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- Who Is Wyatt Earp?
- What Is Tombstone About?
- What Is Wyatt Earp About?
- Who Played Wyatt Earp Better: Russell or Costner?
As a seasoned film enthusiast with years of immersion in the wild west genre, I wholeheartedly concur with the comparison between Kurt Russell’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp in Tombstone and Kevin Costner‘s performance in Wyatt Earp. While both actors have graced our screens with their interpretation of this iconic figure, it is undeniably Kurt Russell who leaves a more indelible mark.
In the years 1993-1994, two well-known actors, Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, took on roles portraying Wyatt Earp, a real-life lawman, six months apart from each other. Russell starred in the highly praised Western film “Tombstone”, while Costner headlined “Wyatt Earp”, directed by Lawrence Kasdan. In terms of commercial and critical success, “Tombstone” outperformed “Wyatt Earp” significantly; it earned $56 million worldwide compared to the latter’s $25 million at the box office (according to Box Office Mojo).
While Tombstone also received better critical marks (73% vs 31% on Rotten Tomatoes), the real question is whether Russell or Costner excelled more in their portrayal of Wyatt Earp. After all, Val Kilmer’s performance as Doc Holiday in Tombstone steals thunder from Russell’s compelling turn. Meanwhile, Costner dominates nearly every frame in the second half as the title character in Wyatt Earp. While not quite a 1:1 comparison, a closer comparison between Russell and Costner’s versions of Wyatt Earp will clarify which actor better brought the notorious lawman to life.
Who Is Wyatt Earp?
It would be beneficial to first provide some background on Wyatt Earp, the real-life marshal, prior to analyzing the portrayals of him by two actors. Born in Illinois in 1848, Wyatt Earp made a name for himself as a law enforcer who specialized in gambling matters across Dodge City, Kansas, Deadwood, South Dakota, and Tombstone, Arizona. He became notorious due to his involvement in the well-known Shootout at the O.K. Corral in 1881. Despite this incident, Earp’s reputation was often overshadowed by that of his brother Virgil Earp, who served as a Deputy U.S. Marshall and Tombstone City Marshall.
In the scorching heat of Texas, 1878 found me on the trail of a wanted outlaw. That’s when I crossed paths with John “Doc” Holiday, a daring gunslinger and gambler who would eventually become my most trusted ally. As legend goes, Doc was battling tuberculosis, but he saved my life soon after our encounter in Texas. Our bond is delved into in the films ‘Tombstone’ and ‘Wyatt Earp’, with the former often praised for its historical accuracy. My siblings and my long-standing feud with the Clanton and McLaury brothers are both depicted in these movies, as is my ongoing rivalry. However, only one actor truly ruled the reins as Wyatt Earp in these cinematic retellings.
What Is Tombstone About?
Swiftly moving on, the narrative of “Tombstone” unfolds in 1879, Mexico. A notorious outlaw known as Curly Bill (portrayed by Powers Booth) orchestrates a gruesome wedding massacre of numerous law enforcement officials. Meanwhile, a retired sheriff named Wyatt Earp (Russell), accompanied by his brothers Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), makes their way to Tombstone, Arizona. Upon arrival, Wyatt rekindles an old friendship with Doc Holliday (Kilmer), whose tuberculosis has progressed significantly.
Mattie Blaylock, Wyatt’s long-term partner (played by Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), has fallen into the grasp of opium addiction, causing Wyatt much distress. Simultaneously, Wyatt and his siblings amass wealth by investing in the town’s saloon and gambling den. Unfortunately, Fred White (Harry Carey Jr.) is fatally shot by Curly Bill, leaving Tombstone without a marshal. In response, Wyatt arrests Bill for the murder, leading to retaliation from infamous outlaws Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang), Billy Clanton (Thomas Haden Church), and other Cowboys. When Curly Bill is found not guilty in court due to insufficient witnesses, Virgil takes on the role of the new marshal and enacts a ban on weapons.
The prohibition on firearms leads to the well-known Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a pivotal and climactic scene in the film Tombstone. This event provides an opportunity for Russell to display heroic courage, as he performs exceptionally well during the gunfight. Moreover, it enables Russell to express profound emotions when Morgan is killed and Virgil is severely injured. To better appreciate Russell’s outstanding portrayal of Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, it would be beneficial to compare his performance with Costner’s in the movie Wyatt Earp, as this will help distinguish the two acting styles.
What Is Wyatt Earp About?
Under the guidance of director Lawrence Kasdan, “Wyatt Earp” serves as a comprehensive portrayal of the title character’s entire lifespan. Ian Bohen takes on the role of Wyatt Earp during his teenage years amid the Civil War, while Kevin Costner steps into the part for the adult version in this Western saga. Contrary to “Tombstone” which plunges viewers into the intense Arizona action and showcases Wyatt Earp as a formidable gunfighting lawman, “Wyatt Earp” delves into the character’s origins, providing a leisurely exploration of his life that can feel somewhat disjointed due to its extended, overloaded runtime.
If Costner’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp were limited to the parts not shown in Tombstone, it wouldn’t be an issue. However, when considering both performances side by side, Earp appears to be a repetition of the most thrilling scenes from Tombstone. For example, Costner’s performance as Earp doesn’t truly shine until he meets Mattie Blaylock (Mare Winningham), crosses paths with Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), pursues Dave Rudabaugh through Texas, incites the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and battles against the Clantons (Jeff Fahey and Gabriel Folse) and McLaurys (Rex Linn and Adam Baldwin). These events are depicted with far greater dramatic impact in Tombstone.
Even the Earp siblings, James (David Andrews), Morgan (Linden Ashby), and Virgil (Michael Madsen) seem rather redundant compared to their portrayal in Tombstone. Unfortunately, Kevin Costner’s performance, though acceptable, fails to bring a fresh perspective to the material. The presence of acting legend Gene Hackman as Nicholas Earp, the Earp father, is not enough to salvage what feels like an enduring and tiresome viewing experience. In 1994, renowned American film critic Roger Ebert echoed this sentiment in his review of Wyatt Earp, stating that the movie was a laborious task to watch through.
The film “Tombstone Revisited” seems to be a blown-up version of the original “Tombstone“. It shares many characters and plot points, but lacks the intensity and suspense. Instead of focusing on Wyatt Earp (played by Kevin Costner), we get an extended biography that starts from his childhood and traces his transformation from a clumsy law student to a polished gunfighter. The movie is overly lengthy and could use a more efficient rhythm.
Yet, while the case for Tombstone as the superior movie has been made, Russell and Costner’s performance in each film bears closer scrutiny.
Who Played Wyatt Earp Better: Russell or Costner?
Although Val Kilmer has been praised the most for his showy turn in Tombstone, Kurt Russell is the heart and soul of the film. As the moral compass tasked with guiding viewers through a lawless morass of crime and violent bloodshed, there’s an underlying decency radiating from Russell’s performance. He not only conveys the upstanding virtues of a peace officer, but the torment he feels about his wife’s addiction and brother’s death is genuinely palpable. Moreover, with Tombstone being released six months before Wyatt Earp, the events depicted in both films feel fresher in the former, including Russell’s performance.
Compared to Costner’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp in which action is limited, Russell has a more active role in Tombstone. Going beyond the bravery depicted during the O.K. Corral incident, Russell’s character gets additional screen time due to the posse Earp forms before the climax. After assuming the position of Tombstone Marshall, Earp gathers an unconventional group of gunmen, but they are soon ambushed by Curly Bill’s gang. A tense gunfight follows, culminating in Earp killing Curly Bill and avenging Morgan’s death. When Bill’s successor challenges Earp to a final confrontation, he honors the memory of his friend Doc Holiday by following his advice on love. In this way, Russell effectively portrays Earp as both tough and tender.
I must admit, when it comes to Wyatt Earp, my portrayal of him feels eerily similar to Kevin Costner’s depiction in Tombstone. The issue seems to stem from the close release timing and repetitive material, making my rendition feel like a replica of Kirk Douglas’ performance. The script spends an excessive amount of time delving into Earp’s childhood and early years as a teenager, leaving little room for me to truly shine in my adult portrayal. When I excel, it’s often during scenes that mirror Tombstone, which dilutes the impact significantly. Furthermore, despite playing a real-life figure from the Wild West, my interpretation of Earp doesn’t stray too far from the characters I’ve played in Silverado, Dances with Wolves, Open Range, Hatfields & McCoys, Yellowstone, and Horizon, among others.
As a dedicated fan, I must say that Timothy Olyphant’s portrayal of Earp in Tombstone stands out starkly from his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and Bone Tomahawk. In those films, he played strong law enforcers too, but the intensity and nuance were quite distinct. Interestingly, Olyphant shared with GQ in 2024 that he had proposed an intriguing crossover to his co-star Kevin Costner and Tombstone’s director, Kasdan. The plan was for Olyphant to take down Costner in Tombstone and vice versa in Costner’s Wyatt Earp movie. However, when Kasdan dismissed the idea with a bold challenge – “I’m gonna go head-to-head with you, no holds barred. Let’s do this. You’re now going to face Wyatt Earp” – Olyphant was taken aback.
Instead, Wyatt Earp arrived in Tombstone six months following its debut, where he was met with unfavorable reviews both critically and commercially. It’s not always true that superior films are accompanied by outstanding performances. However, in the case of Tombstone, though it boasted an ensemble cast, Kurt Russell’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp proved more captivating and convincing compared to Costner’s performance as the lead character in the film titled after his life.
Stream Tombstone on Hulu and rent Wyatt Earp on Apple TV.
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2024-08-17 21:02