Comments on: Opinion In A Haystack: Does Val Kilmer Rue The Day?

By: john

john — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:48:02 +0000

don’t hold your breath. His “talent” is not worth the risk to the people who put up the money. He’s like one of those ice skaters whose parents programmed him and bought his way onto a fast track while he completely missed developing interactioinal skills. He is spoiled, his talent wasn’t “discovered” in some smokey bar, but was done more in an achey-breaky way, kind of like a disney brat. it’s the behavior” that gets in they way of getting the job done. nobody wants to enable him anymore. He’s unhappy and doesn’t like himself and it manifests by blaming and lashing out at other people. he has trashed his brand through poor behavior and undependability. He burns bridges and has no continuity or team to back him up. The elephant in the room is that nobody wants to deal with him . the new mexico governor joke was a pathetic attempt to draw attention by this burned out light.

By: john

john — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:59:50 +0000

The Island of Dr. Moerau is his BEST movie of all. He totally gets the character of Montgomery, who has been isolated from civilization for up to ten years and has become more than a little insane because of it. His drug use, pot smoking and binge drinking add to the character (we see how he plays a role in the downfall of the island because he gives the beast men drugs and smokes with them). Especially after Brando dies, his character developes from on the edge of insanity to total loss of control. He knows its over. He may be dead tomorow, but he’s going to live it up tonight.

What a great movie, one of my top favorites. Though, the original script was MUCH better.

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:39:34 +0000

The Island of Dr.Moreau is his worst movie as of yet !

And Felon, you should watch it, it’s among his best performances in the past 20 years, awesome !!

By: jackoff

jackoff — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:49:12 +0000

real genius and willow, forgot about those thanks, I recently watched tombstone again after watching Wyatt Earp. I still prefer Wyatt Earp and Dennis Quaid though Kilmer was right for the movie he was in.

By: Mercer

Mercer — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:16:44 +0000

Great article, Kilmer is one of my favorites as well.

Though I have to say one, my top 5 is a little different:

1. Ghost and the Darkness – great movie, underappreciated by most except true Kilmer fans.

2. The Saint – movie that has yet to be mentioned, but I found it very entertaining for mindless action. Its not for everyone, but for a movie to have on in the background, there is nothing better.

3. Batman – I think he was better than clooney and keaton, however Bale is probably the best of the bunch.

4. Tombstone – enough said

5. Salton Sea – Stellar movie, different from anything else out there. For those who havnt seen this, its worth a watch.

By: rogerscorpion

rogerscorpion — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:03:56 +0000

Val has not tried to be an â€˜A-listâ€ actor. I applaud him for this. About â€˜Tombstoneâ€, even Leonard Maltin calls this â€˜possibly the screenâ€s best-ever Doc Hollidayâ€. Not even an Oscar NOMINATION. I still watch this filmâ€“fast-forwarding thru sceneâ€s he isnâ€t in. Johnny Depp became a star, by his own route, unlike Tom Cruise. I wish the same had occurred, for Kilmer. I love Depp, but I think he lucked out. Look what happened to Kilmer, Alec Baldwin & Rutger Hauer.

By: Kate J

Kate J — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:03:45 +0000

Val’s done many wonderful films, and is an incredibly talented man. Unfortunately, contrary to popular opinion, most actors aren’t being bombarded by scripts of fantastic material from which to choose, and since most of us like to eat, sometimes you have to take a job that isn’t something you would choose to do, because you need money to live.

As far as him getting “fat and lazy”, well getting a little fluffy is a problem for many of us middle aged people. He can’t possibly stay as young and beautiful as when he was 20, no one can. I still find him to be an interesting character actor and an attractive and intelligent man. I just hope for his sake that he doesn’t run for Governor of New Mexico. It’s absolutely beyond me why anyone would want to be involved in the fetid mess that is politics in America.

By: Dan K

Dan K — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:55:38 +0000

Also, It’s interesting to note that Keaton’s portrayal of batman was also his last box office success… he’s been crap ever since as well… perhaps it’s the curse of batman?

By: Dan K

Dan K — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:44:49 +0000

I agree Tombstone was Val’s peak, and arguably one of the best performances of all time. Every line is delivered perfectly and every second he’s on screen has tension of some sort.

Anyhow Val definately took a big dive… He got fat and lazy, and there were a string of performances that were absolutely horrible, him reading monotonely off of a scripter….. With his performance in Felon though, it seems that he’s actually putting in effort again, and appears to be climbing his way back up….

Good luck Val

By: Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:57:58 +0000

Broheim – are you effing serious? You write a near *brilliant* column on Kilmer, and you couldn’t wait 120 minutes to watch Kilmer act a script & be directed by Mamet? I am in your row-boat-of-Kilmer, but PLEASE dont write a great column until you’ve covered the bases.
I’m as heartbroken as you are this year, but go watch Spartan. Good lord go watch Spartan (with your Mamet-hat on).
*Then* get us to the tall corn.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:46:46 +0000

Thanks for this list. I just read the list of the “best movie characters of all time” from Empire, and it was a joke, Tyler Durden of Fight Club got #1.

Doc Holliday is Val’s best performance, hands down. I can quote that movie up and down thanks to him. And yes, it beats out Jack Sparrow. I am sad to see Kilmer making these movies too, but damn when he puts his mind to it, he can act.

“You hear that darlin? Thats Latin. Apparently Mr Ringo is an educated man. Now I really hate him.”

By: Peggy Sue Kaiser

Peggy Sue Kaiser — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:59:25 +0000

I fell in love with Val and his talent and good looks in Tombstone – the way he talked in that movie was amazing and the twirling of the “cup scene” brilliant – read the history behind making that scene.

Sums it up – Every movie i see him in – he is BELIEVEABLE – whether he’s running from the cops, Doc Holiday or being a gay cop or hunting Lions – he’s just so believeable.

he sings, acts, writes – my gosh what talent – i wish him and his children only the very best!

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:05:11 +0000

I am waiting for mindhunters to show up at my door and then of course Ill have to get the other 8 movies of his coming out in the next two years.

I liked article and have been an avid Kilmer fan for 20 years. In my opinion his ONE real mistake was performing in The Ten Commandments The Musical… and even as bad as it is… its still Val and its not like anything else he has done.

By: Chandra

Chandra — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:59:22 +0000

I liked this article. Val Kilmer is probably my favorite actor out there and it is a shame he hasn’t been in more recent quality films. Even if he is hard to work with, it would be worth it since he can actually act. A lot of actors don’t really have that ability sadly enough, and few of them can do such a range like him.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:46:10 +0000

Thanks for the article on Val, Bob – rewatching Ghost and The Darkness tonight. Great cinematography and score. The way the tall grass moves in the breeze like lion’s mane has stayed as an image since I first saw this film in it’s original rlease. As usual, Val Kilmer is thoroughly enjoyable in his performance.

As upset as we get regarding the Oscar snub of his turn as Doc in Tombstone, imagine how Val must have felt. I get genuinely pissed when I think about it. His performance was haunting. No other word for it. Tommy Lee Jones won that year for The Fugitive, and I’m a big TLJ fan as well, but The Fugitive? Really?

I’ll chime in on Wonderland and Salton Sea – both great.

I haven’t seen Felon or Conspiracy, but will be checking them both out. Heck, Val Kilmer AND Jennifer Esposito? Where’s the popcorn?

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:14:20 +0000

OMG!!! What about Thunderheart? Easily top five, possibly top three. Thunderheart was a beautiful film. My top Kilmer flicks:
1. Tombstone (bloody briliant as Doc Holliday)
2. Thunderheart (so believable in this role)
3. Ghost and the Darkness (palpable fear facing man-eating lions)
4. Batman Forever (captured the essence if Bob Kane liked it how can it be less than great?)
5. Willow (comedy and adventure fun)

What about The Real McCoys?

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:37:12 +0000

Nobody has mentioned “Mindhunters” either. Killer movie.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:35:17 +0000

I don’t understand why everyone is complaining about “Conspiracy.” No, it wasn’t “Heat”, but what do you want? The plot was fairly original and Kilmer was great in the role of a handicapped, ex-military guy. I’ll take a movie like that over garbage like “Superbad” any day.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:13:03 +0000

Wonderland is great!!! And it is his second best performance after Tombstone, and well before The Doors. Top Secret is down right in the top 5 comedies of all time!!!!

By: GhostlandFan

GhostlandFan — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:30:24 +0000

wow good to know Kilmer has lot of other fans out there, I have always felt he was underrated even when he was doing big movies, kiss kiss bang bang was an unexpected jewel, hope we can expect more great movies from him in the future

one other thing, Kilmer was a great batman, it was everything else about that move that sucked