Ep696: VAL (2021) - Movie Review
Simply put, Val is one of the year's best documentaries.
Ian and David discuss this intimate look at actor Val Kilmer, as told through a literal warehouse's worth of home video footage that spans decades, dozens of movies, and a doozy of a personal life.
Despite finding stardom in blockbuster fare like Top Gun and Batman Forever, the actor's uncompromising search for truth through performance jeopardized his familial relationships and gained him a reputation for being difficult.
Co-directors Ting Poo and Leo Scott dig deep, weaving connections with spiritual sources as diverse as Kilmer's deceased younger brother, Wesley, and the legendary Mark Twain. Watch as Ian and David talk about how they'll never be able to watch some of Kilmer's most iconic roles the same way again; their awe at Val's creativity; and the beauty of a documentary that invites viewers to decide how authenticity is on display--versus narrative manipulation.
Val is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Show Links:
Watch the Val trailer.
Order your tickets to the After Hours Film Society's special August 16th screening of The Sparks Brothers (hosted by David!).
Learn more about the After Hours Film Society.
And if you want to get your hands on one of the Val Kilmer scrapbooks mentioned in our conversation...start saving your pennies.
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