The Bodyguard (1992) - IMDb IMDb 29 December 2016 2:33 AM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC A former Secret Service agent takes on the job of bodyguard to a pop singer, whose lifestyle is most unlike a President's. Director: a list of 46 titles created 07 Jun 2011 a list of 42 titles created 23 May 2012 a list of 35 titles created 25 Apr 2015 a list of 21 titles created 9 months ago a list of 21 titles created 8 months ago Search for " The Bodyguard " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 18 nominations.

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John Dunbar, exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military. Director: Kevin Costner Lancelot falls in love with Guinevere, who is due to be married to King Arthur. Meanwhile, a violent warlord tries to seize power from Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Director: Jerry Zucker A young thief, seeking revenge for the death of his brother, is trained by the once great, but aged Zorro, who also pursues vengeance of his own. Director: Martin Campbell When a worldly singer witnesses a mob crime, the police hide her as a nun in a traditional convent where she has trouble fitting in. Director: Emile Ardolino Wyatt Earp is a movie about a man and his family. The movie shows us the good times and the bad times of one of the West's most famous individuals. Director: Lawrence Kasdan Edit Storyline A pop singer has been receiving threatening notes, and her manager hires a bodyguard known for his good work. The bodyguard ruffles the singer's feathers and most of her entourage by tightening security more than they feel is necessary.

The bodyguard is haunted by the fact that he was on Reagan's secret service staff but wasn't there to prevent the attack by Hinckley. Eventually the bodyguard and the singer start an affair, and she begins to believe his precautions are necessary when the stalker strikes close to home. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com> Never let her out of your sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love. Genres: Rated R for language | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 25 November 1992 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Kevin Costner said that he based his portrayal of Frank Farmer on actor Steve McQueen . He even went as far as to get McQueen's trademark haircut for the role. See more » Goofs Nominees for Best Actor & Best Actress Oscars traditionally sit in the first few rows for the ceremony. When Rachel is announced as Best Actress & stands, she is seated in about the 20th row. Following the camera in slow motion, Rachel proceeds to walk down the aisle, shaking hands with many rows of people congratulating her.

This was obviously done for dramatic effect, as it gives the camera time to zero in on who is trying to shoot her. See more » Quotes Rachel : [sees her son, Fletcher, getting into a boat] You know, Fletcher can't swim very well. Herb Farmer : I guess he'd better stay in the boat, then. (United States) – See all my reviews Oh my, what a wonderful movie. Hollywood is known for churning out a lot of sentimental mush that's supposed to pass for romance. But, thankfully, this is not one of those movies. In this movie the main characters, the bodyguard and the lady he is hired to protect, are likable and have a relationship that develops into something really beautiful and special. Moreover, the story is plausible and the movie is well-acted too, with Whitney Houston turning in an outstanding performance reminiscent of Diana Ross's in Lady Sings the Blues (which is another great movie). If you want to watch a movie with good acting and an engaging story, then this is the movie to watch. 36 of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes The Bodyguard (1992) | Moviepedia | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Whitney Houston plays Rachel Marron, an Oscar-nominated music superstar who is receiving death threats from a stalker. Kevin Costner plays Frank Farmer, a former Special Agent in the United States Secret Service who was a member of the presidential protection detail during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Farmer continues to be troubled by the fact that he was off duty at the time of John Hinckley's attempted assassination of Reagan. He is now a successful professional bodyguard who primarily protects corporate VIPs. Farmer is hired by Bill Devaney (Rachel's manager), to protect her after several death threats are made against her and a small bomb explodes in her dressing room. Rachel's singing career and family life are highlighted in the film, and Frank is reluctant to accept the job after Rachel comes across as a spoiled diva who is oblivious to the serious nature of the threats against her life. Rachel's "handlers" had kept the bomb in the dressing room secret from her, and at first, she sees Frank as paranoid and views his protection techniques as overly intrusive.

Tony, Rachel's original hired bodyguard clearly resents Frank's presence and views it as a slight on his ability to protect her. At a concert where Rachel is performing, a riot breaks out and Frank successfully protects her from danger; this incident results in Rachel falling in love with Frank. Initially, he attempts to keep the relationship professional, but the two end up sleeping together. Frank immediately recognizes the mistake, and breaks off the affair knowing that their relationship may compromise his ability to keep her safe. Rachel, hurt by this seemingly heartless act, begins to ignore Frank's protective advisories and purposely violates the security routines he has put into effect. She then attempts to make him jealous by trying to seduce his former Secret Service co-worker, Greg Portman. After she has a frightening personal encounter with her stalker via a troubling phone call, Rachel realizes that she must put her trust in Frank ahead of her broken heart and desire for success. Finally recognizing the severity of the situation, she cancels the rest of her tour. Frank and Rachel then travel to Frank's father's home, which is a large log cabin in the mountains by a lake. Along for the ride are Rachel's driver Henry, her son Fletcher, and her sister Nicki.

Frank's father Herbert, a semi-retired attorney, welcomes the group to his home. Nicki attempts to seduce Frank at the mountain retreat, and becomes angered when her advances are refused. Rachel's son is almost killed the next day when a bomb explodes inside the boat he had been riding in moments before. Unfamiliar footprints are found around the cabin, and after they discover the automobiles have also been sabotaged, they realize Rachel's stalker has followed them. Frank goes into lock-down mode for the night, and the group makes a plan to leave in the morning. Rachel's sister Nicki gets drunk and reveals that the obsessive stalker is not the person trying to kill her. She confesses that in a drug-induced jealous fit she hired a hitman to kill Rachel, however, she cannot call it off because she does not know the killer's identity. The hitman breaks into the house and fatally shoots Nicki as she tries to stop him, before then escaping. Frank first ensures that his father, who is armed with a large caliber revolver, has the rest of the group secured on the second floor, then pursues the killer into the woods. Frank shoots somewhat blindly at the hitman, but the hitman escapes through the dark woods.

The next day, Frank learns that his Secret Service colleagues had apprehended the stalker and were interviewing him when the encounter with the hitman occurred and Nicki was killed. After Nicki's funeral a few days later, Rachel attends the 67th annual Academy Awards, where she has been nominated for best actress. As Rachel is accepting the award for Best Actress, the assassin attempts to murder her again with a gun he has skillfully hidden inside a video camera. Frank leaps in front of the bullet to save her life, and is shot himself. He then fires a round through the camera lens manned by the hitman before losing consciousness, injuring the eye of the killer, who is revealed to be Greg Portman (Frank's former Secret Service co-worker). Portman gouges out Tony's eye during the ensuing struggle, but both Tony and Frank survive their injuries. The film ends as Frank is seeing Rachel off at the airport, with his arm in a sling from the bullet he took to save her life. Frank has arranged for another protection detail to assist Tony, who is back on the job wearing a black eye patch.

Frank's contract having been fulfilled by his successful protection of Rachel, they part with a kiss and he moves on to his next assignment (according to the script, [3] although there is no mention of his next assignment on screen). Robert Wuhl as Oscar Host Remake Edit In 2011, Warner Bros. announced plans for a remake that will update the story in order to reflect the modern world of the Internet. This new version will incorporate the use of such sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Maps and countless other sites which make gaining access to celebrities much easier than ever before. The remake will be penned by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer. [5] Singer Rihanna was once sought after to play the role of Rachel, but on March 10, 2011, Rihanna herself ruled out playing the part stating: "Absolutely not. I hate it when singers do singing movies all the time, because you can never look at them as anybody else. I want to play a character.

My whole life is playing Rihanna; being a singer won't be a stretch for me." [6] The Bodyguard (1992 film) | The Movies Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The Bodyguard (1992 film) $410,945,720 [2] The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic thriller film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston . Costner stars as a former Secret Service Agent-turned- bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Lawrence Kasdan wrote the film in the 1970s, originally as a vehicle for Steve McQueen and Diana Ross . [3] It was directed by Mick Jackson . This film was Houston's acting debut. It was the second-highest-grossing film worldwide of 1992, right behind Aladdin . The soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide. [4] Contents Edit Rachel Marron ( Whitney Houston ) is an Oscar -nominated music and movie superstar who is being stalked and sent death threats.

Frank Farmer ( Kevin Costner ) is a former Secret Service Special Agent who served as part of the presidential protection detail during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan . Frank is haunted by the fact that he was off duty when Reagan was shot . He is now a highly successful private and professional bodyguard who protects corporate VIPs. He is hired by Rachel's manager, Bill Devaney ( Bill Cobbs ), to protect her after she receives a number of threats against her life, and a small bomb detonates in her dressing room. [5] The film follows Rachel's singing career and family life. Frank is unsure about accepting the job because he sees Rachel as a spoiled diva who is oblivious to the threats, not knowing that Rachel's handlers had withheld the bomb in the dressing room from her. At first, Rachel looks upon Frank as paranoid, and his techniques intrusive. Rachel's bodyguard Tony ( Mike Starr ) also resents Frank's presence, leading to a fight in which Frank coldly and efficiently beats Tony. But at a concert where Rachel is performing a riot breaks out and Frank successfully escorts her to safety; as a result, Rachel falls in love with Frank. He initially tries to keep the relationship professional, but the two eventually sleep together.

However, recognizing that their relationship may compromise his judgement, Frank breaks off the affair. Hurt, Rachel begins to push Frank's buttons by violating their security routines and attempting to sleep with his former Secret Service partner, Greg Portman ( Tomas Arana ). After she has personal contact with her stalker via a harassing phone call, Rachel realizes that she must put her trust in Frank ahead of her own desire for success. She finally recognizes the seriousness of the situation and cancels the rest of her tour. Frank, Rachel, Rachel's driver Henry ( Christopher Birt ), Rachel's son Fletcher ( DeVaughn Nixon ), and her sister Nikki ( Michele Lamar Richards ) then travel to Frank's father's home, which is a large log cabin in the mountains by a lake. Frank's dad, Herb ( Ralph Waite ) is a semi-retired attorney who welcomes the group to his home. At the mountain retreat, Nikki attempts to seduce Frank, and becomes angry when her advances are refused. Fletcher is almost killed the next day, when a bomb explodes inside the boat he had been riding in moments before. After finding footprints around the cabin, and the automobiles sabotaged, they realize Rachel's stalker has followed them.

They lock down the house for the night, with plans to leave in the morning. It is revealed that Rachel's obsessive stalker and the person trying to kill her are not the same person, when an upset and drunken Nikki admits that in a drug-induced jealous fit she hired a hitman to kill Rachel, but the letters from the stalker began before. After Fletcher was almost killed, Nikki realized the hitman she hired would kill anyone to get to his target, including her nephew. However, she cannot call it off because she does not know the killer's identity. The hitman breaks into the house; Nikki tries to stop him, and he shoots and kills her before escaping. Frank ensures that his father has secured the rest of the group on the second floor, then pursues the killer into the woods. Frank shoots at the hitman, but he escapes. Frank learns the next day, from his Secret Service colleagues, that they have apprehended the stalker and were interviewing him when the break-in occurred. A few days later, after Nikki's funeral, Rachel attends the 67th annual Academy Awards , where she is nominated as best actress. As Rachel is accepting the award , the assassin attempts to shoot her with a gun hidden inside a video camera.

Frank jumps in front of her, and is shot in the arm. Before losing consciousness, Frank shoots the hitman, who is revealed to be Greg Portman. During the ensuing melee, Portman gouges out Tony's eye, but both he and Frank survive their injuries. Frank sees Rachel off at the airport. Frank has arranged for another protection detail to augment Tony, who is back on the job wearing a black eye patch. Frank's duty having been fulfilled by successfully protecting Rachel, they part with a kiss. Frank then moves on to his next assignment. [6] Cast David Foster as Oscar conductor Background Edit This was Lawrence Kasdan 's first screenplay. [3] The film was originally proposed in 1976 with Steve McQueen and Diana Ross in the leads, but negotiations fell through as McQueen refused to be billed second to Ross. [7] It was proposed again in 1979 [ citation needed ], starring Ryan O'Neal and Ross again in the leads. The project fell through due to irreconcilable differences in the relationship between the two stars. Michael Keaton , Emilio Estevez , Val Kilmer , Alec Baldwin , Matthew Broderick , Robert Downey Jr.

, and Charlie Sheen were all considered for the part of Frank before Kevin Costner got the role. Costner stated that he based Frank Farmer on Steve McQueen; even cutting his hair like McQueen (who had died 12 years earlier). Madonna , Mariah Carey , Janet Jackson , Bette Midler , Cher , Barbra Streisand , and Lisa Marie Presley were all at some point considered for the role of Rachel Marron. Template:Cn The 1920s Beverly Hills mansion and grounds featured in the film once belonged to William Randolph Hearst ; they also featured in The Godfather (1972). Template:Cn Reception Edit The Bodyguard received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. [8] [9] The film holds a 32% rating on the film aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes based on 34 reviews with the consensus stating: "The Bodyguard is a cheesy, melodramatic potboiler with occasional moments of electricity from Whitney Houston".

[10] The Bodyguard received seven Golden Raspberry Award nominations in 1993, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Kevin Costner), Worst Actress (Whitney Houston), Worst Screenplay, Worst Original Song ("Queen of the Night") and Worst New Star (for both Houston and Costner's crew cut). [11] Owen Gleiberman , of Entertainment Weekly reviewed the film negatively, stating, "To say that Houston and Costner fail to strike sparks would be putting it mildly." He added, "[...] the movie gives us these two self-contained celebrity icons working hard to look as if they want each other. It's like watching two statues attempting to mate." [12] However, other critics praised the film, such as Roger Ebert , who gave the film three out of four stars, remarking "The movie does contain a love story, but it's the kind of guarded passion that grows between two people who spend a lot of time keeping their priorities straight." [13] Two songs from the film, " Run to You " and " I Have Nothing ", were nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song .

[14] The film was also nominated for four Grammy Awards , winning three, including Album of the Year for its soundtrack album of the same name. [15] Aside from being one of Whitney's most memorable films, this movie broke a social barrier: interracial dating. This was the first movie where interracial love was portrayed without being fully developed as a theme. The fact that the two lovers were of different races was not focused upon in the movie, like previous films. The Bodyguard made it more acceptable, or normal, for different races (particularly black and white) to date. Box office Edit In the United States, The Bodyguard opened on November 25, 1992 in 1,717 theaters; it grossed $16.6 million in its opening weekend, ranking third. [16] The film was in theaters for thirteen non-consecutive weeks, ultimately grossing $121.9 million domestically, and $410.9 million worldwide. It was the seventh highest-grossing film of 1992 in North America, and the second highest-grossing film of 1992, worldwide.

[17] At the time, the film became one of the 100 all-time highest grossing films worldwide, though it has since fallen out. [2] Soundtrack Main article: The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album became the best-selling soundtrack of all time. It has been certified diamond in the US (sales of at least ten million) with shipments of over 17 million copies. [18] Worldwide, the sales are over a staggering 45 million copies. [19] In addition, Houston's cover of " I Will Always Love You " sold 12 million units worldwide. [20] The soundtrack features five hit singles for Houston: "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Every Woman", "Queen of the Night", and the two Oscar nominated songs, "I Have Nothing" and "Run to You". Parodies Bulletproof – a scene in the film parodies The Bodyguard with Adam Sandler 's character singing "I Will Always Love You" and remarking that Damon Wayans ' character can always be his bodyguard.

In television Edit 30 Rock – in the episode " Hard Ball ", Tracy Jordan is rescued from a mob by his entourage, and his character sings "I Will Always Love You" during the scene. American Dad! - In the episode "Lincoln Lover", Stan Smith creates a play which depicts the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and his bodyguard. At the end of the play, the song "I Will Always Love You" starts playing. In Living Color - Kim Wayans plays Grace Jones as the Whitney Houston character, and Jim Carrey plays the Kevin Costner character, complete with bad hair. The scene from the original movie, in which Kevin Costner carries Whitney Houston off-stage, is reversed with Grace Jones carrying Frank Farmer off while singing "I Will Always Love You". Joey - In the episode "Joey and the Beard", Joey Tribbiani is told, "You know the rules: Never let her out of your sight, never let your guard down, and never fall in love." He quickly recognizes this as the film's tagline. The Simpsons – in the episode " Mayored to the Mob ", Homer Simpson receives bodyguard training from an instructor singing "I Will Always Love You" after graduating from his class.

Also in the episode, Mark Hamill gets carried by Homer in a fashion which parodies the way Costner carries Houston in the film. The Venture Bros. – in the second season episode "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills", after having fallen in love with her charge, Dr. Venture , bodyguard Myra Brandish says she was taught "Never let them out of your sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love", the tag line from the film. Remake Edit In 2011, Warner Bros. announced a remake that will update the story to reflect the world of the Internet; in which sites such as Twitter , Google Maps and countless other sites make access to celebrities easier than ever. The remake will be penned by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer. Singer Rihanna was once sought after to play the role of Rachel . [21] On 10 March 2011, Rihanna ruled out playing the part saying, "Absolutely not. I hate it when singers do singing movies all the time, because you can never look at them as anybody else. I want to play a character.

My whole life is playing Rihanna; being a singer won't be a stretch for me." [22] Musical adaptation Main article: The Bodyguard (musical) A musical adaptation of the film is set to open in London's Adelphi Theatre in the West End in Fall 2012. David Ian, who will produce the musical, has been receiving the stage rights from Costner, a producer of the film as well as its star, and Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote it, reports Baz Bamigboye . The film's famous soundtrack will be used as a score for the production. In addition to the megahit "I Will Always Love You", the songs include " I'm Every Woman ", "Run To You", " Jesus Loves Me " and "Queen Of The Night". Tony Award-winning actress and singer Heather Headley has recently been cast to play the role of Rachel Marron, the role played in the film by Houston.

References Revisiting 'The Bodyguard': A Romantic Blockbuster for Adults | PopMatters A Romantic Blockbuster for Adults Tweet The legacy of the The Bodyguard, beyond the greatness of Whitney, the vision of Kasdan, and the wisdom of Costner, is that it's possible to please the public and produce profit on a massive scale by intelligently presenting the complexities of adult love. Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard (1992) The Bodyguard Cast: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston (Warner Brothers) Amazon Since the sad and untimely death of Whitney Houston, it has been difficult to turn on the television and not hear a few seconds of her mighty and majestic rendition of “I Will Always Love You”. It’s considered her signature song for reasons made obvious by even a distracted listening to the song, and reasons well-scrutinized by the wall to wall coverage of her life that followed her death. With the acapella opening, Houston was able to demonstrate the subtlety of her phrasing, the soulfulness of her delivery, and the emotive power contained in even the slightest suggestion of her voice.

The song’s stirring conclusion allowed Whitney to demonstrate the other side of her voice – a power so overwhelming that it is nearly impossible to find peer or precedent. During the beautiful eulogy given by her Bodyguard costar, Kevin Costner, the actor explained that “I Will Always Love You”, almost wasn’t. The original choice, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”, became unworkable when Paul Young scored a big hit with it during the pre-production of the film. Costner suggested the Dolly Parton country song, and everyone, from the studio executives at Warner Brothers, to the soundtrack producer, David Foster, fought him. They were convinced that a country song, especially one that began so slowly, would never do well on radio. Then Whitney Houston sang it, and destroyed all doubt. The song that became the most enduring part of the movie is actually representative of the fight for the entire project’s existence. Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter of Raiders of The Lost Ark, Body Heat, and Grand Canyon, wrote The Bodyguard in the ‘70s, and originally sold it to a studio set to cast Steve McQueen and Diana Ross in starring roles.

McQueen’s death brought the project to a halt, and Kasdan was unable to sell the screenplay throughout the ‘80s. Costner befriended Kasdan, read the script, and in the early ‘90s, at the peak of his powers, was able to get The Bodyguard the backing it deserved. He also worked as executive producer of the movie. The bell rang for the next round of fighting when Costner insisted that Houston play the role of Rachael Marron – the diva that hires bodyguard Frank Farmer to protect her. Warner Brothers immediately raised two objections. Houston had never acted before, and she was black. What if she couldn’t deliver and what if audiences reacted bitterly to an interracial romance? Costner and Kasdan won the argument, and when Houston swept the studio executives off their feet during her screen test, the fighting seemed to end. Anxiety and antagonism returned, however, when the studio executives, still nervous and reticent about the casting of Houston, suggested to Costner and Kasdan that the movie now include scenes that directly address the black-white dynamic of the relationship. Both the screenwriter and leading man thought the idea ridiculous.

Costner later explained in an ABC News interview, “I said ‘absolutely not.’ This is not race. This is a man and a woman. This is chemistry, romance. That’s what that kiss (the kiss that takes place in the final scene of the movie) was all about. It was two people thanking each other. I kissed her once for all of America, and I kissed her once for myself.” All of America did fall in love with Houston, before the release of The Bodyguard, and again in the darkness of the theater, while her beauty melted the big screen. Although she didn’t have the acting ability and range that Diana Ross showed in Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues, or that Cher showed in Moonstruck and Mask, Houston did possess a natural charm and charisma to accompany her gorgeousness that was delightful to watch and perfect for a romance, like The Bodyguard, in which the female lead seduces the male lead. She was wonderful in the feel good, Christmas movie, The Preacher’s Wife, and gave a solid performance in Waiting to Exhale. Both of those movies scored soundtrack hits, most especially The Preacher’s Wife – the soundtrack is still the highest selling Gospel record of all time.

It’s her role in The Bodyguard, however, that fans and followers will most remember when they consider Houston as an actress. The movie endures not only because of its stunning soundtrack, but because it represents a style of blockbuster entertainment that’s different from what is currently fashionable. Twenty years after its theatrical release, it’s able to provide an alternative to the teenage idiocy (the Twilight series, Valentine’s Day), macho ignorance (the Hangover series, Hall Pass, The Expendables), and special effect silliness (the Transformer series, seemingly endless superhero sequels). The Bodyguard had thrills and action, but it was not an action movie. It had great music, but the music did not overshadow the story. It was a romance of adulthood. It had the maturity and sophistication that gives adult romance the contradiction of cross-pollinated pain and joy. It’s the cross-pollination of pain and joy that gives the movie its lasting life, and gives “I Will Always Love You,” its steadfast power. “If I should stay I will only be in your way” is how the highest selling single of all time begins, and that line later leads into the promise and conviction that gives the song its memorable title.

Frank Farmer and Rachel Marron are two strong, smart, and self-confident individuals, secure in their identities and dedicated to their seemingly opposite vocations. They enter each others’ lives under the auspices of a business arrangement, but soon find that the protection they are able to give each other extends far beyond Farmer’s ability to detect and vanquish physical threats. She protected him from the loneliness and isolation that threatened to overwhelm him after the loss of his wife, and he protected her from the threat that fame and image obsessed branding posed to her true self. Their protection became affection, and he gave her the gift of seeing her and loving her as Rachel Marron, not the superstar, but the human being. She gave him the gift of intimacy, reminding him of its importance and its inspiration. The personalities of the characters, as emotively and effectively delineated by Houston and Costner, showcased exactly what they needed and what they were able to provide. She was spontaneous, improvisational, and deferent to the wild spirit of the artist. He was thorough, assiduously detailed, and reliant upon a complicated system of internal checks and balances.

Her passion was the perfect anecdote for his cautiousness, while his discipline was the perfect formula for the chaos of her life. Lawrence Kasdan is a suave, sophisticated, but also sincere screenwriter. He has a particular gift for symbolism. Symbolism is a difficult tightrope to balance upon. If the writer leans too far to the left, the symbol is too subtle to have any meaning. A tilt too far rightward and the symbol is laughably obvious, forever castigated as camp. In Body Heat, characters played by William Hurt and Kathleen Turner murder the Turner character’s husband. The disappearance of the victim’s glasses becomes a pivotal part of the plot that ruins both Hurt’s fortunes and secures Turner’s place in the gallery of film’s femme fatales. The inability to find eye glasses also comes to represent the deceptive and seductive woman’s power to blind the men in her life. Grand Canyon, perhaps Kasdan’s best work, uses the natural wonder as a symbol, in ways both obvious and surprising, to present a challenging narrative of discovery and inquiry about race, social division, and the mysterious encounters that possess the power to change lives.

The first kiss in The Bodyguard comes subsequent to the smoldering of the screen by Houston’s deep stare into Costner’s intense concentration. She is waving around a model of a samurai sword that Farmer keeps on his wall. He stands up, and with the blade pressed against his chest, establishing a dangerous barrier between lovers, he grabs Rachel’s silk scarf, tosses it into the air without shifting focus from her face, and lets it fall onto the sword. They watch it softly slice in half. Farmer grabs the sword by the handle, removing the barrier, and kisses her. Romance is risky. It invites pain, but it also invites passion, promise, and potential for joy, love, and growth. The next morning, the barrier is back. A fatal blade might as well be pressed against Farmer’s chest as he stands over Rachel while she lies in bed. He tells her that the previous night was a mistake, because he “cannot protect her like this.” She tells him he is good at making people “feel like shit”, and treats him with contempt at a benefit show that night. Rachel and Frank kiss again in the movie. They flirt, hold hands, and steal smiling glances from across the room.

Their bodies, however, are never pressed against each other. Even when they kiss the night after the death of Rachel’s sister, they remain distant. Farmer sits at Rachel’s side and leans toward her mouth. She meets him halfway, but they’ve barricaded their bodies. They are no longer able to give of themselves. They cannot surrender to their passion, because they realize that their lives, and their personalities and priorities, are irreconcilably different. They cannot bypass the blade of doubt, because due to the conditions and circumstances of their lives, doubt has decimated faith. Their romance is destined for a quick and painful ending. Its short life span does not limit its transformative power. As Bob Dylan sang, “There’s some people that you can’t forget even if you’ve only seen them one time or two.” At the end of The Bodyguard, the viewers understand that Rachel and Frank will never forget each other. They will always love each other. It all comes down to that kiss – that act of passion, drama, and intimacy that Costner explained as a gesture of gratitude. The movie ends not happily, not depressingly, but with the full conflict of the bittersweet sweep of unrealized love. The Bodyguard is not a masterpiece.

There are a couple of scenes that push the limits of believability, and the climactic action sequence near the movie’s conclusion feels underwhelming. As a blockbuster, its strength, both commercially and artistically, comes from its romance, and the songs are products and servants of that romance. Whitney Houston, with whom it was impossible not to fall in love, and Kevin Costner, who because of late ‘90s flops is terribly underrated as an actor and leading man, were its perfect conduits. The legacy of the blockbuster, beyond the greatness of Whitney, the vision of Kasdan, and the wisdom of Costner, is that it is possible to please the public and produce profit on a massive scale by intelligently presenting the complexities of adult love. The movie was written and performed by serious adults, and it was intended for serious adults. It was also socially sophisticated and racially progressive, depicting a romance between a white man and a black woman as natural and normal, rather than as pathological or peculiar. If any good can come out of the tragic loss of Houston, perhaps it can be a revisit of The Bodyguard and a return to blockbusters of mature filmmaking and storytelling.

David Masciotra is the author of Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen (Continuum Books). He is currently writing his second book, Faith That Won't Die, a work of literary journalism about life in the American rust belt. He has written for the Daily Beast, Truthout, Relevant, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He is 27 and lives in Indiana. For more information, an article archive, and blog visit . Share via Amazon.com: The Bodyguard (1992): Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Bill Cobbs: Amazon Digital Services LLC By C. Baker VINE VOICE on July 18, 2004 When this movie first came out the critics panned it mercilessly and frankly I just can't understand why. I thought it was fabulous. Kevin Costner plays an ex-Secret Service agent hired to protect a spoiled, difficult to get along with diva receiving death threats. Whitney Houston portrays the spoiled starlet to perfection. The chemistry and interplay between Houston and Costner was electric. The music in the movie was also great. There are really some key elements that made this movie extremely good.

First, I thought the acting was top notch by all involved. The supporting cast really played their characters well, as did the stars. Secondly, the editing was outstanding. The movie and plot move along at a fast pace. There is not a dull moment in the entire movie. And finally, the plot was plausible (for the most part) and the mystery - who is the hit man - slowly reveals itself. Having watched the movie several times, there a several foreshadowings. Overall I found it a most entertaining movie both as a mystery, a thriller, and love story. By Julia Stewart on March 10, 2006 Format: DVD|Verified Purchase "You can be as you choose to be. It takes some discipline but it can be done." I first saw The Bodyguard in a hot summer day. I waited in a long queue for my ticket and the theatre was fully packed. Tired and frustrated, I could not enjoy the film but it grew in me over time. It was different experience when I saw it again. In fact, The Bodyguard is a serious, original and very well told story. Love can be as real as me, sitting and writing here, and still be impossible and bitter-sweet.

I can relate to this. Don't we all go through it at lÐµÐ°st once in our lifetime? I love Kevin Costner's performance as Frank Farmer. I find him very convincing in the skin of this tough, self-disciplined guy with a heart of gold. I admire Kevin's portrayal of Frank's emotional torment when he had to choose between his duty and his heart. Whitney Huston is surprisingly good and her enormous musical talent makes up for her lack of acting experience. The Bodyguard has it all: action-packed scenes, cool lines, pearls of wisdom, tender loving and fantastic soundtrack! This film is definitely worth your time. 5.0 out of 5 stars "Wait!..." Not your average romance film By Amazon Customer on November 4, 2003 Wow...This movie is the best I've ever seen. It was supposed to go to Diana Ross and some other guy. I'm glad the roll went to Whitney. Diana would not fit this roll. Wow, three lines into the review and I'm already off task. Okay. Why should you give this movie a chance? Because it's amazing. Whitney proves she is a great actress and singer.

Her voice makes this movie even better. The songs fit perfectly. And Kevin Costner, this movie alone makes me a fan, and I haven't seen his other work. It leaves you in suspense, as a mysterious stalker is following Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) step by step, waiting for the time to attempt in killing her. This movie has a dark atmosphere, which is something I love about it. It's not like most love stories. I was very unsure about trying this movie, because I get bored easily, and I'm not a big romance movie fan, but this movie is so different from a typical romance film. It doesn't just focus on the romance, it focuses on Rachel's career, the stalker, Frank's resistance to grow close to his client. That's what makes this movie so special. I'm thrilled Kevin talked Whitney into this film, although it took her over a year to decide, it was worth it. No one could have done the roles better than Kevin and Whitney. By Brian Brown on February 11, 2012 Format: DVD This being written right after Whitney Houstons tragic death.

No matter who you are or the color of your skin, you will love her and Costner's performance and interaction(s). The movie shows the balance of high profile people, between trying to have normal life and the reality of why they cannot. This movie was the best work Houston had as a movie star. It's how I will always remember her, with that moving and powerful voice and sense of bottom line reality that God exists. The torment is over...and now the fans of what she once was: "Will always love (and remember)..." The Body Guard is Whitney Houston. It is her role of immortality. By rhmoviemogal on February 2, 2005 Format: DVD But this IS NOT a 2 disc set. I enjoyed this movie so much, but always wanted to see it in widescreen. Now, after many, many years Warner has graced us with one. Kevin Costner is the bodyguard, a role I would like to see him do again. There is a good sequel in there somewhere, but we don't really need Whitney. She's OK, well, she's playing herself really. The musical numbers are great, the soundtrack is superb!

(Even that over, over, overplayed song "I'll Always Love You." I had the first edition on DVD, and this new one has better sound and higher picture quality. If you watch this film often, treat yourself and upgrade to this special edition. Also features a new documentary on the making of the film. The Bodyguard Movie Review & Film Summary (1992) | Roger Ebert Tweet The ads for "The Bodyguard" make it look like a romance, but actually it's a study of two lifestyles: of a pop music superstar whose fame and fortune depends on millions of fans, and of a professional bodyguard who makes his living by protecting her from those fans. The movie does contain a love story, but it's the kind of guarded passion that grows between two people who spend a lot of time keeping their priorities straight. Advertisement The star is Rachel Marron, played by Whitney Houston , and is as rich and famous as . . . Whitney Houston. The bodyguard is Frank Farmer ( Kevin Costner ), who got his training in the Secret Service and still blames himself for the fact that Ronald Reagan got shot, even though he had an excellent excuse for being away from work that day.

Now Farmer hires himself out at $3,000 a week to guard celebrities, and is careful not to get involved. Of course that's easy at the outset. He is hired by Marron's manager after the singer gets death threats. It's not love at first sight. The conventions of this genre require that the star and bodyguard have to get off on the wrong foot; she doesn't want him meddling with her lifestyle and freedom, and he doesn't have any respect for an uncooperative client. Eventually the tension between them melts, and there is a sort of love affair, based mostly on mutual proximity (they never talk about much but their professional relationship, and the skills of his job). There's an odd, effective dating scene where she leaves her mansion to visit his cluttered, grim little apartment (and a peculiar moment with a samurai sword and a scarf that is undeniably erotic). Advertisement Meanwhile, Farmer gets to know some of the members of Rachel's retinue, including her son, her sister, her manager and her obnoxious press agent (Gary Kemp). These people are supported by Marron, and live with her on her terms, creating eddies of jealousy and palace intrigue.

She is aware of her power, and tells Farmer she is essentially a nice person who is considered a bitch by a lot of people, and wishes that weren't so. Houston is effective at suggesting both sides of that personality. The death threats keep coming in. There is a frightening scene at a charity concert, where Marron places her personal safety in the hands of a mob, and Farmer, with all of his skills, is powerless to protect her. I was less impressed by the scenes where he wires her estate with security cameras, and at one point goes crashing through her shrubbery in pursuit of a suspicious van. What's he going to do? Leap onto the roof and hammer his way in through the windshield? The movie was written by Lawrence Kasdan (" Body Heat ," " Grand Canyon ") and directed by Mick Jackson , and contains a little of the Hollywood insider cynicism Kasdan suggested in the Steve Martin character in "Grand Canyon." The willingness of the press agent to risk anything for publicity is noted, as well as the star's sense of personal invulnerability.

This is Houston's screen debut, and she is at home in the role; she photographs wonderfully, and has a warm smile, and yet is able to suggest selfish and egotistical dimensions in the character. Costner hugs her with his eyes open, scanning the room for surprise attacks. The movie was made as a thriller, I suppose, because of box-office considerations. I felt a little cheated by the outcome, although I should have been able to predict it, using my Law of Economy of Characters, which teaches that no movie contains any unnecessary characters, so that an apparently superfluous character is probably the killer. I thought the basic situation in "The Bodyguard" was intriguing enough to sustain a film all by itself: on the one hand, a star who grows rich through the adulation that fans feel for her, and on the other hand, a working man who, for a salary, agrees to substitute his body as a target instead of hers. Makes you think. Advertisement

Question: What is the bodyguard character played by Kevin Costner in the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard'?
Answer: Frank Farmer