A Good, Old-Fashioned Western

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 1999)

Ladies, we have a fine ensemble of some of the best looking men in the business: Kurt Russell; Val Kilmer; Michael Biehn; Billy Zane; Sam Elliott; Bill Paxton, etc. So don't let the fact that it's a "western" deter you from catching this one.
I love movies that pay attention to fine details: Kilmer's filthy fingers during a poker hand, a child soothing her doll after a street shooting, the size of paper money, spittoons in the theatre, etc., etc. Even the colloquialisms were accurate for the time period: "savvy?" "ain't that a daisy?" "I'm your huckleberry" and so on. The women in the film were not overly made up, only a small amount of lip color. And the furnishings, drapes and other decor made me feel I had stepped back in time.
The historical details were not right on the money, but for a movie which must wrap up in a few hours, who cares? The movie is so enjoyable. Russell WAS Wyatt Earp - the steely eyes, the head-strong determination. Kilmer did steal every scene he appeared in, however, and mastered a Virginian accent magnificently. Powers Booth and Michael Biehn played villains who really get under your skin. And those in lesser roles (such as Curley Bill and Mattie Earp, who in reality was never officially married to Wyatt) were greatly effective.
If you rent this movie or watch it for the first time, take note of the extra's. These folks are not just walking around; they were painstakingly directed and busy doing tasks common for that time.
A fest for the eyes.