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Val
A one of a kind Hollywood icon who has been dealt more than his share of hard knocks over the years gets a bold, laid bare, and lovingly respectful tribute in 2021's Val, a documentary about the life and career of Val Kilmer that is funny, heartbreaking, brave, unapologetic, and joyous that had this reviewer riveted to the screen and fighting tears.
Kilmer is currently in remission from throat cancer, but the disease has done irreparable damage to this throat and vocal chords. This is why we are immediately informed that the narration for the majority of the film is written by Kilmer, but actually done by his son, Jack, who sounds frighteningly like his dad. Kilmer is observed throughout the film speaking through the apparatus on his throat which is operated by him pushing a button, but it is very difficult to understand him. This does not stop Kilmer from appearing in this vulnerable state throughout the film and, honestly, often it's very difficult to watch.
For this reviewer, the number one objective of a celebrity documentary is that learn things about the subject that I never knew and I got that in abundance here. The brief look at his childhood revealed that Kilmer lost a brother who drowned at the age of 15 and a troubled relationship with his father, that involved a lot of shady business deals that ended up amassing huge debts for the actor that he is still trying to take care of to this day.
Kilmer's tenure at Julliard was also news to me and revealed his first serious passion for the craft for which he would become famous. It was during his time at Julliard where it's revealed the first role he ever had a true passion for but never got to play was Hamlet, lovingly documented here. The only other role where he seemed to feel a similar connection was Jim Morrison in The Doors .
Some fun behind the scenes stuff was revealed liked the nightmares that came from making Batman Forever and The Island of Dr Moreau. It's also revealed that whenever Val there was a role he really wanted, he would make an audition film playing one or more of the characters in the movie and send it to the director. There is a clip of Val playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas and a tape to Stanley Kubrick to play any role in Full Metal Jacket. We also get a shot of Val in his first New York play backstage with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, who moon the camera.
The two most powerful sequences for this reviewer revolved around the actor getting sick during an autograph session at Comic-Con and some home movies of his wife Joanne Whalley on the video while the audio was a nasty argument with the couple regarding custody of their children, Jack and Mercedes. This is not an easy watch and the best thing of all, the film reveals that Val is still working. He's actually in the process of bringing a one man show he wrote about Mark Twain to the screen. This revelation alone earned the rating half a point. Appointment viewing for Kilmer fans.
A one of a kind Hollywood icon who has been dealt more than his share of hard knocks over the years gets a bold, laid bare, and lovingly respectful tribute in 2021's Val, a documentary about the life and career of Val Kilmer that is funny, heartbreaking, brave, unapologetic, and joyous that had this reviewer riveted to the screen and fighting tears.
Kilmer is currently in remission from throat cancer, but the disease has done irreparable damage to this throat and vocal chords. This is why we are immediately informed that the narration for the majority of the film is written by Kilmer, but actually done by his son, Jack, who sounds frighteningly like his dad. Kilmer is observed throughout the film speaking through the apparatus on his throat which is operated by him pushing a button, but it is very difficult to understand him. This does not stop Kilmer from appearing in this vulnerable state throughout the film and, honestly, often it's very difficult to watch.
For this reviewer, the number one objective of a celebrity documentary is that learn things about the subject that I never knew and I got that in abundance here. The brief look at his childhood revealed that Kilmer lost a brother who drowned at the age of 15 and a troubled relationship with his father, that involved a lot of shady business deals that ended up amassing huge debts for the actor that he is still trying to take care of to this day.
Kilmer's tenure at Julliard was also news to me and revealed his first serious passion for the craft for which he would become famous. It was during his time at Julliard where it's revealed the first role he ever had a true passion for but never got to play was Hamlet, lovingly documented here. The only other role where he seemed to feel a similar connection was Jim Morrison in The Doors .
Some fun behind the scenes stuff was revealed liked the nightmares that came from making Batman Forever and The Island of Dr Moreau. It's also revealed that whenever Val there was a role he really wanted, he would make an audition film playing one or more of the characters in the movie and send it to the director. There is a clip of Val playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas and a tape to Stanley Kubrick to play any role in Full Metal Jacket. We also get a shot of Val in his first New York play backstage with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, who moon the camera.
The two most powerful sequences for this reviewer revolved around the actor getting sick during an autograph session at Comic-Con and some home movies of his wife Joanne Whalley on the video while the audio was a nasty argument with the couple regarding custody of their children, Jack and Mercedes. This is not an easy watch and the best thing of all, the film reveals that Val is still working. He's actually in the process of bringing a one man show he wrote about Mark Twain to the screen. This revelation alone earned the rating half a point. Appointment viewing for Kilmer fans.