Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, this epic version of the legendary western sheriff-gunslinger's life story stars Kevin Costner as Earp, who lived from 1848 to 1929. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Earp tries to run away to join the Union Army in the Civil War, but he is turned away because of his youth. Instead, he studies law and marries Urilla Sutherland (Annabeth Gish). But Urilla dies of typhoid fever before they can have children. Earp grows despondent and descends into drinking and petty
thievery, but his father Nicholas (Gene Hackman) finds him, sobers him up, and sets him straight. Earp becomes a buffalo hunter and a close companion of Bat Masterson (Tom Sizemore) and his brother Ed (Bill Pullman). With his brothers, Virgil (Michael Madsen) and Morgan (Linden Ashby), Earp sets out to clean up the violence-plagued towns of the old West -- by using his own guns to settle scores. Earp takes up with Mattie Blaylock (Mare Winningham), a drug addict and prostitute, then discards her for actress Josie Marcus (Joanna Going). In Tombstone, Arizona, the Earp brothers and their comrade Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), who is plagued by tuberculosis and a compulsion for gambling, meet their match in a ruthless gang led by Ike Clanton (Jeff Fahey). ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
Though handsome to look at (cinematography is by Owen Roizman), the movie is overlong, stately, and too detailed for its own good; director Kasdan claims his version if more accurate, which may be true, but it doesn't make for a good picture.
A great Western that was unfairly disparaged back in 1994. The authentic Wyatt Earp is actually a much-better film than the pulpier, more-popular Tombstone.
Well-meaning western yarn starring Costner in the title role but it's too slow-moving and uneven to digest as anything riveting regarding the Wild West. Kasdan's Wyatt Earp definitely ends up shoots blanks
It's not an epic, but it sure wanted to be. Just because you can shoot over three hours of footage doesn't mean you should. I love westerns, but this isn't anything that the genre represents. There's really nothing interesting about the characters, the story or setting. It also has a cast that doesn't deliver
performances up to par with their usual work and a director who isn't exactly known for his consistency. It's forgettable and completely unimportant.
An epic western charting the life of Wyatt Earp. Very long at over 3 hours and the first hour is a bit slow. It has a good cast and production and finally the action towards the end is pretty good. However if you have seen Tombstone the ending is very similar but I felt that was a slightly better movie. If you're not
keen on westerns go for Tombstone instead.
No quotes approved yet for Wyatt Earp. Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Wyatt Earp'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
