Really don't want to derail this thread further but TOMBSTONE was a troubled production and also a movie where the director was the writer and, as good as the script was, apparently he couldn't hack it as a director so he was removed quickly into filming. With Cosmatos' hiring, based on its production history alone, you can certainly argue how much influence he really had over the final product (which IMO was a good thing based on most of the junk he made throughout his career).
Cosmatos certainly didn't imprint his "vision" on the movie -- he had zero to do with the story, its development, the casting, he had to show up and be a technician really. That he did and he deserves credit for it, but I don't doubt that Russell and others took control in larger sense once Kevin Jarre was removed. I have no reason to think Russell is creating a "tall tale" there either, because his larger point was that an even better movie existed on the cutting room floor that we never saw, and that he wished would be reconstructed one day. My guess is that it more resembled Jarre's original script than what ended up in the finished film. As much as I like TOMBSTONE, there's no question the released cut is uneven and ragged in places.
Plus Cosmatos, who you could argue was a hack through most of his career, was also at the end of it there. That he followed it with the horrifically bad SHADOW CONSPIRACY kind of makes you think that TOMBSTONE really was a "creative collaboration" and needed extensive input from Russell and others to finish it. I'm not sure we're even talking about the movie today if Cosmatos had full creative control of the project before it started shooting. (Also, that the movie studio puts out publicity photos of Cosmatos directing doesn't mean anything. Most publicity photos ARE staged! That said I'm sure he was good at staging and executing the action scenes in the movie if nothing else).
No matter what, that movie turned out as well as it did given how "troubled" a rep it had before it was released was surprising back at the time. Going into 1993, Kevin Costner's upcoming WYATT EARP, because he was coming off DANCES WITH WOLVES, was all most people were talking about, and yet it ended up being outgrossed and certainly more appreciated by fans by TOMBSTONE. Nowadays very few people care about Costner's movie, but there are a lot of fans of the latter.
From Russell and Biehn's recollections, "Tombstone" was very much a collaborative effort because Cosmatos really didn't have a firm grip or vision on the set and the actors and crew were getting quite frustrated. Biehn even had harsh words with Cosmatos and didn't respect him.
Russell was also talking with Kevin Jarre for pointers, even though he had been fired, because it was originally his film and his script. Even the DP helped out. Taking everything together, I see a picture where Cosmatos was pretty much pushed to the side.
Last edited by FilmFreakosaurus; 05-12-2025 at 04:18 PM.
From Russell and Biehn's recollections, "Tombstone" was very much a collaborative effort because Cosmatos really didn't have a firm grip or vision on the set and the actors and crew were getting quite frustrated. Biehn even had harsh words with Cosmatos and didn't respect him.
Russell was also talking with Kevin Jarre for pointers, even though he had been fired, because it was originally his film and his script. Even the DP helped out. Taking everything together, I see a picture where Cosmatos was pretty much pushed to the side.
Still, Cosmatos directed the film, no matter what anybody says!
He's the credited director. We can all debate how much input he had into what ended up on-screen. You are free to believe whatever you want...as are the rest of us.
I believe what I can see, feel free show me footage or pictures of Russell directing Tombstone.
The best part of saying that Cosmatos did not direct Tombstone is the part where Cinergi Pictures for absolutely no reason hires a person, pays for his room and board, insurance, his meals and his salary so that Kurt Russel can direct a movie instead of firing Kevin Jarre and letting Russel direct if that's what he wanted to do, don't get me wrong with your flat-earther theory there, studios 99% of the time are looking to cut unnecessary costs on movie budgets, but besides all the on- set proof and credit given by a major studio and the MPAA you want to believe a "trust me bro' line Russell gave saying he directed the movie because the guy who directed The Cassandra Crossing (1976), Escape to Athena (1979), Of Unknown Origin (1983), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Cobra (1986) and Leviathan (1989) was a A-hole on the set?
Makes sense.
However I will believe Val over Kurt......
Val Kilmer: Kurt Russell Didn’t Direct ‘Tombstone’ but Was ‘Solely Responsible’ for Film’s Success
Quote:
Did Kurt Russell actually direct the 1993 Western classic “Tombstone” instead of credited director George Cosmatos? That story has followed the film around since its release in 1993, and even Russell himself pretty much said it was true in a 2006 interview.
But according to Russell’s “Tombstone” costar Val Kilmer, it’s not quite true. Cosmatos actually did direct it, Kilmer says in a post to his personal blog. But it was Russell who did the lion’s share of behind-the-scenes work that made the film’s completion possible, and he is “solely responsible” for its success.
“I’ll be clear,” Kilmer said. “Kurt is solely responsible for Tombstone’s success, no question.”
“I was there every minute and although Kurt’s version differs slightly from mine,” he explained. “The one thing he’s totally correct about is, how hard he worked the day before, for the next day’s shot list, and tremendous effort he and I both put into editing, as the studio wouldn’t give us any extra time to make up for the whole month we lost with the first director.”
The first director, screenwriter Kevin Jarre, was fired a month into filming. His replacement, Cosmatos, came in according to Kilmer with only two days’ prep time. “I watched Kurt sacrifice his own role and energy to devote himself as a storyteller, even going so far as to draw up shot lists to help our replacement director,” Kilmer added.
Kilmer mentioned how supportive costars Powers Booth and Bill Paxton were during such a difficult shoot, then added that “Kurt did this for the film virtually every hour.”
“That’s probably how it’s become a story that Kurt directed it,” he said. “I have such admiration for Kurt as he basically sacrificed lots of energy that would have gone into his role, to save the film.
“Everyone cared, don’t get me wrong, but Kurt put his money where his mouth was, and not a lot of stars extend themselves for the cast and crew. Not like he did … Kurt was responsible for the film’s success.”
So there you have it. Russell didn’t direct it, though he did practically everything necessary to make sure the film got made right down to providing the director with direction of his own. Question answered … unless Russell weighs in, of course.
Kilmer also had kind words for costars Paxton and Boothe, both of whom died earlier this year.
“Back to Powers for a moment, such a gracious actor and if you love acting go back and check out his early Emmy winning roles, he’s the real deal,” he said. “And Bill Paxton, like a cheerleader for all film, for all Creativity. Always happy like it was his first job. He would have been happy if you had lit him on fire and hung him upside down, as long as there was a camera running. Just like a perfect thespian. ALL THE WAY. SUPPORTIVE. Sweet.”
“We all miss them both,” Kilmer continued. “They were good men. The kind that make you proud of the ‘craft.’”
"Lionsgate Boss Says Studio Can Use AI to Adjust a Movie’s Rating and Create Kid-Friendly Cuts: ‘Do It Anime, Make It PG-13. Three Hours Later, I’ll Have the Movie’".
"Lionsgate Boss Says Studio Can Use AI to Adjust a Movie’s Rating and Create Kid-Friendly Cuts: ‘Do It Anime, Make It PG-13. Three Hours Later, I’ll Have the Movie’".
Christ on a bike! Can we stop bumping this thread until something is actually announced?! I think at least 40% of us will be dead by the time this mofo comes out.
Christ on a bike! Can we stop bumping this thread until something is actually announced?! I think at least 40% of us will be dead by the time this mofo comes out.
In all fairness... this thread wasn't even created for these fabled releases. It was made in 2018 for the last batch of 4Ks
If people can discuss the Arrow Dollars releases in the Kino threads, I think we can discuss anything and everything Rambo here.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
When I read this why do I see your avy yelling this out. If that cat could talk 
Linear Mode
