Actor of the day: Val Kilmer

Let's prepare

This morning I woke to NYTs push notifications letting me know that Val Kilmer passed away, Cory Booker achieved the longest running speech recorded in Senate history, and Elon Musk was defeated and wasted $25 million in Wisconsin. Every day that you wake up before the United States is quite an adventure.

I typically tell Robin that he is responsible for Val Kilmer when he pops up in Moviegrid, but since we are bound to see Val as soon as tomorrow’s puzzle, let’s prepare together.

Of course we are excluding the immediate obvious movies: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Heat, Batman Forever, The Doors, Tombstone, At First Sight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, True Romance. (I’m not actually sure if True Romance is an obvious one.) Everyone will be using those answers and I want you to achieve a top score.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call- New Orleans (2009)

I was influenced by the Action Boyz to watch the first Bad Lieutenant, which I really enjoyed and appreciated how the Safdie Brothers were so clearly inspired by it. I’ve never seen this one, which maybe I should, because as a Comedy Bang Bang fan I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Werner Herzog movie… Not sure how this happened. Embarrassing.

Main Moviegrid potential: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer

Deep cut puzzle: Jennifer Coolidge, Shea Whigham

Déjà Vu (2006)

Based on the cast, cover, and director, I have to assume this was a Dad movie back in 2006. That is not meant to be derogatory, I love Denzel’s Dad movies, see: Unstoppable. Tony Scott makes Dad movies.

Moviegrid players: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Elle Fanning

Maybes: Bruce Greenwood (just cited him in The Post), Jim Caviezel (really a stretch to include him at this point in his career)

Wonderland (2003)

Val came up in a Moviegrid puzzle back at the beginning of March, when I was on a train with my parents traveling from London to Amsterdam. My dad has seen many movies and knows a lot, yet can rarely remember a title. So when asked to contribute to the grid, he said “you know, that one about John Holmes”. I did not know. I’ve since researched it and what a great option for the game.

Moviegrid cast members: Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Josh Lucas, Lisa Kudrow, Eric Bogosian, Christina Applegate, Dylan McDermott, Carrie Fisher (!), Scoot McNairy, Tim Blake Nelson, Janeane Garofalo

The Missing (2003)

It’s the final week of The Seagull at the Barbican and I wasn’t able to get tickets to see it for a second time, so Cate Blanchett is on my mind. I think I’ve seen this title while trying to find a movie to stream, so perhaps it’s time for me to watch and lock it in.

Moviegrid notables: Cate Blanchett, Tommy Lee Jones, Evan Rachel Wood, Aaron Eckhart, Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Moss

Expect to see Val in the main puzzle or maybe even the Movie Snake. You’ve got a lot of movies to work with. Aim for that sub 5% score.

In my research I also saw that Val is also credited on an episode of Entourage and Nigella, which speak to two of my personal interests. That’s very funny.