Joe the King 1999
A Brilliant Performance by Kilmer
"There's good people, Joey, and then there's people like me. Don't end up on the wrong side of that equation." 
Story 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.
Cast Noah Fleiss, Karen Young, John Leguezamo, Ethan Hawke and Val Kilmer
FYI 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 Kilmer, Hawke, and Leguizamo didn't hurt matters either.
Our Two Cents 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