A Brilliant Performance by Val
A sensitive, uncompromising portrait of a resilient young boy trying to navigate the loneliness and confusion of adolescence and the harsh circumstances of his dysfunctional family life in a small blue collar town in upstate New York during the 1970s.
Whaley's first directorial effort shows his inexperience at various moments, but it is this exact lack of expertise that lifts the film above standard coming-of-age fare into a realm of honesty that most major motion pictures never attain. The fact that the friends he recruited to help fill integral roles just so happen to be Val Kilmer, Ethan Hawke, and John Leguizamo didn't hurt matters either.
This is the film that set Kilmer apart from all other actors. His performance is unforgettable as the alcoholic, neglectful father of Joe Henry. Kilmer is one of those rare actors who is willing to put aside his stunning good looks and bring everything he possibly can to impart truth and integrity to the character he is portraying. This is my favorite VK movie. ~ Shelli Carlisle