Review: Val – The Val Kilmer Documentary

As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, ‘Val’ star Val Kilmer was one of my favorites.

A movie star, for sure, but not quite an above-the-title star like Tom Cruise, Marlon Brando, or fellow Batman stars Michael Keaton and George Clooney.  He always kept a quiet mystery about him, choosing quality work over pure fame, and bringing more than expected to a role.

‘Val’ takes us behind the scenes using home movies shot by Kilmer himself; giving a poignant, and surprisingly transparent look at what the man’s life is like today.

The Plot – Val

Home Movies

Largely an autobiographical documentary, ‘Val’ uses home movies from as far as childhood through 2019 to give us the broad strokes of Val Kilmers life.

Val doesn’t reinvent the wheel of documentary film making, but it does use the structure and format well.  Starting off in the ‘present’ of 2019, we see Kilmer as he is today, a cancer survivor whose voice was exchanged for his life.  From there, we bounce back through over 40 years of home movies and behind the scenes footage of his biggest films; juxtaposed with his life now.

‘Val’ shows us the major periods of his life, from an Upper Middle Class upbringing in suburban Los Angeles, through college at Juilliard (one of the most famous acting schools in the world), through his successes on the silver screen, and his family life – including his marriage to a fellow movie star Joanne Whalley-Kilmer.

Tragedy And Loss

While this film doesn’t dwell for too long on any particular point of his life, we do see the losses Kilmer has dealt with, and the effect that has had on his person.

The losses of family members, betrayals in business and life, and the turning points that turn out worse than the worst case scenario; all appear.  What’s done particularly well is the focus on three to four of those turning points, and seeing his reactions in real time as he films them.  Then, we see the jump back to the present, and see the lingering effects, now.

The Good – Val

The Normalcy

It sounds weird to say, given the fame, wealth, and privilege Val Kilmer has experienced in his life; but ‘Val’ gives us the ground level view of a ‘real’ life lived.  

Being the child of divorced parents, the loss of a sibling, even the ending of his own marriage; we see the ‘everyday’ of it all.  Not the movie star, not the millionaire, just the normal human reaction that anybody would have.

The Narration

Val Kilmer survived C-word of the Throat, but the resulting treatment left him unable to speak normally.  He can only vocalize his speech now by plugging his tracheotomy, and forcing out a gravely whisper that is difficult to understand.

Fortunately, Kilmer’s son; Jack, himself an actor, narrates for his Dad.  Interestingly, Jack’s voice sounds nearly identical to Val’s own natural speaking voice.  The vocal resemblance is so uncanny, you really forget Val himself isn’t narrating his story, until he tries speaking through the tracheotomy.  Cutting between Val’s 30 year old home movies, and Jack’s present day voiceover is that seamless.

Top Gun, Batman, and Dr. Moreau BTS

For anyone who loves Val Kilmer’s roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Island Of Dr. Moreau; we get extensive behind the scenes on these films, too.

We see Kilmer working out Iceman’s backstory to better play off Tom Cruise’s Maverick with very little screen time.  Also seen are home movies of Val Kilmer as a child on set of the Batman TV series, knowing now that he’d get his own Batmobile on the big screen.  Then, we see him walk away from the role that he grew up idolizing, and hear the reasons why.

We even see Val on set of one of the most infamously troubled productions in Hollywood history: ‘The Island Of Dr. Moreau‘.  We see a lethargic Marlon Brando phoning in his performance.  We see the Director who just didn’t care.  And, we see Kilmer receive divorce papers out of the blue, while he’s thousands of miles from home.

These are all just relative snippets of behind the scenes, but they were chosen for a reason to better flush out the journey that Kilmer would go on.  We see Kilmer’s response to a parental betrayal, and the effect Moreau would have kicking off the dark, middle chapter of his career and life.

An Actor Who Can’t Speak

As we get closer to present day, we briefly hear about Kilmer’s diagnosis and treatment.  However, the flim doesn’t linger on the pain or the sadness.  Instead, we see what happened next, and how he coped.

How does a big time Hollywood actor who makes his living by speaking, reinvent himself when he won’t speak ever again?  What is left for the performer who’s lost the ability to perform?

The answer isn’t simple, and it isn’t one dimensional.  But, it is at least honest, human, and offers a modicum of hope.

The Review – Val

Unlike many documentaries you might see dealing with tremendous loss, Val doesn’t dwell.

‘Val’ shows the impact and the effect, but focuses mainly on the next.  And, it shows a relatively normal human being, not just some Hollywood celebrity using fame, money, or status to drink, snort, or fornicate their way through their problems.

We see Kilmer, the artist who takes his craft seriously, but isn’t too self-absorbed by the art that you roll your eyes at the ‘Artiste’. 

We also see an honest portrayal, from a sensitive soul, whose survived more than you might expect.  And, who still has hope and value to give, as he starts his sixth decade on Earth.

Well worth a watch on Amazon Prime Video, especially for fans who love his work; and haven’t seen much behind the ‘Kilmer Curtain’ before.

Watch this Doc!

Additional Information

IMDb page for ‘Val’ Documentary

‘Val’ Documentary Trailer

My Top 10 September Movies to Watch this month!

Dragon Movie Guy’s YouTube Channel

Dragon Movie Guy’s Review Nation page