ヴァル・キルマー逝く。91年のオリバー・ストーン監督作の伝記映画The Doorsで彼が演じたジム・モリソン役は、あまりにも本人に似すぎていて、これが本当にトップガンでアイスマンを演じた同じ役者なのかと何度も疑った。
ジムが歌う全シーンを吹き替えなしで歌い通したキルマーの声を聞き、当初映画化に否定的だったキーボードのレイ・マンザレク（演じたのはカイル・マクラクラン）も「ジムの声と見分けがつかない」と驚愕したという。
撮影中もジムになりきり、詩を読み書きし、酒を飲み、夜遊びやドラッグカルチャーに浸る。”ヴァル”と呼ばれることを拒否、”ジム”としか返事をせず、モリソンの生活を徹底的に研究し尽くして没入。精神的ダメージをも顧みず、鬼気迫るまでに役にのめり込んだ。
この役が彼のキャリアの中でも特に評価される理由は、演技力だけでなく、役に取り憑かれたような狂気じみた献身にあったのかもしれない。私は三週間ほど前、パリのモリソンの墓を訪れ、手を合わせてきたばかりだった。合掌。
Val Kilmer has passed away.
In Oliver Stone's 1991 biopic The Doors, his portrayal of Jim Morrison was so uncanny that I kept asking myself―was this really the same actor who played Iceman in Top Gun?
Kilmer sang all of Jim’s parts himself, with no dubbing. Even Ray Manzarek, the band's keyboardist (played by Kyle MacLachlan), who was initially against the film, was stunned and admitted he couldn’t tell the difference between Kilmer’s voice and Jim’s.
During filming, Kilmer completely immersed himself in the role―reading and writing poetry, drinking, partying, and diving deep into the drug culture. He refused to answer to “Val” and would only respond to “Jim.” He studied Morrison’s life obsessively, losing himself in the role to the point of mental exhaustion. His dedication was intense, almost unsettling.
This performance remains one of the most acclaimed of his career, not just because of his acting skills, but because of the almost obsessive devotion he poured into becoming Jim Morrison.
Just three weeks ago, I visited Morrison’s grave in Paris and paid my respects. Rest in peace.
