is a box office draw. He’s basically been the top of the B-list since the 80s.

Also, I don’t believe it is possible to be a permanent A-lister. But we’ve had that discussion here before.

JMRJ
10 years ago

I was looking for a discussion like this about Kurt Russell. I`m a big fan of his – Used Cars, anyone? – and while I don’t disagree with a lot of commenters here, I just think not playing the Hollywood game as devotedly as he could have is the real culprit in any “career” deficiencies. I might add that it’s probably more than a little off to speak about career deficiencies. It’s quite a body of work and features some great films, some of which he headlined (The Thing), and to make that good a transition from a child actor… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  JMRJ

Thanks for commenting, JMRJ. I have to admit I was never really a Kurt Russell fan. As Daffy commented earlier, he was never really a reason for me to see or avoid a movie. I never really formed a strong opinion. When I write these articles, I usually come away with a changed opinion of the subject. Typically, I either gain or lose respect for whoever I am covering. In the case of Russell, I definitely gained respect. You don’t think about it very often, but he really has an impressive filmography. I think the reason most people don’t realize… Read more »

Mastro
Mastro
10 years ago
Reply to  JMRJ

You can take shots at milking Dirty Harry- but remember he was also making The Beguiled, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Play Misty for Me, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Dirty Harry helped pay for these-

JMRJ
10 years ago
Reply to  Mastro

I certainly wasn’t meaning to denigrate the great Clint Eastwood. It was more along the lines of just saying that even unquestioned A-listers have some subpar work. Like I said, the main difference seems to me to be that Eastwood is probably more devoted to keepiing his position as a star than KR is. To me at least, the most interesting thing I was trying to suggest was that the same self-possessed trait that probably turns off mainstream Hollywood – to some extent, I mean they’ve certainly given him a lot of work over the years – might also be… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  JMRJ

The Good, the Bad & the Badass: Kurt Russell:
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/the-good-the-bad-the-badass-kurt-russell

Brad Deal
10 years ago

None of you guys understand; Kurt Russell is the older brother I never had. His career parallels my life and shows competency at all times. Someone to be proud of, and to root for. Not a flash in the pan. Not some nut job, but a guy who worked hard and earned his status by merit, not luck. I suspect he knows more about the movie business due to his 50 years of experience then most of his contemporaries and I suspect he made his role choices based on something other than money. He may not be the star but… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Brad Deal

Hey Brad, glad you’re enjoying the site.

I think you’ve done a great job summing up Russell’s appeal. While he may not have been an A-list box office draw, he definitely has had an amazing career. And it’s still going.

Sherrie Brand
Sherrie Brand
10 years ago

There may be a bit more to the term “appeal” than meets the eye (unplanned double entendre) for you, Lebeau? I’m really starting to believe that it’s not just female actors out there who lose out on roles, just because they come from the rare stock who refuse extra work done on their wrinkles and their middle age spreads (being as diplomatic as I can here)! Funny that one of cases in point also happened to develop under Disney’s wings: Richard Dreyfuss (a highly respected fave). Didn’t he and Russell both do “Hello Down There”? I digress… I just wish… Read more »

Eillio Martin Imbasciati

I must prefer working actors more than movie stars, because a majority of the performers on this list are my favorites (with the exception of Diane Lane, but she may be written about someday). I don’t think Kurt Russell was a star attraction either, but always dependable.
Some of my favorite films he starred/supported in: “Used Cars”, “Escape From New York”, “Silkwood”, “Big Trouble in Little China”, “Tequilla Sunrise”, “Tango and Cash ” (love the one liners), “Captain Ron”, “Unlawful Entry”, “Breakdown”, “Miracle”, and “Death Proof” (too chatty for me at first, but liked it after subsequent viewings).

Joboots
Joboots
10 years ago

Let’s bid Kurt a happy 63rd today!!!!!

Brian
Brian
9 years ago

I like Kurt Russell and think his body of work as an actor is better than it’s being given credit for. I saw Tequila Sunrise and realized that he actually did the best job in that movie because Mel Gibson was miscast. I find his career somewhat comparable to Jeff Bridges in that they both starred in a long list of films and are famous but the films they make aren’t hugely popular. The difference being is that Jeff Bridges has had more success as a dramatic actor and has gotten Academy award nominations. It would be interesting to see… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Brian

17 Career Comebacks We’d Love To See:
http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/overlay/17-career-comebacks-wed-love-to-see/14.js

Kurt Russell
Best known for: “Escape from New York”
Last seen in: “The Art of the Steal”
Comeback plan: Russell has been chasing a return to relevance for a good eight years. Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof” didn’t work out in the long run, but a role in Tarantino’s upcoming thriller “The Hateful Eight” just might. Throw in next year’s “Fast & Furious 7” and Russell may have a comeback very similar to Jeff Bridges’ in the works. At least, that appears to be his plan.
– Gregory Ellwood

RB
RB
9 years ago

Anyone seen The Art of the Steal? Tempted to pick it up this weekend, although more for the inclusion of Matt Dillon in the cast. Looks interesting, good supporting players all around, but the trailer isn’t promising. We’ve all seen bad movies with excellent trailers, and good movies with lackluster trailers… this one seems oddly yawn worthy for a film of its type.

Movies Forever
9 years ago

Kurt Russell has done some amazing movies so far over his career. From his first appearance in ‘Denis the Menace’ and his lucky break in ‘It Happened At The Worlds Fair’ with the King Elvis Presley; to his last movie (as of this post) “The Battered Bastards Of Baseball”. But of all his great movies that for me stands out most has to be ‘The Thing’ and ‘Escape From New York’ A classic actor that is for sure!

bodwaya
bodwaya
9 years ago

hes appearing in hateful eight so i think he will be ok he was dumb to turn down django

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  bodwaya

As a rule, I say if Tarantino calls you pick up the phone. But Russell’s been around longer than most. He’s in the bonus round of his career. He can work or not. It’s up to him. I’m sure when he works it’s for personal satisfaction.

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

I read it was scheduling conflict with Kurt Russell. Well, Tarantino & Russell (who seems to get along with most of the people he works with, from what I can tell) worked together before, and I thought “Death Proof” was pretty good (I needed a second viewing to adjust to all the chatter:-).

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