The year is 1879. The film showcases the lawless Wild West in the time after the Civil War. It’s an introduction to an early form of organized crime, big government, and gun ownership. Issues that continue to this day. There are good guys and bad guys, but the line between them is quite thin.
The cast is ridiculous to say the least.
It looks like a fantasy football team roster. Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley, Thomas Hayden Church, Michael Rooker, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Terry O’Quinn. Ah the 90s.
Somewhere in between “The Thing” and “The Christmas Chronicles” Kurt Russell was as big a star as they come. Here he plays Wyatt Earp, and does his typical Kurt Russell thing. He’s cool, delivers great dialogue, and has a commanding mustache that I can only assume is natural.
There’s some depth to the character. Wyatt Earp is retired and hoping for a quiet normal life with his two brothers in the outlaw town of Tombstone, Arizona. The Earp brothers are played by Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott – both do well. While Elliott was born into this kind of role, Paxton is a nice addition as one of the more underrated actors of our time.
Together with Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) The Earps run afoul of the cowboy gang that controls the town. The outlaws are led by Powers Boothe and a better casting choice could not have been made. Boothe oozes sinister without breaking a sweat and actually resembles the real life gunslinger, Curly Bill Brocius that he is playing.
“Make no mistake, it’s not revenge he’s after. It’s a reckonin’” (spits tobacco)
My biggest gripe actually comes from the cast. Not that they aren’t all excellent actors. But they are such big names it takes a bit away from the authenticity of the events they are trying to recreate.
A cast like this in a fiction movie would be awesome. But the attempt to be accurate misses its mark and leads to an unfulfilling ending. It’s not bad. But as it is, you’ll never once forget you are watching a movie.
“Tombstone” is a good, fun flick. It will let you reminisce about the 1880s and the 1990s simultaneously.
“Tombstone” is currently available to stream on Amazon.
Support the Site: Consider becoming a sponsor to unlock exclusive, member-only content and help support The Movie Buff!
