Val follows the early life, mid-life, and present life of one of the most enigmatic public figures of the 21st century: Val Kilmer. In this intimate portrait of his life through home videos he’s recorded throughout decades of his career and the more quieter moments in his personal life, you get to see a deeper sense of the man than an interview ever could.
Memorable sections of his life are stitched together with videos filmed on the set of his films with well-known stars making appearances every now and then. A scene early in the film shows the boxes filled with reels of footage that Val has held onto until now. It’s trippy seeing fresh-faced luminaries like Kevin Bacon waiting to go on stage for a play or others on sets and lots. Despite all the big names featured in this, it all follows a similar structure to the films Kilmer made with his brothers growing up.
Through these tapes, which include audition tapes and behind the scenes of his many films, it also features eloquent narration from his son, Jack, on what he was feeling during specific aspects over the years. We truly see his career through this very stream of consciousness-type feeling; he proves he’s a lot more than a pretty face with a vivid look into his acting process and he would often over prepare for performances before the first days on set.
Fraught with tragedy, earnestness, and nostalgia, Kilmer is able to lay bare what it was like becoming a Hollywood star shortly after gaining admiration from audiences in his work on stage. After losing his brother Wesley to an epileptic episode that drowned him, Val becomes more motivated as a performer and begins to nab roles after his big screen debut in 1984’s Top Secret.
Despite his fading star, Kilmer seems more at peace with his life now and is still adored by many of his fans when he attends conventions and signing events. His voice has become strained after recovering from his two year bout with throat cancer but he remains in good spirits through it all. The time he spends with his Willow co-star and ex-wife Joanne Whalley and his kids Jack and Mercedes couldn’t be sweeter as he’s able to let his goofier side show more. He acknowledges faults and missteps he may have had throughout his life but still promotes a message of following what truly excites you.
--Michael Omoruan