So says someone to Pat Garrett in this acclaimed but obscure western. It is indeed a shame that this TNT adaption of the Gore Vidal biography of the notorious William Bonney isn't as well known as it should be. Had it been released to the movie theaters rather than cable TV, Val Kilmer could have been an Oscar contender for his well rounded performance of the notorious outlaw. Nowhere near the big budgeted but poorly researched 1930 and 1941 MGM versions, and way more higher class than the numerous Z grade Billy the Kid programmers released in the 1940's as bottom of the bill additions to a full lineup of classier movie. Perhaps closely rivaled by "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) and classic westerns where Billy was a supporting character.
Something tells me in watching this, even without knowing who wrote it, that it's pretty genuine, beautifully filmed and terrifically acted with Duncan Regehr a compelling Pat Garrett and in smaller roles Rene Auberjonois, Wilford Brimley, Julie Carmen, John O'Hurley and Vidal himself as a preacher. You don't feel manipulated to feel sorry for him, but as played by Kilmer, he's someone that the audience can empathize with. I'm not really a fan of his, but he showed great potential in this that was sadly overshadowed by controversy even when he shined in the films he did later on.
Something tells me in watching this, even without knowing who wrote it, that it's pretty genuine, beautifully filmed and terrifically acted with Duncan Regehr a compelling Pat Garrett and in smaller roles Rene Auberjonois, Wilford Brimley, Julie Carmen, John O'Hurley and Vidal himself as a preacher. You don't feel manipulated to feel sorry for him, but as played by Kilmer, he's someone that the audience can empathize with. I'm not really a fan of his, but he showed great potential in this that was sadly overshadowed by controversy even when he shined in the films he did later on.