Billy the Kid

Interesting and enjoyable is Gore Vidal's retelling of the saga of William Bonney(Val Kilmer) and his friend-turned-nemesis Pat Garrett(Duncan Regehr).This TV project is better in quality than your average western/cowboy fare. The volatile Billy the Kid seems a likable menace; although quick to put holes in his victims. Kilmer mumbled most of his dialogue; intentional or just annoying? Wilford Brimley is excellent as the Governor of New Mexico. Rene Auberjonois is a convincing drunk. Also in support are Julie Carman, the love interest, along with Michael Parks and veteran character actor Albert Salmi. And the first cowpoke that Billy blows away is Red West, a very good stunt man and notable as one of Elvis Presley's body guards. There are more unbelievable Billy the Kid yarns out there. This one is pretty classy and intelligent.

"Billy the Kid" 1989 TV Movie NR 1h 36m. It's a pretty good movie. It was put out by TNT. Gore Vidal does a pretty good job of directing it, and all. Val Kilmer is great. // The photography really leaves a lot to be desired. It really fuzzy and out of focus. // It's entertaining to watch. It's an interesting take on the story of Billy The Kid. The writing is pretty good, and they did a good job of filling in the parts of his childhood, and what led him on the path of self destruction. // Still, it's not a great movie either. There's no real story here. It's mostly about Billy and Pat Garrett, and the cat and mouse game they played. // And golly gee willickers. Noflicks doesn't carry it, either. What a shocker. LOL But you can watch it free on YouTube. // The Bushwacker 12/18/2021.

This is a great movie and Val Kilmer and Gore Vidal deserve all the credit. Kilmer seems to have the expertise of becoming the character in real depth. Vidal, according to several history sites, has the most accurate story to the truth. All the other movies done on Billy the Kid try to put more action in the storyline than what would be more realistic, not that it makes the other movies bad. I would love to see this version of the Kid remastered and put out on DVD/Blue Ray. I have looked everywhere for a copy of this film on DVD but had no luck. I love the Billy the Kid movies, stories, and controversies. It is a very interesting story with the plain facts that they do not need all the action pack fillers. This did seem to be a more realistic version that I highly recommend.

I don't care for movies that play fast and loose with history. This movie does its best on a small budget to get the basic story of Billy the Kid (and Pat Garrett, et. Al.) right. If you want lots of action, look elsewhere. This movie does show the main events in the Kid's "career," but it doesn't add anything. Val Kilmer is stunning, and the other actors do fine work as well. This movie is believable, which is what I want from a movie that is retelling history. I think Kilmer's portrayal of the Kid makes the most sense. Marlon Brando played a character based on the Kid in One Eyed Jacks, and I wonder if Kilmer studied that movie at all. Some things he does here remind me of Brando.

Billy the Kid is directed by William A. Graham and written by Gore Vidal. It stars Val Kilmer, Wilford Brimley, Julie Carmen, Duncan Regehr, Albert Salmi and Ned Vaughn. Music is by Laurence Rosenthal and cinematography by Denis Lewiston.

Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid is no under seen classic, yes in terms of historical content it has much going for it, with Val Kilmer's portrayal of the legendary outlaw adhering to what historical notices tell us he was really like. However, whilst Vidal and the makers deserved credit for keeping the film sombre in tone, with a refusal to pander to action embellishments, there's the cold facts that it's pretty dull in execution, cheap in production value and lacking in complex characterisation.

Narratively it's interesting if you are someone who hasn't seen other films involving Billy the Kid, but if you have then there's nothing new here to mark it down as essential stuff. In fact this production is sandwiched by both Young Guns movies in 88 and 90, which in spite of the mixed reaction both received, also cover the historical basis of Billy Bonney's exploits from the murder of John Tunstall to his demise at the hands of his one time best friend, Pat Garrett (Regehr).

Vidal's own teleplay The Death of Billy the Kid was made into The Left Handed Gun in 1958. Starring Paul Newman as Billy, Vidal was known to be annoyed at how his writing was transformed onto the screen for that production. Which explains why this 89 version was made with Vidal's smiling blessings. Good for him that he got satisfaction, even if The Left Handed Gun is a considerably better movie. The Newman movie is easy to recommend to Western fans, this one not so. Unless it's your first foray into Billy the Kid filmic portrayals or you be a devout Kilmer fan that is. 5/10