Wyatt Earp

Starring: Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Michael Madsen, Gene Hackman, Bill Pullman

Big, long, sweeping, meticulously precise epic of Earp's life and times, with great casting (Quaid is great) and a ravishing look. The picture is very deliberate and stately. I found it engrossing almost to the end, but my interest did start to flag at about the three-hour mark. I think this is a structure problem; after the historic OK Corral showdown, the story veers off in another direction which, while no doubt historically accurate, seems a bit much of a good thing. The audience has gotten a good taste of Earp already, and this last 20-30 minutes seems like an unneeded "fourth act." Still doesn't detract from the picture's many accomplishments, though. Takes up a whole afternoon, but I think it's worth it. (6/24/94)