Review of Tombstone (1993) by Mickey M — 07 Mar 2013

This is the story of members of one of the greatest gunfights in US history, the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. The film focuses on "Wyatt Earp" (Kurt Russell), who reunites with his brothers "Virgil" (Sam Elliot, who seems to favor doing Westerns when one comes up) and "Morgan" (Bill Paxton) and the rest of his faction in the famed gun battle including the ailing "Doc Holiday" (Val Kilmer).

The film not only runs through the months and days leading to the gunfight, but it also shows the battle and its fallout where the Earp Gang goes after .

The first thing you will notice in this movie has an authentic look. The costumes, though none had that "worn" look, looked real authentic right down to the buttons. Even facial hair on the men looked to be the style worn during the time of the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

There are some good performances in this film. Russell does a good job in the feature role, and Kilmer almost steals every scene he is in. If you want somebody in a Western, then you have to go to Elliott. Just about every film I've seen him in, Elliott has appeared in one and basically has made a name for these roles. One actor I suggest you take a look at is the one playing OK Corral survivor Billy Claiborne. Claiborne is played by Wyatt Earp, the fifth cousin of the real man played by Russell.

Many of the supporting cast does do good performances. But, because a lot of the screenplay was cut, they aren't really developed well.

The soundtrack to the film is not really memorable. I can barely remember any music in this film. I do remember mostly instrumentals, but nothing spectacular.

Like other Westerns, there is violence in this movie. However, it is a bit more graphic than some of the classics with "The Duke" John Wayne. When Westerns were the thing in Hollywood, you would get people shot with blood running from the "wound" (usually a blood pack hidden in the actor's hand), but in this one the blood comes squirting out. You will also get close-ups of body parts where a bullet hole will appear when they are hit. I clearly remember a close-up of one "Cowboy" being shot by "Wyatt", and a bullet hole appearing in the dead center of his forehead (without a burst of blood).

This movie tries to show us the lives and relationships of the Earps and Holiday. However, no historian knows with 100% certainty anything about these men. Much of what we see is pure speculation on these men. But with the performances of the cast, you can believe that these are how these people actually were.

There are many scenes which drag on, but the pace is pretty good for the entire movie. It may not be a movie for everybody, but it's still a good movie and could be a pretty good rental.