The movie Val Kilmer only made to hang out with the director: “There wasn’t even a role”
Val Kilmer was an eternally curious and enigmatic performer, always drawn towards channelling his creativity in new ways and pushing the boundaries of his image.
Whether it be through the legacy of his work in The Doors, Heat or Top Gun, Kilmer never limited himself to one box, something that can be seen through the creation of his 2021 documentary Val, which broke the traditional binaries of celebrity by showing an unseen side of himself and the ways the public had misunderstood him. Over the years, he gained a reputation for his fastidious work philosophy and endearing sense of humour, always maintaining self-awareness despite his global fame.
However, perhaps the most notable aspect of Kilmer’s career was his ability to surprise audiences, always drawn towards what interested him the most and making creative decisions that perhaps weren’t expected of someone who found fame through cult action thrillers, later working with one esteemed documentarian purely for the chance to spend time with him.
There is perhaps no documentary filmmaker as bold as Werner Herzog, often resorting to extreme lengths to share his stories and travelling to unknown and dangerous places to do so. Whether it be the global bewilderment at Grizzly Bear, Aguirre, the wrath of God or Into the Inferno, the director has continually demonstrated his commitment to sharing unseen stories that champion the strength of the human spirit in the face of often unfathomable quests.
But the documentarian rarely extended his hand to the world of fictional storytelling, with one exception being the 2009 film Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer and Eva Mendes.
The film follows a New Orleans police sergeant called Terrence McDonagh, who receives a medal and is promoted to lieutenant after his work during Hurricane Katrina. After his heroic act, McDonagh injures his back and becomes addicted to pain medication, finding himself involved with a drug dealer who is suspected of murder.
The chance to work with such a notorious auteur is not one that many would turn down, and despite the fact that the role was fairly limited, Kilmer leapt at the chance to collaborate with him. When discussing this, Kilmer said, “Like Werner Herzog-I did that small role because I love Nic Cage and I love Werner. It was a great opportunity to hang out with Werner and watch him work, but there wasn’t even a role-they kind of made it up so we could hang out together”.
He added: “Werner is someone that I’ve always wanted to work with, but I was just either foolish or conceited that I thought because we like each other he’s looking as actively as I am. And it doesn’t happen like that. I mean, do you think Tom Cruise didn’t court these directors? He went after Spielberg!”
While the role may have been less meaty than other projects, it would understandably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with such a highly regarded and mysterious director, with the filmmaker rarely working with actors after focussing on the stories of real-life people. However, the chance to simply hang out with Herzog and observe his mastery unfolding would surely be the chance of a lifetime.
