The Legend and his best mate Doc

Rating: Null/10 (19 March 2004)

SPOILERS
It feels almost appropriate in the same week that "Open Range" is released in Britain and once again Westerns make a comeback to really consider the last time this really happened. In 1993, not for the first time and not for the last, two films were created on exactly the same topic. In that year Holywood released the overly long and slightly infuriating Wyatt Earp staring Kevin Costner (again I'm just going to quickly plug "Open Range" which looks impressive from the trailers), but Holywood also released this film, "Tombstone".
In "Tombstone", we're told by Robert Mitchum's narration about the "Cowboys", an outlaw gang who control the area. This gang is recogniseable by the Red Sashes around it's members waists and when the film begins they run around doing basically exactly what they like. At this point enters the man of the hour, the legend Wyatt Earp. Earp arrives on a train with the plan of retiring and settling down with his brothers Morgan and Virgil and the three brothers wives. This peace doesn't last however and eventually Earp is forced to put his retirement on hold as he fights first unwillingly, and then for retribution.
It's been a strange habit of mine over the last few months to praise practically every single film I've seen. Whilst there's been one or two I've heavily criticised, the vast majority of the time I'll talk about how wonderful a film is and generally describe it as either close to a masterpiece or a masterpiece itself. Well in this case I'm going to make a discerning effort not to. If anything I'm going to make an effort to actually condemn this film.
In "Tombstone", the key areas of Wyatt Earp are played out. We don't get to find out about his childhood or his earlier years and are forced to make do with only the action packed years around the town on which the film is named. This film contains a vast spectrum of talents ranging from Kurt Russell and the amazing Val Kilmer, through to cameo's from Billy Bob Thornton, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley and Billy Zane. Also we have outstanding performances as the leaders of the Cowboys by Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn. Despite this though, do we really have anyone with as charasmatic a figure as Kevin Costner (I am joking if you hadn't gathered).
Ok, so far I'm not doing a good job at really condemning this film, but truthfully, why should I? "Tombstone" is just another of those modern Westerns which aims to mix a sense of realism in with a fantastic plot and an amazing cast. Add to this the special effects and you've got a hit. So it might not be worthy of a place anywhere near the Internet Movie Database Top 250, who cares. If you want to watch a clever, gritty, correctly lengthed Western from the last twenty years, this is the film for you.