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Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer lead an all-star ensemble in this true story of 1881’s infamous showdown between reluctant lawmen and a gang of criminal cowboys previously depicted in 1957’s Gunfight at the OK Corral and told again in 1994’s Wyatt Earp. Russell plays Earp, retiring from a law career with his brothers (Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton) in the town of Tombstone, Arizona, where Wyatt reunites with his old friend Doc Holliday (Kilmer). The Earps start a lucrative career in gambling before a gang of unruly cattle rustlers and horse thieves (led by Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn) upset the peace. When the Earps don badges and lay down the law, the gang turns deadly and it soon becomes clear that only one side of the conflict can remain standing.
Tombstone works primarily as a drama, with its heroes struggling to recommit to lives of guaranteed conflict when all they desire is to settle down with their wives and start families. While much screen time is given to the Earp brothers, and Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton are certainly no slouches, their story pales in comparison to the relationship between Wyatt and Doc Holliday. Val Kilmer steals the movie from everyone with his mercurial and sardonic performance as Holliday, a man who aids Wyatt in every time of need, even though he’s slowly dying from tuberculosis. This is arguably the best performance of Kilmer’s career. He is the emotional heart of Tombstone, which concludes with a powerful hospital bed farewell between Doc and Wyatt.
Tombstone feels a tad long at two hours and ten minutes. The first half begs for some narrative tightening and streamlining, though it never gets dull. The third act packs in most of the action and sends the audience off on a high note. Bruce Broughton’s dynamic score accentuates the grandeur of the desert setting and the intensity of the characters’ resolve. This film also features one of the most notable supporting casts ever, including Dana Delany, Charlton Heston, Thomas Haden Church, Jason Priestley, Billy Bob Thornton, Stephen Lang, Harry Carey Jr, Billy Zane, Terry O’Quinn, and Michael Rooker. And if that’s not enough for you, Robert Mitchum narrates the opening and closing of the story.
Written by Kevin Jarre, who was fired from directing the film and replaced by George Cosmatos (Leviathan, Rambo: First Blood Part II)… although it has been strongly rumored that Kurt Russell actually directed much of the film.