There’s something refreshing about a western that just wants to be a western. After spending time with films that deconstruct the myth of the West, Tombstone is a movie that embraces that myth, and adds a hint of realism and gravitas. It’s not a eulogy. It’s not morally murky. It’s not interested in dismantling the mind of a gunslinger. Tombstone gives us good old fashioned heroes and villains. This one feels more “textbook western”.
Doc Holliday steals the show for me. Val Kilmer plays him with a perfect blend of charm, wit, fragility, and menace. He’s dying the entire time, but he carries himself like the most dangerous man in the room. I know this is one of Kilmer’s most memorable performances, but I still feel like it’s underrated.
Wyatt Earp is still the backbone of the film. Kurt Russell gives him weight and presence. When Wyatt finally decides to take matters into his own hands and go full berserker mode, it feels earned. It’s not a mournful revenge like Leone’s films, but more of a righteous one. The heroes in this movie stand up for what is right and not necessarily what’s popular.
This was a rewatch for me, but I enjoyed watching it being a few years older and with the context of other westerns. Tombstone is a stylish, confident, and endlessly quotable piece of cinema.
“I’m your Huckleberry”