Tombstone

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Kevin W. Tombstone is, in fact, a good movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/18/25 Full Review Hadi K Few Westerns have endured in pop culture quite like Tombstone (1993), directed by George P. Cosmatos and starring Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, and Bill Paxton. Set against the dusty backdrop of the lawless town of Tombstone, Arizona, the film tells the story of Wyatt Earp (Russell), a retired lawman who arrives seeking peace but finds himself pulled back into violence as he confronts a brutal outlaw gang known as the Cowboys. Flanked by his brothers (Elliott and Paxton) and the enigmatic Doc Holliday (Kilmer), Earp is forced to reckon with justice, loyalty, and vengeance in a town where the line between lawman and outlaw is razor-thin. From the get-go, Tombstone feels like it knows what kind of movie it wants to be—a slick, stylized Western that blends gritty action with mythic grandeur. And to its credit, it mostly pulls that off. The standout performance here, and the one that continues to define the film’s legacy, is Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. With a drawling Southern charm, terminal illness, and a death wish wrapped in swagger, Kilmer gives the film a heartbeat. His portrayal is equal parts tragic and theatrical, capturing the complexity of a man who’s both fiercely loyal and deeply self-destructive. Kilmer’s every line—particularly the now-iconic “I’m your huckleberry”—lands with venom and vulnerability. Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp plays it more straight-laced, and while his performance is solid, it’s occasionally overshadowed by the magnetism of his co-stars. Sam Elliott lends his usual gravelly gravitas, and Bill Paxton brings warmth and brotherly spirit, though his screen time is comparatively limited. The ensemble cast is stacked, including a rotating door of recognizable faces like Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Billy Bob Thornton, but not all of them are given enough to do. That’s one of the film’s biggest flaws—too many characters and subplots clutter what could have been a tighter, more focused narrative. Stylistically, Tombstone looks fantastic. The cinematography by William A. Fraker bathes the Old West in golden tones and shadowy interiors, evoking both the romance and danger of frontier life. The costumes, set design, and art direction all lean into authenticity without sacrificing cinematic flair. Bruce Broughton’s score is appropriately grand, though it sometimes feels a touch overbearing in scenes that might've benefitted from quieter emotional beats. Where the film stumbles is in pacing and cohesion. The first act barrels forward with energy, but the midsection becomes bogged down in melodramatic tangents and side stories that never quite gel. Some scenes feel abrupt or underdeveloped, which may stem from the now well-documented behind-the-scenes turmoil—Russell reportedly ghost-directed parts of the film after original director Kevin Jarre was replaced. While the direction remains competent, there’s a certain lack of fluidity that keeps the film from reaching the narrative heights of Westerns like Unforgiven or The Outlaw Josey Wales. Thematically, Tombstone juggles ideas of justice, mortality, and masculinity, but often opts for style over depth. There are flashes of introspection, particularly in the relationship between Earp and Holliday, but they’re undercut by the film’s eagerness to get back to gunfights and tough-guy one-liners. That said, the iconic O.K. Corral shootout and its aftermath are handled with cinematic punch and emotional weight, grounding the violence in consequence. Compared to other Westerns of its era, Tombstone is more entertainment-driven than contemplative. It's less about deconstructing myth than it is about embracing it. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s just worth knowing what kind of experience you’re signing up for. Fans of the genre will appreciate its operatic tone and sharp performances, especially Kilmer’s. Casual viewers might find the middle act sagging, but the action and memorable lines help lift it back up. Overall, Tombstone is a stylish, if uneven, Western with standout moments and a few cracks in its armor. It earns a solid 3 out of 5 stars—not quite a classic, but definitely worth the ride for those who like their gunslingers charismatic and their showdowns loud. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/11/25 Full Review Larry P Obviously one of the greatest Westerns of the 21st century. Val Kilmer steals the show as Doc Holliday, but Kurt Russell has some fine moments, too as Wyatt Earp. Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn are superb villains as Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo. I would love to have seen the Director's original vision with Robert Mitchum as Old Man Clanton. This is one of those films that has grown in popularity since its original release, with many clamoring for Val Kilmer to have at least received an Oscar nomination for his performance. If you like Westerns, this is a keeper. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/25 Full Review Ken B Best of my generation, the casting was excellent and one name Val Kilmer, is why you watch. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/24/25 Full Review Maria A The best Western ever made in the USA, bar none. Fantastic acting. One of the best screenplays ever composed, with dozens of quotable one-liners that are never clunky or weird. Val Kilmer & Kurt Russell both deliver Oscar-worthy performances. In fact, it is a travesty that this cinematographic masterpiece did not get the wider — international — distribution that it deserved, nor the critical acclaim across all media that are its just deserts. For those who love big sky shots, such as those that are a signature of the works of Terence Malick, "Tombstone" yields a treasure trove of scenic vistas that make the Wild West come alive. I have no idea where some of the negative comments are coming from, because they are from way out beyond left field... My family has watched this film at least 5 times, love it every bit as much as we love "Gladiator" — and in certain ways even more, because we understand the period it depicts better, and because of its profound relevance to America's current social & political crisis, in which we can see organized crime threatening the very survival of American democracy & the US Constitution. Just watched this precious motion picture once again, in full 35 mm glory, at an arthouse cinema in Spain, with full Dolby... An experience as thrilling and enriching as any great operatic performance of something serious and sublime, by Verdi or Mozart or Rossini or Beethoven... We went in particular as a tribute to the incandescent Val Kilmer, in what is probably his finest film role. Take the time to fully enjoy this movie. It will change how you think of your fellow human beings. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/17/25 Full Review Jan V Peak cinema, movie perfection. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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