[MOVIE PREVIEW]New Film No Help to Costner

Will Kevin Costner succeed in restoring his popularity through a comeback film? This was the main question in the minds of movie buffs anxiously awaiting his new film. Being aware of the high expectations, Costner is said to have paid extra attention to developing his character. To fully concentrate on his film, he even rejected the role in "Traffic" later given to Michael Douglas. Unfortunately for Costner, most movie critics were not very generous in their reviews, saying "3000 Miles to Graceland" only added another downward push to Costner's acting career.

Despite Costner's baffling performance, there are plenty of other actors and actresses to keep an eye on in this gangster flick, even though quantity cannot always guarantee the quality of a film.

Kurt Russell, Christian Slater and the happily married couple David Arquette and Courteney Cox Arquette, all appear in this film. David Arquette might have had mixed feelings about the film, since one of the scenes involves his wife in a risque bed scene with Kurt Russel.

The movie does not tell the classical plot of a showdown of good and evil; all the characters are villainous. Directed, co-written and co-produced by Demian Lichtenstein, the movie tells the story of several gangsters who become friends while in a penitentiary and later become colleagues upon their release.

Disguised as Elvis impersonators, Murphy (Costner), Michael (Russel), Hanson (Slater), Gus (Arquette) and Franklin (Woodvine) form the "Elvis Five" and try their luck at robbery in Las Vegas. After infiltrating the 2001 International Elvis Convention, they successfully make off with $3.2 million.

The problems start afterwards when each of the five greedy partners begins to harbor secret designs to run away with the money. Michael successfully snatches the purse but doesn't foresee the reappearance of Cybill (Cox), a rapacious woman with whom he spent a couple of nights. She is in his way, trying to stop him from leaving with the money.

Though the actors themselves did not receive rave reviews, the plot of the film itself is intriguing, with a series of twists and action-packed scenes. Especially if you are an action movie buff, this is just the movie to make your weekend for 7,000 won ($5). Also, the stars offer dead-on impersonations of Elvis and give the film some kick.

Under the title "3000 Miles" in Korea, the movie is scheduled for release Saturday.

by Chun Su-jin