Kilmer's Characterization is Worth Seeing

Rating: Null/10 (19 September 1999)

His accent? Remember, the South STARTS at the Mason-Dixon line which is between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Being from the Delmarva area, his accent is clearly either Southern Marylander or Northern Virginian, and an EXCELLENT one at that. The phrases he uses were so accurate for that time period, he brought back memories to me of my great-grandmother "isn't that a daisy?" "I'm not your huckleberry", etc. If Kilmer would research ALL of his current roles in this manner, he wouldn't be faced with some of the box office bombs he is being roped into today.
Like others, I could not even see any of Kilmer's personality in Doc, he so immersed himself in the role. The chilling verbal confrontation between him and Ringo (played sadistically TO THE HILT by Michael Biehn, later Kyle in The Terminator), which was done in Latin, is one of the film's best scenes.
And although Kilmer steals every scene he is in, you cannot overlook Kurt Russell as Earp (who else besides Jodie Foster has made such a successful transition from child to adult roles?), Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton, as Earp's brothers, Dana Dulaney as Earp's love interest, Billy Zane (is there anything that he is not good in?) and a surprising Jason Priestly from 90210. Powers Booth is a likeable villain, although cold-blooded and vicious.
So the movie isn't historically accurate down to every last detail. Well neither was Titantic. So what? I watch a movie to be entertained and Kilmer's outstanding performance kept us watching (yes, even my wife who hates Westerns). I cannot believe he was not nominated for an Academy Award? Not even a Golden Globe? Come on!