Wyatt Earp

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Wyatt Earp charts the life and times of Kevin Costner’s title figure – from his early days as a wagon driver and buffalo hunter through to his legendary battle at the O.K. Corral. Filmmaker Kasdan, armed with his and Dan Gordon’s screenplay, delivers a slow-moving and relentlessly erratic endeavor that nevertheless remains quite watchable from start to finish, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the picture benefits substantially from its appealingly epic sensibilities and raft of compelling, above-average performances – with Costner’s predictably commanding efforts matched by an often astonishingly stacked periphery cast that includes, among others, Gene Hackman, Bill Pullman, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Sizemore, and Mare Winningham. (Dennis Quaid’s memorable, scene-stealing turn as Doc Holliday undoubtedly remains a consistent highlight within the proceedings.) And although the picture’s episodic structure admittedly does result in more than a few narrative lulls, Wyatt Earp generally comes off as an agreeably sweeping piece of work that could’ve used a little post-production trimming (ie 190 minutes is just excessive, ultimately).

*** out of ****