MovieChat Forums > Val (2021) Discussion > Val Kilmer Is a Hard Man to Know, but Do...

Val Kilmer Is a Hard Man to Know, but Documentary ‘Val’ Goes Too Easy on Him

posted 4 years ago by MartyDeniro (4185)
9 replies | jump to latest

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/val-kilmer-documentary-val-amazon-1234657540/

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 4 years ago

Decent article and I recently watched the trailer
The thing is it's pretty tough to watch an actor you really liked growing up possibly going through his final motions before the end

Kilmer's assholery on set is well documented and nearly legendary but seeing him so ill is a tough thing to swallow

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 4 years ago

I finally watched it
It was tough to watch but very interesting

Kilmer has the guts to make himself appear difficult and confusing at times (which he often seemed to be)

Much of it was sad but it was a pretty honest bio about a very talented, sort of confounding guy

Best of health Val👍

[–] Arasaid (202) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 4 years ago

I sensed a good deal of regret in his interviews here tbh...

Best wishes to this guy, the film nearly broke my heart

He was a really handsome dude way back when

[–] Arasaid (202) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78608) 4 years ago

I get your comments

Kilmer appeared to be owning up to some of his rather annoying and selfish on-set behavior but did seem to try and explain some of it away with the old 'I'm an artist' excuse

His grief for his mother felt very authentic and I got the sense that he genuinely loves his children and family

Damn, this bio doc beat me up with the feelings

[–] Arasaid (202) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

I'll have to read the article when I get to work, because I liked the documentary and am interested in more.

I know he had a rep for being very difficult, but never knew much outside of that. I think he is a strange man who fancied himself a bigger star than he ended up being - he had a few bright spots, but was never a bonafide star - whose love of the craft was an obsession.

I also felt he seems like he has regrets. I think getting sick after years of his stock dropping taught him some humility. He seems to outright blame himself for his failed marriage. Seeing him at the conventions and festivals was both sad and comforting. He obviously wishes he was still acting, but seems grateful that he can still connect with fans since his acting career is pretty much over. There's one part where he mentions it's a little pathetic living off his past. He looks sad for a moment. Then he smiles and expresses gratitude for the convention circuit. I think it has humbled him and made him a better man.

It was also REALLY NICE to see his ex with him when he went to his mom's house after she passed. Their relationship and divorce was supposedly awful. It's so nice to see they've patched things up enough that she could be there for him.

[–] brux (14840) 3 years ago

Hero or villain of his life?

I've seen him in a few movies acting. So what? That does not make him talented, a good actor, a role model, ... nothing. I am sick of actors getting so much attention. People adjacent to media are made way too much of ... and the more successful they are the more attention they get, and their worse their behavior and problems are and the worse the industry has to fake PR image manage them.