Any movie where Sam Eliott, the man whose voice embodies all that is macho, wears a big mustache and carries a gun at his side is an instant classic. If that's not enough to sway an audience, the bare-knuckle action and overall fun of "Tombstone" still makes for one heck of a good time.
The Story
Lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) retires from a successful career in Dodge City and arrives in Tombstone, Arizona to join his brothers Morgan and Virgil (Paxton and Eliott, respectively) and ailing friend Doc Holiday (Val Kilmer) in becoming successful businessmen, away from the troubles of his past life.
When a large group of outlaws called The Cowboys begin harassing the people of Tombstone, the local law is hesistant to step in, and when they do, their courage is met with deadly force. Though Wyatt refuses to once again become a lawman, Virgil decides that being a successful businessman is worthless when his patrons are suffering. Rallying around their brother, Wyatt and Morgan attempt to push The Cowboys out of Tombstone in a firefight outside the OK Corral. At first successful, the brothers learn that The Cowboys are the kind to hold a grudge.
After several surprise attacks, Wyatt becomes enraged. He once again takes up the mantle of U.S. Marshall and hunts down The Cowboys with Doc and a small group of faithful deputies, bringing hell down on those that would attack his family.
Why It's a Classic
When it comes to westerns, having a good amount of machismo is obviously important, but how that machismo is portrayed is equally relevant. In "Tombstone," the manliness is expressed in a way that is neither overbearing nor understated. The result is a film that can be enjoyed by guys looking for a good "man movie," as well as fans of westerns or just people looking for a good movie.
Written and directed by the same writer and director team of Rambo: First Blood Part II, "Tombstone" is shot in a way that doesn't push the action upon the viewer, but lets them sit back and enjoy it. The dialogue is well done and contains enough manly one-liners and western euphemisms for drawing a gun to please any western.
What really brings the film together is Kurt Russell's portrayal of Wyatt Earp. Considering his acting history, including films like "Escape From New York," it's no surprise that Russell is the right man to bring Earp to life. That, and historic bad-ass Charton Heston makes a cameo, topping off the testosterone right where it belongs.
The Last Word
"Tombstone" offers great performances by Eliott, Kilmer and especially Russell, and after more than a decade still stands as a watchable western that doesn't show its age.
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