The Country Fucker

There was a time — between 1988 and 2000, roughly — when Kevin Costner would have starred in a movie like The Company Men. Name above the title, face on the poster. The movie is about men his age who lose their jobs. He would have aced one of the lead roles, of course, with his familiar, Costnerian mix of earnestness, conviction, crankiness, and not giving a shit. But instead he plays the caustic brother-in-law of one of the men who lose their jobs. A supporting role. Probably his smallest role since he was the dead guy in the casket at the beginning of The Big Chill. And he gives a performance that can only be described as wise. He plays his role, a hardworking carpenter, with grizzled authority. After the movie ends, you think maybe he should have been one of the stars, but then you realize that this role, in this movie, for this man, at this moment in his career, is perfect. —Ryan D’Agostino