Alec B
One can almost see what Kasdan was going for here, a Western Epic that both deconstructs and reinforces the myth of Wyatt Earp. What he got was a turgid, overlong mess. Costner is at his very worst here, boring and one dimensional.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
01/05/24
Full Review
Hersh B
I personally feel this film is great, what doesn't make sense to me is why most people prefer Tombstone which is cheesy and only one small segment of the Earp brothers lives. I don't see the Wyatt Earp film as boring at all. Both films had very good actors though. The character development was definitely more thought out and better in Wyatt Earp. One film has everything and the other not enough.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/19/23
Full Review
matthew d
Glacial pacing and unfocused direction leave the actors to elevate Kasdan's average Western.
Director Lawrence Kasdan's Western drama epic Wyatt Earp (1994) is vastly inferior to Tombstone (1993) and even Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). However, it is an interesting biopic about legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. I just do not understand why this is 191 minutes long? It feels very slow and dull at times until fierce action or a deeper character actor moment. I definitely recommend Tombstone, but Wyatt Earp is far too dull to really say it's worth your while. I do think Kasdan's direction can be gripping, but I vastly prefer his previous Western entitled Silverado over Wyatt Earp. Kevin Costner is left to try to uplift the entire movie with his uneven and at times brilliant performance as Wyatt Earp.
Writers Lawrence Kasdan and Dan Gordon try to portray Wyatt Earp as a realistic and complex man. From his alcoholic youth of crime to his bitter woman hating and quick temper. Earp feels like a real man rather than the devout servant of justice and peacekeeping. Kasdan writes Wyatt Earp as a man that actively wants to kill criminals rather than ever give them a chance to drop their guns. It's a hardened and brutal take on an important figure in Americana. I do find it distracting that Wyatt Earp apes a ton of dialogue directly out of Tombstone, but with lesser gravitas.
Editor Carol Littleton cuts so slowly that I just cannot figure out how individual scenes look sleek, but move at a glacial pace. I think the real issue is the massive length of Wyatt Earp that keeps in menial scenes instead of just giving us the significant moments that define who Wyatt Earp is at heart. Cinematographer Owen Roizman has nice wide shots of open plains and chaotic towns, but the nighttime shots are impossible to distinguish anything. The blue lighting looks cool, but the shadows are too dark for half the movie is left in darkness.
Kevin Costner alternates between gripping and cool to flat and wooden as famed lawman Wyatt Earp. Costner starts out goofy, then gets cooler with Wyatt's mustache, which may have helped him get into character as he's much more interesting then. I found his lack of passion or anger strange compared to Kurt Russell's fearsome Wyatt Earp in Tombstone. Dennis Quaid is surprisingly great as notorious gunslinger Doc Holliday, he is just not as incredible as Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday in Tombstone. I wish he was in Wyatt Earp more than the last third of the film though. Gene Hackman is great as Wyatt's stern and principled father Nicholas Porter Earp. He's sadly only in the beginning.
David Andrews is creepy as Wyatt's brothel owner brother James Earp. Linden Ashby is fun as Wyatt's younger brother Morgan Earp. Jim Caviezel makes a quick cameo as Warren Earp. Jeff Fahey is good, but forgettable as criminal Ike Clanton. Joanna Going is gorgeous, but underutilized as Wyatt Earp's true love Josie Marcus. Mark Harmon is a real sleaze as the corrupt Sheriff Johnny Behan. Michael Madsen is fantastic as Virgil Earp, but he's no Sam Elliott like Catherine O'Hara's sharp Allie Earp or Bill Pullman's amiable Ed Masterson. Certain characters are enjoyable to watch, but never given great material to work with really.
Isabella Rossellini is fabulous in her two short scenes as Doc Holliday's lover Big Nose Kate. Why is she just a cameo? Tom Sizemore gets a bigger role as Bat Masterson until he disappears. JoBeth Williams is smart and confident as Bessie Earp, but Mare Winningham is a bit ridiculous as Mattie Blaylock instead of moving. Annabeth Gish is pretty as Wyatt Earp's first wife Urilla Sutherland. Lewis Smith is okay as Curly Bill Brocius, but he barely gets any lines. Betty Buckley is very good as Virginia Earp, but definitely deserved a bigger role like Alison Elliott's blunt Lou Earp. Téa Leoni gets a small cameo as Wyatt's second wife Sally. I liked the cameo from The Karate Kid villain actor Martin Kove as the wicked Ed Ross.
Production designer Ida Random creates neat wooden Western settlements, brothels, saloons, and trains. Art directors Gary Wissner and Gershon Ginsburg alternate between moody shadowy shots that look gorgeous in the smoke, to pitch black night shots that look indecipherable. The Sunlight at dawn looks wonderful like all the bright daylight scenes. I do feel like Kasdan's previous Western Silverado was better shot and blocked. Set decorators Cheryl Carasik, Charlie Daboub, Barry Chusid, and Tom Reta put all manner of Western props from shot glasses, pistols, axs, and wooden furniture everywhere. Visual effects artist Robert Stadd stuffs gunsmoke and fog all over the shootout scenes for a cool look.
Composer James Newton Howard brings a triumphant and melodic film score to Wyatt Earp. Howard's music really elevates Wyatt Earp into a score worth hearing. Sound designers Stu Bernstein, Robert Grieve, Rick Kline, Kevin O'Connell, and Bobby Mackston make the shotguns blasts loud, pistol fire fierce, horse whines echo, and horse gallops thunder. Costume designer Colleen Atwood creates tons of neat cowboy suits and refined ladies' dresses. Make-up from Francisco X Pérez and Michael Mills looks great for the different eras of Wyatt Earp's distinguished life.
In all, Wyatt Earp is a solid film, but pales in comparison to the stylish Tombstone.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
kyal b
Long for sure, but never felt over-indulgent or unnecessary. An entertaining look at a legend, with solid performances all around. The score and cinematography are incredible
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
andrew p
Excellent film, with great acting, story telling about love and loss. A true story of a naïve, broken would be criminal to a strong, determined lawman. Scenery is great as is the music. Dennis Quaid & Gene Hackman are unforgettable. This film is far better than Tombstone.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
l g
if i watched this back when, i sure don't remember? made the most of the scenery, as a good western must. heck of a cast, too! watched half way, then finished next day. liked it better than the supposed "train wreck" it was rated to be. what it didn't do was choke me up, even momentarily. most all good flicks do that to me. still, very watchable.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
Post a rating
>
