Unfortunately it was not an April fools joke when it was announced on April 1 of this year that the versatile actor Val Kilmer passed away. Mr. Kilmer was legit, the youngest actor to be admitted to the esteemed Juliard School before embarking on a successful and celebrated acting career that spanned 5 decades.

We all know the Kilmer classic’s – Top Gun (Iceman!), Heat, The Doors, and of course Tombstone (should have been Oscar nominated, do better people) but here is a list of 3 so called “deep cuts” from a career well worth acknowledging.

Thunderheart is a movie directed by Michael Apsted from a script from John Fusco starring Mr. Kilmer, Sam Shepard, and Graham Greene and was released in 1992. Interesting note, one of the producers on the film was Robert DeNiro (ever heard of him?).

Thunderheart is loosely based on the the Wounded Knee Incident that took place on February 27, 1973 when a Sioux tribal elder was murdered. Val Kilmer plays the lead embodying the character of FBI agent Ray Levoi, however it isn’t his years of law enforcement experience that gets him the gig but for the fact that he himself is part Sioux. The FBI hopes this will allow Agent Levoi an insiders look into the murders – be careful what you wish for Feds!

As Ray’s allegiance is tested when he comes to believe that the FBI has its sights set on the wrong suspect, and launches his own investigation with help from Tribal Policeman Walter Crow Horse. This leads to a direct confrontation with his boss at the FBI, Agent Frank ‘Cooch’ Coutelle played by the always likable Sam Shepard as the truth seems less important than closing the case.

I have heard this film described as Neo-Western and I see a lot of that, including a good old fashioned showdown in the end between good and evil.

The film alone should be celebrated for shooting on an actual reservation (Pine Ridge in South Dakota) and using many actual Native American for supporting roles. Graham Greene as Walter Crow Horse, and Sheila Tousey as Maggie Eagle Bear are particularly good.

Thunderheart is available on multiple streaming platforms for about $4 and with a runtime of 2 hours is a mere $2 an hour – not bad. Enjoy!

Top Secret is a comedy with over the top musical moments (not in scale but in humor) from the genius of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutterdidge and Omar Sharif (legend) and was released in 1984.

A farce from beginning to end, Top Secret comes from the braintrust that bought you the comedic classic Airplane and is filled with comedic moments and rule bending scenarios.

Mr. Kilmer plays the perfectly named Nick Rivers, an American rock star who travels to East Germany (yes there used to be 2 Germany’s) to perform at a festival but is soon met by a beautiful resistance fighter named Hillary Flame portrayed by Lucy Gutteridge who is trying to save her scientist father and escape authorities.

This is how good an actor Val Kilmer was, his first ever role was a comedy where he had to sing! This showcased his range and confidence and he delivered, but I digress.

Top Secret doesn’t have as many as the great one liners from the creative trio of Abrahams, and Zucker squared but it truly has its moments, often the further is strays from story convention the better it gets. Mr. Kilmer’s performance is seamless, dare we say “masterful” given its his first foray into film.

You can stream Top Secret on Amazon, Apple and Youtube for $3 to 4 and I promise you will thank me later.

Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang was directed by Shane Black who co-authored the script with Brett Halliday and stars Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer (duh), and Michelle Monaghan and was released in 2005.

Described as a Crime Thriller I see it more as a Dark Comedy but regardless It kicks ass. Downey Jr. and Val make a dynamic duo (get it?) with the two of them playing at the top of their game, and a unique “damsel in distress” performance from Michelle Monaghan.

Downey Jr. plays a small time New York crook Harry Lockhart (great name) who mistakenly stumbles into an acting audition and while essentially playing himself, he lands the role and heads to Hollywood. This is where the story gets good, and Kilmer enters the fray. In the Golden State, Downey Jr. meets his hometown girlfriend (Monaghan) and gets involved in a murderous conspiracy with her and street smart private dick Perry van Shrike (Kilmer).

The real treat is between Downey Jr. and Kilmer, as you watch them navigate the streets of LA with aplomb. These are two actors very comfortable in their setting and dialed into the script. As the movie evolves (or devolves for that manner) the more Lockhart annoys, distracts, and confounds Shrine the closer they become, as if by being more human makes you more likable. This is reason enough alone to watch this movie.

Interesting note, the original name of the script/film was, “You’ll Never Die in this Town Again” and I actually like that better but oh well you can’t have everything.

You can stream Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang for less than $4 on Amazon and Apple. Be best the $4 you ever spent.