It can't be historically accurate but who cares?

Rating: 9/10 (30 July 2010)

Right lets get the one negative out of the way. This film isn't and never could be historically accurate. So reviews applauding the historical content of this film are nonsense.
The history of the Earps and Doc Holliday is shrouded in claim and counter claim based on the conflicting accuracy of eye witness accounts. No one truly knows who murdered Johnny Ringo, it could have been one of a dozen people including Johnny Ringo himself (as per the Coroner's report which indicated suicide). Doc Holliday could have murdered him but he was in court on the day although he may have been represented by his attorney. Guns were terribly inaccurate at the time and shooting whilst riding a horse was all but impossible. As in all shooting films both historical and modern, the ability to shoot with the accuracy of a laser is virtually nil (unless the shooter is a modern scoped Sniper of considerable skill). Nuff said.
But as I mention in my summary, I couldn't care less!! This film is nothing short of magnificent. Val Kilmer gives a career defining performance as Doc which single handedly shamed the Oscar Academy (if there is a best supporting actor winner out there thats more worthy I would like to know). The relationship between Wyatt and Doc is compelling, with Wyatt as the honourable law abiding gunman vs his friend who is embroiled in a world of excess, drugs and death defying duels.
Michael Biehn on the face of it, looked mis-cast as Ringo and yet delivers an understated and assured performance, Powers Booth is on top form as Curly, the Earp brothers all chip in, especially Sam Elliot who is always good value.
The sets are lavish, the cinematography is breathtaking and the pace is perfectly balanced between rich story telling and stunning action set pieces. It would have been easy to make this film based around the climax at the OK Corral but not so - its almost a buddy movie, which is driven to conclusion at the private gunslinging showdown between Ringo and Wyatt.
Personally, I would take this film any day over Unforgiven which whilst an excellent Western, never quite lived up to its own hype. Costner's Wyatt Earp doesn't hit the spot either. Tombstone definitely does.