Wyatt Earp

Lawrence Kasdan’s ambitious effort to rewrite the Wyatt Earp story for Kevin Costner (here at his most inexpressive) is an improvement over Tombstone, but you’re still better off renting My Darling Clementine or even Gunfight at the O.K. Corral if you want the story told with action and drama. Running beyond three hours, the movie more than overstays its welcome, and despite some vague genuflections in the general direction of The Godfather regarding family ties and revenge, there are simply too many years and locations covered, too many crane shots and rainstorms. On the plus side, Dennis Quaid has a very charming turn as a southern-hipster version of Doc Holliday (at times he seems to come straight out of a Jim Jarmusch movie), and Owen Roizman’s ‘Scope cinematography is often handsomely lit and framed. But overall the movie gets lost in its own lumbering aspirations. The script is by Dan Gordon and Kasdan, and the other actors include Gene Hackman, Jeff Fahey, Mark Harmon, Michael Madsen, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Pullman, Isabella Rossellini, Tom Sizemore, and JoBeth Williams. (JR)

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