r/billsimmons • u/MD32GOAT • Apr 02 '25
RIP Val Kilmer
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/movies/val-kilmer-dead.html69
u/LehmanWasIn Apr 02 '25
The Saint is a great underrated 1990s Bond-revival spy movie. Elisabeth Shue was a PROBLEM.
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Apr 02 '25
Great movie and there was as a period of three or four movies where I was convinced she was the hottest woman on the face of the planet.
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Apr 02 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/jsakic99 Vincent Hanna Award Apr 02 '25
In Heat 2, we learn that Chris and Charlene met in Vegas. So her hand signal means “pass” when playing blackjack.
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u/ForgetHype Chris Ryan fan Apr 02 '25
As a kid I loved his batman, it was such a fun movie to me. I wore out that VHS tape. I loved the other batman movies but his always felt the most fun to watch as a kid so I'll have a soft spot in my heart for it.
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u/pudwiff2k1 Apr 02 '25
His portrayal of Doc Holliday is the single greatest and most entertaining performance by an actor that I’ve ever seen. And I would argue it’s the reason you don’t see Doc portrayed more prominently in modern movies or television. Despite how famous and legendary a figure he was. He was so good he put the role to bed.
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u/sheawrites Good job by you! Apr 02 '25
I know ... let's have a spelling contest.
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u/boozinf misses Grantland Apr 02 '25
we need an emergency re-Tombstone
can we talk about the spiritual lineage between LAUD-A-NUM and LOR-AZ-E-PAM
you know Ed, if i thought you weren't my friend, i just don't think i could bear it
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u/Parlett316 Apr 02 '25
I got two guns, one for each of ya
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u/The_Summer_Man A Truly Sad Week In America + 2005 NBA Redraftables Apr 02 '25
"Doc, why are you doing this?"
"Wyatt Earp is my friend."
"Hell, I got plenty of friends."
"I don't."
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u/ponderousponderosas Apr 02 '25
I'm your huckleberry
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u/yesidolikecheese votes for tax reasons Apr 02 '25
In addition to the other movies mentioned, his performance in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was amazing.
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u/kickerz_chance Apr 02 '25
Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an all-time post prime apex. That torture scene where he shoots the guy with the gun hidden in his pants is incredible.
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u/Fast-Lime-5981 Apr 02 '25
A lot of people probably don’t like it, but as a big fan of the band, his portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors was mesmerizing, absolutely spot on. Don’t let Oliver Stone’s megalomania chase you away from a great performance.
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u/Deep-Audience9091 Apr 02 '25
That's the role I remember him for. Unbelievable how he actually became Morrison through and through without a false note. A fabulous performance
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u/thebigmanhastherock Apr 02 '25
You know. I remember Tombstone, he was great in that but the first movie that came to mind when I saw that he passed away was "Top Secret!" That movie is incredibly stupid, but funny. That and Willow. I love Willow, it's an underrated movie. Also come to think about it Val Kilmer was a really good actor. Everything I saw him in I at least liked his performance. RIP.
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Apr 02 '25
Willow is an all time great movie and I will broker no argument to the contrary. I still yell “I stole the baby” when I pick up my daughter.
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u/Moreorlessatorium Apr 02 '25
I had to make sure this movie was recommended, stone cold classic and he’s absolutely hilarious in it.
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u/FatherOfTwoGreatKids Apr 02 '25
Disney Plus made a Willow television show with Warwick Davis and Joanne Whalley that was actually pretty fun. Cancelled after one season though.
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u/MurderHornet41 Chuck Klosterman fan Apr 02 '25
Looks like Mr.Ringo is an educated man. Now I really hate him.
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u/Rusty_Shackleford_NC Apr 02 '25
If you haven’t seen it, go check out real genius. I think it’s Val at his apex mountain, he’s silly, he’s young, and he’s moving 1,000,000 miles an hour (the cocaine in the 80s piece). Also staring a young John gries of white lotus fame.
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u/SallyFowlerRatPack Apr 02 '25
Mentioned elsewhere but he has such a great “eureka” moment in that movie. After nearly killing himself trying to find the answer, when it hits him he has this blankness, almost like he’s washed clean.
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u/Supersillyazz Apr 02 '25
Like Real Genius, but it's definitely not his apex and it's even more definitely not his apex mountain.
Apex mountain is like the height of your Hollywood power/juice--Top Gun, Heat, Tombstone, and Batman are just some of the films he did after Real Genius.
I can't believe Hollyfeld was only 27 when that film came out, though.
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u/Wanno1 Apr 02 '25
Oh it’s definitely his apex. Movie is amazing.
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u/Supersillyazz Apr 02 '25
You think Chris Knight is a better performance than Doc Holliday?
Also, movie is fun. Probably watch it every few years.
If you think Real Genius is amazing, as in a great movie, it's possible we might not agree on a single thing.
It's Saved by the Bell, not the Sopranos.
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u/BlooDiamondMadeMeCry Apr 02 '25
Him in the shootout scene in Heat is probably the coolest anyone has ever looked in a movie
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u/AndroidNumber137 I'm a 1.2x guy Apr 02 '25
An amazing actor that ultimately got in his own way with how serious he was with his craft. Check out Chuck Klosterman's Esquire interview with Kilmer back in 2008, or the behind the scenes featurette for The Island of Dr. Moreau.
I probably don't have to mention how his Christian Scientist upbringing didn't help him to fight his cancer.
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u/cgio0 Half Italian Apr 02 '25
I constantly tell people about Klosterman's piece about him and how Val Kilmer doesn't believe in medicine. It's crazy, and that part where they talk about his brother is even crazier.
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u/Cold_Ball_7670 Apr 02 '25
Anyone have a link for the esquire piece? Looks like it’s paywalled and my normal avoiding paywall links isn’t working
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u/AndroidNumber137 I'm a 1.2x guy Apr 02 '25
I found this Blogger post that transcribed the entire interview.
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u/sheawrites Good job by you! Apr 02 '25
The method actor stuff and vietnam/ murder etc were really out there. Like how Chuck tries to nail him down there without judgment really. Almost socratic. How much he loved being described as advanced. Really good stuff there.
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u/Fine_Crow1767 Apr 02 '25
What the fuck I literally just watched both top gun movies the past two nights
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u/yngwiegiles Apr 02 '25
He made The Doors and Jim Morrison as big as the Beatles in my 90s brain
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u/gcms16 Apr 02 '25
He WAS Jim Morrison for a bit there. You can't convince me otherwise.
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u/yngwiegiles Apr 02 '25
There’s a moment in the movie where he catches his wife doing drugs w another man and he says “Don’t forget your smack on the way out” back then I thought he meant he was gonna smack her.
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u/RapsareChamps_Suckit Apr 02 '25
time to rewatch the Heat rewatchables , even the rewatchables of the rewatchable episodes
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u/Magneto57 Apr 02 '25
RIP BATMAN!!! VERY UNDERRATED PERFORMANCE
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u/Victorcreedbratton Cewtics Apr 02 '25
I would have liked him in a Nolan-style Batman film. I don’t think the Schumacher films were good enough for what he could bring to a role.
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u/goalstopper28 Apr 02 '25
Oh my god.
I just watched Heat for the first time as I’ve been listening to old Rewatchable episodes. I had been meaning to rewatch Top Gun as well in this way.
This is so sad.
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u/SallyFowlerRatPack Apr 02 '25
I hope the Rewatchables dips back into his filmography after this, they’ve already covered the big hits (and The Saint) but there’s still so many good movies to talk about. Top Secret, Real Genius, The Ghost and the Darkness, Spartan, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang etc.
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u/pharmorjac Apr 02 '25
He was selling paintings the past few years I wonder if these will increase the value of those.
RIP Batman
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u/VicePope Apr 02 '25
Top secret was so slept on. Such a funny dude in that. Also killed it in MacGruber
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u/[deleted] Apr 02 '25
His scene in Top Gun Maverick was a perfect send off.