Val

source: Val

You infrequently see as honest a documentary as "Val," a life of Val Kilmer (Batman, Jim Morrison, et al.). In fact, because it is largely made up of his 40 years of self-videotaping, it has the feel of one of the most authentic autobiographies ever made. With his voice and his son, Jack's, it feels as if we are in his living room as they play the highlights of his glamorous career. Although I was super pleased about Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain in its analysis of celebrity, Val crushes that doc with Kilmer's honest assessments of his life and his career without seemingly embellishing it or shaping it favorably. Bourdain's life has charm and a surface truth, but Val feels like Kilmer has let us into his soul for long enough to see a talented artist ceaselessly trying to interpret his chaotic world. Although in his mature years he has suffered the loss of his voice from a procedure on his trachea for throat cancer, I can't find a word of bitterness that he has to stop his career and plug the hole in a voice box to talk, albeit scratchy and taking a while to get used to. He remains in his 60's searching the secrets of life, the best being honesty and love. Those are the two words to describe him and this doc. For the more detail-desiring cinephiles less sentimental than I, this doc is full of off-camera insights: his longing to play Morrison and then his giving up his months' guitar practice to airplay the role, his confession that he couldn't act or move in that imprisoning Batman suit, his disappointment at the disastrous film The Island of Dr. Moreau and missing his chance to get close to his idol, Marlon Brando, his bonding as Iceman with Cruise, and so much more. The footage of him arguing with director John Frankenheimer defines not so much Val's reputation for being difficult but rather his striving for perfection-A Juilliard grad, not a god. Throughout this personal portrait of a star who fell from grace from bad choices (Willow, anyone?) and his own arrogance, Val Kilmer appreciates the gifts life has given him and its disappointments from which he becomes one of the most self-aware documentarians in his profession. Val is a doc to be savored, and now that it is streaming on Prime, to be seen more than once. It's that good.

This documentary will leaving your heart humbled by an artist in a medium in which he truly excels in. His ability to be human and vulnerable is honorable of the man it truly is! It is hard to tell the story of your life while it's still unfolding but he has done it in away that makes you truly hopeful for more of his art in the future.

Since this is Val Kilmer's own intimate documentary on his life and artistic career, you wouldn't expect it to be a well-balanced look at his relationships and accomplishments. And it is not. But it's nonetheless an interesting portrait of a true (and some would say, troubled) artist. To add some balance here: Joel Schumacher, who directed Kilmer in his sole turn as Batman in 1995, specifically discounted the "troubled artist" moniker and said, no, "He is a deeply disturbed individual." But watching this movie it's hard to argue with the sheer level of his commitment to the craft of acting. It's also clear how much he dotes on his children, Jack and Mercedes. Jack even provides much of the voiceover of Val reading the memoir-ish "screenplay," as he recognizes the difficulty of listening intently to and understanding his voice post-throat cancer. Second interruption for balance: we don't get a single quote from Jack's mother and Val's ex-wife, Joanne Whalley, who would divorce him, while claiming substantial abuse and neglect. We do get brief quotes from co-stars Robert Downey Jr. & Tom Sizemore defending Val as a "real actor" and "not difficult at all." And similarly, Val is fully deferential to his co-star in Dr. Moreau, Marlon Brando, for his on-set demands, while only playing the audio of his own argument with the film's director, John Frankenheimer. Anyway, I'm going to give this documentary an 8/10, with one point added for all the footage of Val's one-man show playing Mark Twain. This footage says more about his life, from his young brother's death, to the breakup of his marriage and declining health, than all his "home movies" did.

Respect to him. Such a deep and well thought out documentary. Watch this doco.

Don't get me wrong, 'Val' is captivating and compelling viewing. Kilmer was, after all, one of Hollywood's top-dog actors of the late '80s, early '90s-and he basically filmed his entire life, which creates interest, authenticity and nostalgia. However, despite the film's main theme being about the ability of acting to create the illusion of truth, this documentary manages to steer clear of any honesty or meaningful revelations about its main character. The central question for anyone remotely aware of Kilmer is likely, 'What happened to that guy?' Largely because he was one of those actors who went from 0 to 100 overnight, from 'Top Secret' to 'Top Gun', from nobody to Jim Morrison. Then he disappeared just as fast. Through home videos and a one-man film crew-Kilmer himself, seemingly capturing every waking moment of his own life-we get to know this character's major plot points, yet oddly never really get close to the answers to our questions. The film seems to follow basically a chronological timeline of Kilmer's childhood, entry into acting and major film career, jumping out occasionally into his life today, dealing with a difficult medical condition. Again, it's compelling viewing. There's a brutal honesty and bravery involved in Kilmer allowing the world an uncomfortable glimpse into his post-surgery personal life. However, you begin to notice some glaring omissions, most notably a missing 20 years when his career slid off a cliff, begging the questions: What happened to his career? How did he go from A-list to C-list? What happened to his marriage? Despite the phenomenal home-shot footage and well-curated soundtrack, after a while, you begin to suspect that the actor might have left his most convincing and honest material on the cutting room floor, that perhaps not every tragedy that befell him was someone else's fault, and that the intent of the film was not in fact to document the truth, but to purposely obfuscate it. It's totally understandable that someone who has gone through tough times, made some mistakes and perhaps behaved less than admirably would want to gloss over those moments and flaws. However, there is no hero's journey without recognition and growth. So the end result is less of a compelling, insightful life story and more of a nostalgic memoir.

People giving this one star because "all people suffer". You clearly have lost your humanity somewhere. Disgusting. I can't believe the people posting "another millionaire who lost his money" BS on here are anything other than total sociopaths. You should be ASHAMED and horrified. This is a beautiful and vulnerable look at another human being and their life and struggles and triumphs. I suggest you see where you left your humanity along the way.

Thank you to the Kilmer Family and ofcourse Val for showing your side of earth and life. Your story is true, raw, deep, sad and funny. Laughter and creativity celebrated, truth spoken. Life is a journey that can be observed and appreciated or forgotten so thank you. We are all imperfect but with love and god it can beautiful. Peace and love and the right balance for you and your family.

Worth the time. Val's love & passion's are in plain view here. Family man. Artist. Good human being. Thank you for your contribution Val as an artist, you've been one of my favorites for some thirty years.

I've been missing Val Kilmer & didn't know why he'd been absent. Now, I'm heartbroken for his struggle, & I appreciate him so very much. Bless him & all he has brought to us as a stunning dedicated actor.