A film whose fame has lingered when other better, more popular movies are forgotten. But then there was only one Marlon Brando, one John Frankenheimer and one Val Kilmer. The head is David Thewlis who, er, lacks a little charisma... he took over from Rob Morrow, who I'm not sure would've saved things. I actually think the casting of Thewlis played a big part in this not being a hit - he's just this skinny everyman.
Brando is interesting - big, hammy, Brando-y, loads of fun. Kilmer is entertaining too as his weird sidekick, whic his actually a showier role than the lead. Kilmer's weirdness is appropriate as is Brando's - I like how Kilmer imitated Brando. And I liked Fairuza Balk too.
The film's main problem for me was the script didn't seem to make sense in the last third (didn't Thewlis want to escape?) and Thewlis isn't very compelling. The film loses life when Brando dies (only one hour in) and then Kilmer not long after. And it's a downer Balk was killed. They should've kept these characters alive at least until the very end.
But it looks gorgeous, the basic story still holds, there's atmosphere and weirdness, Brando, Kilmer and Balk are spot on.
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