Joey Magidson
Earlier this week, we lost Val Kilmer. At just 65, it feels way too soon for him, even with the latter years of his life dominated by health issues. Kilmer was a real original, capable of such charisma as well as method intensity. So, it only made sense to see him as both genius comic characters as well as action heroes and superheroes. It truly felt like he could do anything. Shamefully, he never received an Academy Award nomination. In fact, not only was he never nominated for an Oscar, the same goes for the Golden Globes as well, alongside all too many awards bodies. Today, however, he gets his flowers, as I wanted to showcase his best work, as a way to pay tribute to the man.
Before we get to the list, I did want to shout out the documentary Val, which is about Kilmer, while also being largely shot by him. It’s a window into the mind of a complicated artist and mind, which will take on a whole new meaning now. The doc was already excellent, but as of this week, it has an added weight to it.
In my review of Val (here), I wrote the following:
Val Kilmer has a reputation that precedes him. Sure, he’s clearly a talented actor, but plenty of folks assume that he’s difficult. Is he a misunderstood artist, or something less sympathetic? The answer has eluded people for a while now, but the documentary Val is here to partly answer that. Shot almost entirely by Kilmer himself, over a period of decades, the film uses his home video style footage, as well as his modern self, to paint a portrait of him that you’ve never seen before. Kilmer has a lot to say and to offer, and even now, with illness having partly robbed him of his voice, that comes across loud and clear. If you’re even a little bit of a fan of his work, you owe it to yourself to see this doc.
Val is a moving experience that’s also a deeply unique one. You really feel like you’re getting to know the real Val Kilmer. Sure, Kilmer may be performing at times, but it always seems like him. Whether he’s being serious, silly, depressed, or just contemplative, the man is showcased in a very visceral yet gentle way. It’s a hard thing to pull off, but the flick manages to do it quite well.
Below, you can see how I’d rank the best of Kilmer. My favorite performance of his, which I also think is his best work, comes in Real Genius. Not far behind we have the likes of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Tombstone. This is just how I see his career. If you’re a huge fan of The Doors or Top Secret! (both of which appear within my ranking), be sure to tell me. There’s a Kilmer for everyone, so consider this just a starting point. Rest in Peace sir, you’ll be missed.
Here now is my list of the ten best Val Kilmer performances, in honor of the late, great, actor. Behold:
Honorable Mention: At First Sight, Batman Forever, and Top Gun: Maverick
10. Willow
9. Spartan
8. Top Gun
7. Wonderland
6. The Doors
5. Heat
4. Top Secret!
3. Tombstone
2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
1. Real Genius
RIP Val Kilmer
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