Kilmer's underworld box office assault

Kilmer's character: Risks all to avenge his wife's murder

By Tom Brook From New York

Val Kilmer makes a renewed bid for big screen glory with The Salton Sea, a controversial violent and drug-laden thriller.

Kilmer plays a jazz trumpeter wracked by guilt because he failed to save his wife when she was murdered in his presence in a house occupied by drug dealers.

To avenge her death, he takes on a new identity as a drug abuser and police informant.

He inhabits an underworld of crystal methamphetamine addicts so that he can track down his wife's killers.

Kilmer co-stars with Deborah Kara Unger

To research the role, the 42-year-old star spent time with a real-life "crystal meth addict" and reportedly videotaped him while he was under the influence.

The film graphically exposes the crazed antics of crystal meth users, or "tweakers" as they're called.

The Salton Sea is distributed by Warner Brothers in US. For a studio picture, it presents a surprisingly unrestrained view of drug abuse that is at times both comical and disturbing.

"I think it's unique in that way," says Kilmer. "Studios usually get very concerned where you could end up advocating something that's unhealthy and dangerous. I think it's honest and really well done."

Violence

Director DJ Caruso, who is making his feature film debut with The Salton Sea, recalls there was initially some nervousness from Warner Brothers over Kilmer's character.

"I think that the studio had asked that he not be a drug user if that was possible, but I didn't think it would be true to the story," he says.

Whether the movie is a huge financial success or not I think it still validates that Val Kilmer is an incredible talent

DJ Caruso, director

It is not just depiction of drug use that might make studio executives uneasy.

The film also includes several scenes of gratuitous violence as well as some very off-the-wall sequences.

At one moment the actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who expertly plays a wayward drug supplier, can be seen orchestrating a re-enactment of the assassination of President John F Kennedy.

Kilmer has enjoyed prominent roles in a range of Hollywood films from playing opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun in 1986 to taking the lead role in Batman Forever in 1995.

One of his most acclaimed performances was playing rock god Jim Morrison in The Doors in 1991.

But in recent years Kilmer has not had many hits and in fact he has had quite a few misses.

Revived

As an actor he has generally fared better in non-mainstream roles. The Salton Sea may be drug-laden, violent and extreme but Kilmer believes the role suits him.

"I'm happier than I've ever been. I just took some time off and just feel kind of a renewed spirit about acting, working.

Kilmer was in his element in the dark thriller

"I would be very happy to just make this kind of story for the rest of my life."

Kilmer has earned the reputation in Hollywood of being a difficult colleague. Some top directors and actors have publicly criticised him.

But Caruso reports that the star presented him with no major problems.

He adds that playing dual characters in a noir thriller is definitely the right showcase for Kilmer's talents and professionalism.

"Whether the movie is a huge financial success or not I think it still validates that Val Kilmer is an incredible talent," Caruso says.

"People are always worried about Val. My experience with him was very good, and it was a very collaborative effort - he is so good in this movie that people should hire him."

Cautious

When asked what The Salton Sea could do for his future screen prospects Kilmer says: "I don't think about my career in that way. I just try to be entertaining in the job."

The actor says he tries to think through choices when it comes to deciding what parts to play.

He adds: "It's not a business that really allows you to plan much. I have different priorities now than when I was younger.

"There are probably roles that had I the chance to do over again, I wouldn't turn down."

Warner Brothers is adopting a cautious marketing strategy with The Salton Sea because of its somewhat risqué subject matter.

The studio is only opening the picture in limited release to test filmgoer response first, before deciding whether or not to take it to a wider audience.

The Salton Sea has just opened in the US and is scheduled for UK release in June.