If Kilmer was a hack, I'd be willing to just assume he has no talent, and for that reason alone the movie is an epic flop; but that's not true - I've seen him perform superlatively in other movies. 
I almost hate to say it, but his portrayal in the movie I mentioned is so pathetic that it makes me suspicious there is something downright devious about it all. While it falls within the realm of possibility that he really has "lost it," I question his motives, personally.
Twain considered M.B. Eddy a fraud. Kilmer is a Christian Scientist. How positive could his thoughts towards Twain be in those circumstances? Isn't it kind of like "Springtime for Hitler"? - B. Clay Shannon

      From: Alan Kitty <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask] 
 Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 11:43 AM
 Subject: Re: Brief Movie Review
   
You might be referring to his riff on Christian Science - in development for=
 at least 6-8 years.=20

As for his  live performance, in fairness, one must try all venues and circu=
mstances to learn who the audience is for the piece. By that I mean certain v=
enues or events are inappropriate for a Twain appearance.=20

In my experience a musical concert is usually a poor fit for a literary figu=
re as opening act -- unless the audience is comprised of Twain scholars or t=
he music is 19th Century pop, five-string banjo, or Foster --or possibly ear=
ly Joplin (Scott, not Janis).=20

Another consideration: Kilmer's show may not have been ready when he gave th=
e performance your friend saw - but at some point, you have to make a start a=
nd hone it as you go along. After all, It isn't a dissertation, it's an ente=
rtainment, albeit a poor one. But unlike other professions, the actor can be=
 rejected multiple times and, if they have the stomach for it, keep doing it=
 until they get it just right.

I'm not defending his live or film performances, just shedding light on his j=
ourney.=20

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 2, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Tracy Wuster <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>=20
> My best friend tells a story of Val Kilmer opening a show doing his
> Mark Twain "impression" for the singer Ryan Adams (not Bryan) at the
> Hollywood Bowl several years ago.  He was boo'd off the stage.
>=20
> I then did some research to see if I could find footage of Kilmer as
> Twain, which is apparently a project the actor has been working on.
> It was truly terrible and worth booing.  I booed as I watched alone at
> my desk.
>=20
> Here's a story:
> http://www.laweekly.com/music/val-kilmer-as-mark-twain-anybody-trying-to-f=
ind-a-point-in-this-will-be-shot-2408861
>=20
> Best,
>=20
> Tracy
>=20
>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 12:43 PM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> In addition:  do not waste any of your festive holiday time on Bigfoot
>> (2012):  in which two rivals (Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams) try to
>> capture the legendary creature in South Dakota.  I give it 2.5 stars for
>> effort and casting.
>>=20
>> ps: in case you think I made this up, guess again.
>> pps: I'm not sure how this is relevant to this LIST, other than as a
>> burlesque.
>>=20
>> happy holidays! -hb
>>=20
>>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 12:30 PM, Clay Shannon <[log in to unmask]> wro=
te:
>>>=20
>>> Val Kilmer's 2013 movie, "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" is a train
>>> wreck=3D
>>> and a travesty. Don't waste your time, unless you enjoy the feeling of
>>> bei=3D
>>> ng sick at your stomach. If Val Kilmer's intent was to portray Twain as a=
n
>>> =3D
>>> evil idiot, he succeeded. I wanted to not just yell at the tv, but also
>>> chu=3D
>>> nk a hunk of lead at it. The story is a weird kaleidoscopic, topsy-turvy=

>>> am=3D
>>> algamation of Twain tales; Kilmer looks creepy in his zombie-esque makeu=
p,
>>> =3D
>>> and the other actors (who are obviously amateurs) speak English with
>>> Europe=3D
>>> an accents (it was filmed in Bulgaria, so I assume they are Bulgarians).=

>>>=20
>>> Other than that, it's not too bad. I gave it one star on netflix, which i=
s
>>> =3D
>>> the overall rating it has; was I the only one to rate it? Was I the only=

>>> pe=3D
>>> rson to see it (besides my long-suffering wife)? I gave it one star
>>> because=3D
>>> it's not possible to give it zero stars - or negative 44, which is how
>>> I'd=3D
>>> really like to appraise it.=3DC2=3DA0- B. Clay Shannon
>>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> --
>> Prof. Harold K. Bush
>> Professor of English
>> 3800 Lindell
>> Saint Louis University
>> St. Louis, MO  63108
>> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
>> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>