Was it real 20 years ago that Kevin Costner’s “Dance with Wolves” cemented his status as an A-list actor who could direct with the best of ‘em?
“Wolves” won seven Oscars back in 1991, including Best Picture and Best Director for its hyphenate hero, Mr. Costner.
It took the twin debacles of “Waterworld” and “The Postman” to derail the actor-director’s career. Today, he’s refashioned himself as a workaday character actor, a transition he flouts in the new drama “The Company Men.”
But now “Wolves” is back and more beautiful than ever on Blu-ray. And those who enjoyed the three-hour DVD version will salivate over this nearly four-hour model – set for a Jan. 11 release.
Watching it anew makes “Avatar” feel more than a little bit smaller. The two films share significant story resemblances – a white man taught to distrust a native population changes his mind the more he understands their culture. No wonder some dubbed James Cameron’s epic “Dances with Smurfs.”
But “Wolves” is far more delicate in its storytelling, more naturally beautiful without resorting to digital trickery.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Harder to believe it’s been 20 years since this poster child for “Please give me an Oscar” robbed Scorsese and GoodFellas for their much-more-deserved Best Director and Picture. Best Cinematography for Dances, though, that much I’ll concede.
I’m not in the ‘Goodfellas is a classic’ camp. I think ‘Wolves’ is far more of an original, sweeping epic that stands the test of time.