Image via Focus Features
Chris Evans has some truly unique taste in movies, and it turns out that there’s one film he loves so much that he could recite it word for word. Evans and Dakota Johnson appeared on Letterboxd’s YouTube channel for the “Four Favorites” segment, named after users listing their four favorite movies of all time. When Evans recited his picks, he saved the best for last with Tombstone, the Western ensemble that features the late, great Val Kilmer in a major role. “Tombstone is one of the few movies that I could probably perform it, right now, from beginning to end and not miss a word,” Evans said; Johnson then promptly challenged him to do it, which he laughed off with “Maybe later.” Anyone who’s watched Tombstone probably understands where Evans is coming from, as it’s one of those movies that sticks with you long after you watch it.
Chris Evans Makes a Great Point – ‘Tombstone’ Is a Very Quotable Movie
Tombstone is well known for its intense gunfights, its star-studded cast — which includes Kurt Russell, Michael Biehn, and Bill Paxton — and a tumultuous production that many credit Russell with saving. But its biggest draw is the dialogue, both in how it’s written and how it’s delivered. When Russell’s Wyatt Earp snarls, “Hell’s coming with me!” in the opening scene, it immediately grabs the viewer due to his fiery performance, not to mention how that one line sticks with you for the visuals it conjures up. A man saying he’ll bring Hell along with him sounds like the kind of person you don’t want to cross. Likewise, Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is well known for saying “I’m your huckleberry”, which takes on a far more tragic element when it’s revealed that he’s slowly dying of tuberculosis (and also explains why people call him a “lunger.”) But the best line comes toward the end of Tombstone, and it’s courtesy of Val Kilmer himself. When he’s asked why he’s willing to help Earp in his hunt for Johnny Ringo (Biehn), Holliday simply replies: “Wyatt Earp is my friend.” His companion, Turkey Creek Jack Johnson (Buck Taylor) says, “Hell, I got a lot of friends,” to which Holliday counters: “I don’t.” That single sentence speaks volumes; despite the fact that he’s slowly dying, Holliday holds his friendship with Earp above all else. It also wouldn’t have worked without Kilmer or Russell’s input, as they convinced director George P. Cosmatos to let them re-work the script to focus on Holliday and Earp’s friendship. But it’s no surprise that Chris Evans could recite Tombstone word for word, as it’s a movie packed to the brim with memorable quotes.
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‘Tombstone’ Fits Surprisingly Well With Chris Evans’ Other Favorite Movies
Tombstone is unique not just in the Western genre, but in the film space: it’s a movie based on real-life historical figures that also manages to pack in the pulse-pounding thrills of a Western shootout. Such a unique pick helps explain the rest of Evans’ “four favorites”, which are a mix of popular blockbusters and well-crafted prestige pieces. Evans picked Steven Spielberg’s adventure classic The Goonies, Legends of the Fall, the Western epic that features Brad Pitt in his breakout role, and Jim Carrey’s sci-fi romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Ironically, he had picked Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, and E.T. to go with Eternal Sunshine, but decided he needed more “diversity” in his picks. Evans’ final picks are indeed a nice mix of genres, and while the rest of his list might not be as quotable as Tombstone, it proves he has a great taste for movies. Evans also wants his own career to reflect the diverse layout of his feature films. While he’s proven himself to be a rom-com king and brought Steve Rogers to life for a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he recently opened up about the kind of role he wants to pursue during his spotlight panel at Emerald City Comic Con last year. Among the types of films, Evans wants to be a part of? The fantasy genre. “I’m a big fan of fantasy films. I love Lord of the Rings. I love The Neverending Story…I can wear pointy ears! I can shoot a bow & arrow!” If Evans does pull off being in a fantasy film, he should definitely try and make it as quotable as Tombstone. Tombstone is available to stream on Hulu.
Tombstone
Release Date
December 25, 1993
Runtime
130 minutes
Director
George P. Cosmatos
Writers
Kevin Jarre
Producers
Bob Misiorowski, James Jacks
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