Rewatching Silverado Reminded Me of What Kevin Costner Used to Do Best

Revisiting Silverado Reminded Me How Much I Miss This Side of Kevin Costner

When I’m not keeping up with the latest and upcoming 2025 movie releases, I like to unwind by revisiting classic films—some I haven’t seen in years, others I’m watching for the very first time. Recently, my wife and I decided to rewatch Silverado, one of Kevin Costner’s earliest Westerns—and honestly, one of his most underrated.

Watching it again, I was struck by how much fun it is—but more than that, I couldn’t stop thinking about Costner’s performance as Jake, the energetic young gunslinger and younger brother of Scott Glenn’s Emmett. In a movie filled with memorable characters and great action, Costner completely steals the show—and it made me realize there’s a quality in his early work that I really wish he’d bring back.

Costner’s Jake Is Wild, Immature… and Totally Magnetic

I’ve been a Kevin Costner fan for as long as I can remember. Whether it’s Field of Dreams, The Untouchables, or his more recent turn in Let Him Go, he’s made a career out of playing thoughtful, grounded, and often stoic characters. But in Silverado, he’s something else entirely—loose, impulsive, charming, and a little bit nuts.

Jake bursts onto the screen like a firecracker. One of his first scenes has him literally climbing the walls of a jail cell, rambling with youthful energy as he recounts the events that got him locked up. He’s immature, sure—but he’s also skilled, dangerous when he needs to be, and always entertaining. Costner, not even 30 at the time, brings a boyish exuberance to the role that’s infectious.

The Balance of Goofy and Badass Just Works

What makes Jake such a standout character is how well Costner blends silliness with swagger. One moment he’s cracking jokes or messing around, the next he’s spinning his revolvers like a seasoned pro and taking down bad guys with ease. He’s not just comic relief—he’s a legitimate hero in the story, and one of the coolest characters in the film.

Whether he’s helping out his brother and their allies (played by Kevin Kline and Danny Glover), or taking on the villains threatening the town of Silverado, Jake handles it all with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. It’s a kind of performance we rarely get from Costner anymore—and honestly, I miss it.

I’d Love to See Costner Tap Into This Energy Again

Don’t get me wrong—I deeply respect the dramatic, nuanced performances Costner has given us over the decades. He’s earned every bit of praise for his work in films like Dances with Wolves and Open Range. But there’s something refreshing about seeing him play a character as unrestrained and playful as Jake.

Yes, we’ve seen glimpses of that lighter side in movies like Bull Durham, Tin Cup, and even Swing Vote, but none of those roles quite capture the same chaotic fun that Silverado delivers. I’m not saying he needs to reinvent himself at this point in his career—but I wouldn’t mind seeing him cut loose again, just for the fun of it.

If You Haven’t Seen Silverado, It’s Time

If it’s been a while since you’ve watched Silverado, or if you’ve somehow missed it entirely, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It’s a fantastic Western, packed with great action, a killer cast, and—most importantly—a reminder of just how dynamic Kevin Costner could be when he didn’t take himself too seriously.