Michael: Kurt Russell	Murphy: Kevin Costner
Cybil: Courteney Cox	Jesse: David Kaye
Marshal Damitry: Kevin Pollak	Hanson: Christian Slater
Jay: Uncredited	Hamilton: Ice-T
Gus: David Arquette	Franklin: Bokeem Woodbine
Jack: Howie Long	Director: Demian Lichtenstein

30 Second Bottom Line: A gang of five men rob a casino, dressed in costumes to blend into an Elvis Impersonators Convention held in Las Vegas. To launder the money and enjoy the freedom that wealth will buy, they must elude the police and survive the double-dealing within their own group.

Story Line: Michael (Kurt Russell) celebrates his release from six years in prison with a slamming, hit the bottom of the well, romp in the hay with Cybil (Courteney Cox). This is a sweet prelude to a $3 million heist planned with Murphy (Kevin Costner) and three other sidekicks. Michael and Murphy drive to Las Vegas in a Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible with Gus (David Arquette), Hanson (Christian Slater) and Franklin (Bokeem Woodbine) to rob a casino, under the distraction of a noisy, week long Elvis impersonators convention.

Michael is the electronic genius who manipulates the hotel elevator to stage the get away, while the other four kill enough police officers and security personnel to open a new cemetery. As usual, the stars of the movie, in this case the bad guys, are the ones that have dead aim and for the most part, can escape the bullets of the good guys.

Once the group is back at the hide out with the cash, they must decide what to do with the share for one of the gang members killed in the escape. Now there's trouble sticking with their agreement to wait until the money has been laundered at a 30% discount. They want to divide the loot and split up right away.

Cybil sees a long-term relationship with Michael for her and her son Jesse (David Kaye). Her attraction is beyond their sexual compatibility. Jesse is a boy with savvy, well beyond his pre teen years, who knows how to take care of himself and his mother. Michael, however, wants no part of it, as he is committed only to himself.

What evolves is a road movie, spurred on by a chase by Marshal Damitry (Kevin Pollak). He's after the bunch for the robbery and he wants to nab Murphy in particular. The gang has its infighting for the money, which at times takes their focus away from the pursuit by law enforcement officers. Cybil further complicates matters, as she is interested not only getting a man, but also a cut of the cash.

Tell Me More About It: This is a film where the trailer does not come close to conveying the nasty edge of the criminals and the violence that permeates the story. I was prepared to not like the film but found myself attracted to it because it is well done without taking itself too seriously. Normally I would have a problem with violence on this level but it seems to be gratuitously logical and appropriate. When a policeman pulls over Murphy in his car, the gun duel that follows is not your bad guy shoots cop scenario. The policeman stops at an appropriate distance but as he emerges from the squad car he begins twirling his weapon like he's in a circus; what becomes a murder takes on humorous satirical overtones.

In this movie, the bad guys are the heroes, which gives this bright film a dark tone. In Reindeer Games a gang of low life's dressed as Santa Claus want to rob a casino in Wisconsin, rather than in Las Vegas. While neither is close to being a great film, Graceland takes you inside the criminal mind with a warped sense of humor around the edges because the focus is on what happens after the crime is committed. In Games, there is more gallows humor. In that film the bad guys spend most of the movie leading up to the crime with a weak ending. There is a big difference in how you look at someone for planning to do something bad versus when the dirty deed has already been done.

Costner personifies evil and Russell really carries the film with his high sexual chemistry with Cox. Supporting that is Russell's relationship with David Kaye, who I expect we'll see a lot more of because of his ability to portray the tenderness of the child he is in one moment and in the next, switch immediately to thinking like an adult.

While most films about scumbags end on a weak note, 3000 Miles to Graceland finds a way to end on a high one and has you rooting for the bad guy. Rooting for Hannibal-like criminals that drink $200 bottles of wine is almost as much fun as pulling for the thugs in Graceland who like to drink domestic beer from the bottle. It's no Silence of the Lambs, but I'm almost afraid to admit I liked it better than Hannibal. I like my microbrewery beer served in a chilled mug, so that must explain it.

Kurt Russell: Breakdown	Kevin Costner: Thirteen Days
Courteney Cox: Scream 3	David Kaye: Beauty-TV
Kevin Pollak: The Wedding Planner	Christian Slater: The Contender
Howie Long: Broken Arrow	Ice-T: Law & Order SVU-TV
David Arquette: See Spot Run	Bokeem Woodbine: The Rock
Demian Lichtenstein: Lowball