Can we get Val Kilmer to do another comedy someday?

[Paragon]

I just rented Spartan tonight, and I'm really looking forward to it - Mamet's a genius - but Val was amazing in Top Secret! and Real Genius way back when.

He's a great dramatic actor, of course - but I wouldn't mind seeing him embrace his inner goofball again.

[wyldwolf]

1. Kilmer is an amazing character actor

He nailed the roles of Jim Morrison and Doc Holiday.

[MercutioATC]

2. Yeah, but supposedly he's an ass.

My sister stayed at a resort on Fiji that he had stayed at a short time before. The staff grew to hate him. As the story goes, a housekeeping person was bringing in fresh pillows for him (which he'd requested) and she let one of them brush up against the wall as she walked through the room. He went ballistic and screamed at her until she ran out of the room.

Disclaimer: This is a third-hand story. My sister did find the resort populated by seniors while she was there, however, and spent a few days partying with the staff, so she believes they were being straight with her.

I DO think he's a great actor.

[Maestro]

3. He is a great actor

but unfortunately I have heard the asshole story too. He is just too hard to work with and that is why his choice of movie roles is limited. He'd get more work if he'd be nicer and not such a primadonna. He was awesome in Real Genius.

[MercutioATC]

4. I watched "The Ghost and the Darkness" again today.

LOVE that movie. I lived in Chicago when I was a kid and went to the Field Museum all the time. I didn't know the story behind the lions until I saw the movie.

[ForrestGump]

6. I like the film, too, a lot...but it's VERY loosely based on reality, no

matter what the movie claims. The biggest embellishment was that there was nobody like Michael Douglas' character in reality. His part was probably added to keep Americans interested, because the truth is far more interesting and would make for compelling viewing: Patterson shot the lions himself, with no professional help. Also, the lions were maneless, a very weird thing common around Tsavo (maneless males). I was surprised that they didn't more prominetly feature the total number of workers killed, that was some horrendous total (almost 140...just looked it up).

Still a great film, with excellent writing from the God of Screenwriters, William Goldman. And Val Kilmer was superb in the film.

Some good introductory info here:

http://www.fmnh.org/exhibits/exhibit_sites/tsavo/default.htm

[MercutioATC]

7. Great site...thanks.

As I said, I lived in Chicago when I was young and I do remember the lions being maneless. I figured that parts of the story had been embellished for film, and the site you posted explained the details perfectly. Thanks again.

[ForrestGump]

12. No problema....you've made me want to watch the film again!

:D

Gotta go digging in storage.

[nini]

5. I know someone that went to High School with him

she said he was a wimpy lowriderish guy in 9th / 10th grade and was a major snot by the time they graduated.

so I guess he was always a pain in the ass.

[nuxvomica]

8. I just watched "Spartan"

It is quintessential Mamet, like "House of Games", "The Spanish Prisoner" and "Heist." If you liked them, you'll like this one. Plus the political angle is chilling because it is so believable now.

[Paragon]

14. I finally watched it this morning

I picked up on most of the read-between-the-lines stuff during the movie, but I'm watching it again tonight to really get into it.

Plus, I have nothing better to do. :silly:

[johnnie]

9. Top secret is halarious

I like all the films by those brothers...what's their name? Starts with a Z I think.

[ForrestGump]

11. The Zuckers. Excellent stuff!

[johnnie]

13. Yeah.....that's them n/t

[terrya]

10. "Real Genius" is a hoot!

William Atherton's character : "I want to see more of you in the lab"

Val Kilmer's character: "Ok. I'll gain some weight"

Great, funny dialogue. :-)

Terry