The late, great Val Kilmer had an eclectic career full of memorable roles and films. Here are ten of his standout performances…
Val Kilmer’s time as a Hollywood icon was never less than interesting. Depending on the film set, he was either an enigmatic genius, a fun presence, or a director’s nightmare. What can’t be denied is the variety of Kilmer’s career and the great on-screen presence he had. He was also adept at flitting between being an intense antagonist, a complex (anti)hero, and a skilled comedian.
Kilmer was never less than interesting, and highly underrated for his abilities (at times, critics were quicker to trash him than give him the praise he deserved). Sure, he made a few memorable turkeys here and there, ultimately contributing to a decline in his latter career to straight-to-video movies (along with his health struggles).
However, Kilmer’s legacy is undeniable. A memorable part of the childhood of many with iconic turns as Mad Martigan and Batman and part of some incredible 90s films like Heat, Tombstone and The Doors, which have only seen their legacy grow. Here are ten great performances by the late Val Kilmer…
Batman Forever
As far as Batman films go, Joel Schumacher’s first go at the cowl and cape adventures was an interesting one. Financially successful, as you would expect, but it received a mixed response from fans. However, for many comic book purists, Val Kilmer actually captured Wayne in a way they felt nailed the character better than anyone. Now I’ll say it, I’m a Keaton man, but he took a very wry and livewire approach to it. Christian Bale went for a deeply intense and stoic portrayal, which felt true to a number of iterations but more serious than others.
Yet none of the Wayne depictions had an enigmatic aura quite like what Kilmer delivered. He left some ambiguity in moments for a character renowned for a dark inner rage barely contained. Kilmer gave it a degree of complexity that people have begun to appreciate more in retrospect, given an initial indifference from fans and critics over his portrayal (especially compared to Keaton’s ‘bigger’ performance style). Kilmer is to Batman what Dalton was to Bond.
The film is certainly flawed and inconsistent and the villains don’t work sadly, but Kilmer nailed his part and it has some interesting moments with Dick Grayson too. Perhaps a what could have been, had they been a little darker with the bad guys, and they weren’t so miscast (Tommy Lee Jones especially).
Heat
Heat was bafflingly overlooked through the awards ceremonies in 95-96. Sure, it was a year with some stellar films, but also one with a number of nominees that aren’t a patch on Heat. Michael Mann’s incredible and complex opus was filled to the brim with interesting character stories, largely centered on the cat-and-mouse duality of Pacino and De Niro.
Impeccably crafted on all fronts, with great dialogue and of course (yes, I’m gonna say it) one of the greatest shootouts committed to film. In many ways, the film’s biggest issue over Awards season may have been trying to pick who out of Pacino and De Niro would get the lead actor nomination. So most just didn’t make the call. Ultimately, though, Heat probably has the greatest continued legacy of every film that year, probably matched only by Se7en.
One of the most compelling performances in the film comes from Kilmer as Chris. Struggling with a self-destructive tendency to fritter all his ill-gotten gains away, and in a fracturing relationship with a woman whom he loves, even knowing the pain he causes. Some of the strongest, most subtly played emotional moments come from Chris, particularly in his final ‘goodbye’ with Ashley Judd.
Willow
In an era loaded to the brim with fantasy adventure films (some of which were rollicking), Willow stood as one of the strongest. Filled with action, magic and an unassuming hero (played by Warwick Davis), the film was also blessed with an archetype character many of its ilk had, ‘the Han Solo.’ Here, we have the charming anti-hero, Madmartigan, played by Kilmer.
By the end, he (of course) learns to stand for good and forgo personal gain, but Kilmer’s charisma here really does elevate him above so many who tried and failed to capture even a fraction of what Harrison Ford did so ironically. He has a lot of fun with the role, but likewise, becomes a hero you really root for. Willow is still a delight to watch.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
In 2005, Kilmer was somewhat off the radar with his better roles coming in films no one saw and having seen Red Planet torpedo his status as a big-screen leading man. Then Shane Black made Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which provided Robert Downey Jr with a perfect comeback movie that played to his strengths and gave Kilmer a barnstorming, scene-stealing role that he nailed with aplomb.
There was just one problem. Not nearly enough people saw Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is a classic and quirky neo-noir mismatched buddy film. Black even tried again with a variant of much of this one’s style with The Nice Guys, a bigger and slightly more star-driven affair with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, who held more weight than Kilmer and a pre-Iron Man Downey Jr. It was great, but Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is better. Kilmer certainly steals the show as Gay Perry, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you really should.
The Doors
In recent years, there has been a spate of musical biopics that have harvested awards like nobody’s business. Back in 1991, Oliver Stone made The Doors, and the film didn’t have the impact it might have. It’s a stronger work than Bohemian Rhapsody for one thing, but critics were tougher back in ’91.
Despite Kilmer being perfectly cast and delivering an incredible performance, this one never got close to being a major awards contender, with Stone perhaps missing a lot of key aspects he might have tapped into and shaving a film marred by excess baggage in places. Still, its legacy has grown in time, given that Stone is undoubtedly a stellar filmmaker, and it’s an exceptionally made work. Kilmer really nails Jim Morrison.
True Romance
Kilmer not only played Jim Morrison, but he also happened to play Elvis in a small but memorable role in True Romance. Without a trace of ego (to the surprise of many), Kilmer took on a role where he was unrecognisable. Something of an Easter egg cameo in Tarantino and Tony Scott’s classic film.
Much like most Tarantino films back then, every minor part stood out and in no small part because star names were happy to fill those roles. Kilmer plays Elvis, a figment of Clarence’s (Christian Slater) imagination who gives him pep talks. In doing so, he also nails the essence of the King and makes you wonder just what a 90s era Kilmer-led, Elvis biopic might have been like. The closest we’ll get is with Kilmer lookalike, Austin Butler’s recent film, Elvis.
Top Secret
Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker are comedy royalty, largely thanks to the runaway success and iconic brilliance of Airplane and The Naked Gun trilogy, but one film that seemed to fall criminally under the radar, despite its brilliance, was Top Secret.
Kilmer is effectively playing a riff on Elvis here in his debut feature, as a rock ‘n’ roll star turned spy, in this farcical comedy filled with some legendary moments and sight gags. Kilmer exudes star power too, ably turning from rock star in big musical numbers to reluctant hero caught up in a plot by Nazis to destroy a Nato submarine.
Top Gun
One of the defining movies of the 1980s just bleeds the style, excess and cheese of the decade. Top Gun is aerial duelling brilliance with lashings of pent-up homoeroticism between maverick pilot Maverick and his arrogant rival, Iceman, played with icy aplomb by Kilmer.
Tony Scott’s film is the very definition of style over substance, but the cast definitely brings their A game. Kilmer’s an antagonistic presence before the nemesis pilots inevitably find common ground and mutual respect, and it’s fair to say that Kilmer steals Cruise’s thunder in this one. The long-awaited sequel, Maverick, was a better film all around, with absolutely stunning aerial sequences and Kilmer’s challenging return to the screen in that one was also achingly sincere and heartfelt. A beautiful way to bow out of the big screen arena.
Tombstone
In 1993 and 1994, Hollywood had not one, but two big-budget Wyatt Earp Westerns with Tombstone and later the Kevin Costner-led film Wyatt Earp. Neither did gangbusters at the box office, but Tombstone, despite a host of production problems and personality clashes on set (Kilmer among those, unsurprisingly), the film was greeted with solid reviews and it’s only gained more appreciation in time.
A big part of that is the film’s incredible cast list, which would take too long to list. However, Kilmer as Doc Holliday really does steal the show with an intense and charismatic performance.
The Salton Sea
If you want a film that completely slipped under the radar, then look no further than The Salton Sea. Kilmer is Danny Parker, who sets off on a revenge mission after his wife dies. He descends into a grimy world of criminals, addicts and drug dealers. DJ Caruso’s neo-noir (written by Tony Gayton) certainly feels like a late to the party Tarantino-styled thriller, the likes of which populated video store shelves in the mid to late 90s.
Everybody was riffing Tarantino, and plenty were riffing on Tony Scott’s aesthetics, and The Salton Sea certainly does both. However, it’s also well cast and, despite its inherent griminess, is entertaining. Kilmer’s descent into a dark underworld is really helped by the layers he’s able to bring to his role, with Parker taking on an undercover identity to ingratiate himself into this world. In truth, whilst the support cast definitely helps too, Kilmer really does elevate this one. It’s one of his strongest performances.
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