Val Kilmer’s Mean Breakfast Outburst Led to Matthew Modine’s ‘Full Metal Jacket’ Role

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Before Matthew Modine appeared in the Upside Down of Stranger Things, he had already built a reputation as a skilled actor. It was during the 1980s when Modine first came to prominence, gracing the screen in movies like Birdy and Vision Quest. Meanwhile, Val Kilmer, an actor with a background from Juilliard and experience on stage, was striving to succeed in Hollywood. He appeared in films such as Top Secret!, Real Genius, and Top Gun around the same time. Interestingly, their paths crossed in a rather intense encounter, which Modine recently shared stories of during an episode on the Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast.

During that moment, Modine was enjoying breakfast with David Alan Greer. This meeting took place shortly after they both received an award at the Venice Film Festival for their work in Robert Altman’s production titled “Streamers“.

A man was seated approximately 10 feet away from me and he was uttering profanities, which appeared to be targeted at me. I informed David, who was facing the opposite direction, saying, “Either this guy is rehearsing a script or he has Tourette’s syndrome, but it seems like he’s telling me to go take a hike.

David glanced back and remarked, “Oh, that’s Val Kilmer. He’s a genuinely kind person.” Having collaborated with him on ‘Top Secret,’ he rose to engage him, waving me over. Upon arrival, I introduced myself, saying, “Hi, I’m Matthew.” To which Val responded, “I recognize you well. I’ve had enough of you, buddy.

It seems that while Kilmer didn’t explicitly explain his frustration, actor Modine believes he has a good idea. He suggests that they might have been competing for the same film roles, as Modine had recently starred in movies like “Mrs. Soulful”, “Private School”, and “Vision Quest”. Therefore, it’s possible that Kilmer was tired of seeing him around during auditions.

How Val Kilmer Paved the Way for Matthew Modine’s ‘Full Metal Jacket‘ Casting

Interestingly enough, this rather uncomfortable interaction played a crucial role in Modine landing his part in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Full Metal Jacket’. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Vision Quest’, Modine reminisced about how, during that awkward conversation with Kilmer, he was mistakenly accused of already having a role in ‘Full Metal Jacket’.

I told them, ‘I won’t be in the movie ‘Full Metal Jacket‘, since I didn’t have to audition for it. Val did, and his documentary shows just how much he prepared for that role. That’s why I said, ‘I guarantee you, I won’t be in ‘Full Metal Jacket‘.'”

This version aims to maintain the original meaning while using simpler language and a more conversational tone.

However, this didn’t deter Modine from taking matters into his own hands. He promptly called his agent, who had no clue about the specifics regarding Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 war drama. Modine proposed using a pre-existing contact to their advantage instead.

Here’s my suggestion:

“I found myself musing, ‘Given that Kubrick produces his films with Warner Bros., and we have ‘Vision Quest’ in our hands, why don’t we reach out to Harold Becker and Warner Bros. to request a copy of the film for Stanley Kubrick? I’ll also make a call to Alan Parker in London, asking him to send some edited scenes from ‘Birdy’.’

A month after, Modine obtained the script for “Full Metal Jacket” accompanied by a message from the esteemed Kubrick, who had sadly passed away. The note read:

Hey there! I’m Stanley Kubrick, a movie enthusiast turned filmmaker, and I have an intriguing proposition for you: would you be interested in joining the cast of one of my upcoming movies?

Despite not collaborating with Kubrick, Kilmer experienced a prosperous acting journey. His depiction of Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors’ remains a significant milestone; other notable performances include ‘Willow’, ‘Tombstone’, ‘Heat’, ‘The Saint’, ‘True Romance’, and the 2021 documentary ‘Val’, which offers insights into his life and career, earning accolades.

Modine boasts a wide-ranging film career spanning titles such as “Married to the Mob,” “Pacific Heights,” “Short Cuts” directed by Altman, “Operation Varsity Blues,” and the upcoming “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan. His television work is equally noteworthy, with roles in “And the Band Played On,” “What the Deaf Man Heard,” and “Weeds.” Beyond the screen, Modine has ventured into directing short films and theater productions as well.

In the upcoming fifth and last season of Stranger Things, Dr. Brenner played by Modine, is expected to make a comeback after supposedly being deceased.

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2025-02-22 17:32