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RIP Val Kilmer: Real Genius .. the Film Nerd Culture Deserves (2015)

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I'm a huge fan of Real Genius. This comes at a real oddly coincidental time...

Back when I was probably 16, so '86, I came across Robert Woodhead, probably on Usenet, probably with some mention that he worked on the movie. So I sent him an e-mail and told him how much I loved the movie. He wrote back and told me a little about the computer graphics that he did for the movie. So every time I see some of the graphics scenes, I think of him.

A few days ago I was watching a Youtube video "10 things you didn't know about Real Genius", and it showed those computer graphics.

And I thought "I wonder what he's up to." Turns out he's done some kind of interesting things, has a github, etc. So, I fired off another e-mail to him ("I'm sure you don't remember, but back in '86 you graciously replied to an e-mail I sent you and I've often thought of that kindness.") He happens to live where I visit typically a couple times a year, so we've set up going out to coffee.

2 e-mails, 40 years apart, and then this. Coincidences, man.

3 days agoby linsomniac

I first saw this film when I was a kid, and it made a lasting impression on me. Unfortunately, it feels like the lesson of the film has not been learned: too many "geniuses" over the past 40 years have failed to consider the negative social consequences of the technology that they create. These naive geniuses are all too happy to solve technical problems and cash paychecks given to them by powers that turn out to be malevolent (despite draping themselves in a costume of benevolence).

Question authority, and question your own role in the power structure. It's a moral imperative.

3 days agoby lapcat

From memory, having last seen it in the '80s:

"Why do you wear that toy on your head?" "Because if I wear it anywhere else, it...chafes"

"What's that?" "A laser beam, bozo!" "What are we supposed to do?" "Follow it!"

"Your stutter has improved" "I've been giving myself shock treatment" "...Up the voltage"

"You're laborers, you're supposed to be laboring. That's what you get for not having an education!"

"It's a coherent beam of light" "So that means it talks?"

Of course, the non-quote where one of the kids at the study table stands up, screams repeatedly, and leaves, and with no reaction one of the kids at the periphery of the room moves to sit in his place.

And of course: "If there's ever anything I can do for you, or, more to the point, to you..." "Can you hammer a six inch spike through a board with your penis?" "Well, not right now..."

Real Genius had a significant impact on me...

3 days agoby gcanyon

Real Genius made college look like a lot of fun. And to a very young kid Mitch, Chris, and Jordan was my motivation. I was a first gen college bound student who had a vague notion of what university would be like. And it wasn’t that far off the mark. I did work with lasers. I had a weird roommate. I streaked on the quad after a snow storm. College was challenging a lot of the time and also fun some of the time.

I still watch this movie and encourage my son to watch it with me.

Thank you and rest in peace, Mr. Kilmer.

3 days agoby yardie

Kilmer, Jarret, Meyrink, and Gries all rendered performances of scientists and engineers that are honestly more realistic and more human than anything I've seen since except possibly McKinnon's in the 2016 "Ghostbusters". Also Atherton's performance was top-notch as the villain.

This remains my favorite movie and the inspiration for me to go into STEM when I saw it as a 10-year-old.

Kilmer was a rare, if difficult, talent, and I'm so sorry we lost him so early.

3 days agoby bandrami

I thought he was awesome in The Saint and that it was an awesome movie, complete with a fantastic soundtrack from that era:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajLjmtyx0_o&list=PL0r_mFZtkX...

3 days agoby RALaBarge

Just in case anybody else was confused by the title…

The article is from 2015, but Kilmer died yesterday (April 1, 2025).

3 days agoby alistairSH

His performance as Doc Holliday in Tombstone is a work of art.

RIP Val Kilmer

3 days agoby louthy

Favorite scene from Real Genius, the group shot of a bunch of them studying for finals in the student lounge.

One guy gets up and starts screaming in frustration at the book and then the room and finally runs out.

Everyone looks up briefly like nothing happened and then somebody gets up and takes his seat, like "oh look, a more comfortable study chair."

3 days agoby ourmandave

I liked Val Kilmer in most films, but specially on Heat (1995). I think it was his best acting ever.

3 days agoby meerita

Oh, good God, Val Kilmer is dead. The Real Genius Knight, jaw-snap Iceman, Jim Morrison v 2, oh good God, a big piece of me. Gone.

3 days agoby palad1n

I love that movie and I have massive crush on that girl.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001534/?ref_=ttfc_cst_29

3 days agoby mseidl

I will rewatch Top Secret with my daughter this weekend.

3 days agoby rbanffy

That movie was such a foundational document for me, and (obviously) for many other nerdy GenX kids.

I found this site years (decades!) ago, and was happy to discover it's still there:

https://monkeybagel.com/culture/movies.html

The blurb there for _Real Genius_:

"The most accurate portrayal of geeks in the wild I've ever seen. The geeks in Real Genius LOOK, ACT and TALK like geeks. And Jordan gave me hope that I'd someday -- just maybe -- kiss a girl on the lips."

I remember a discussion of this film on a long-running private listserv back in the late 90s or early 00s about possible real-world antecedents for some of the characters, including and especially Jordan. A proto-web site existed for this person where she elaborated on her connection to the writers of the film, and more or less confirmed that she was "Jordan", or at least the inspo for it, but of course I can find no trace of this now.

Anyway, between TOP SECRET, REAL GENIUS, WILLOW, TOMBSTONE, HEAT, and TOP GUN, he's about as inconic as an actor can get. For a dose of maybe less blockbustery work, seek out 2002's THE SALTON SEA where Kilmer is joined by Adam Goldberg, Luis Guzman, Anthony LaPaglia, Peter Sarsgaarad, BD Wong, R. Lee Ermey (!) and in a spectacular turn Vincent D'Onofrio.

3 days agoby ubermonkey

Val Kilmer's playfulness shines as he departs on April Fool's day - a real genius move. Thanks for the good times Val!

3 days agoby astral_drama

RIP. Still waiting for someone to complete the final exam from Real Genius: https://imgur.com/a/real-genius-exam-questions-SjBhm

3 days agoby roger_

Every time I watch timeless "Top Secret!" I can spot a gag I haven't noticed before, combined geniuses of Zucker bros, Jim Abrahams, Val Kilmer and the rest of the cast.

3 days agoby piokoch

Nobody has mentioned the less geeky but still excellent remake of The Saint.

A film that started a life long love affair of phones with keyboards (hacking scenes with one of the original Nokia 9000 phones, which I have owned the 9290 and e90). It featured some of the same smirking jokey presence that Kilmer was known for, but with more action and political intrigue.

3 days agoby RajT88

I love this movie. I have a masters in Physics and somewhat blame this movie for it. It's also the most accurate depiction of physicists that I've seen in media. We're not the nerds from Big Bang Theory-- we're just normal, if typically very idiosyncratic people

3 days agoby aqme28

Underrated works:

- The Lotus Community Workshop by Harmony Korine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31WEBwFpULg

- Oneohtrix Point Never - Animals by Rick Alverson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UztCDH2xuQ

- Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans by Werner Herzog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OblPKObX6Q

- Twixt by Francis Ford Coppola

2 days agoby wahnfrieden

Real Genius and Wargames made me want to do science for a living.

3 days agoby Vaslo

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Why do you do it? Doc Holliday: Wyatt is my friend. Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Friend? Hell, I got lots of friends. Doc Holliday: I don’t.

Goodbye Doc Holliday.

3 days agoby bariswheel

"Mitch finds her sanding her dorm room floor late one night and she uses the beautician party as an excuse to test a rebreather she designed herself."

Student beauticians

3 days agoby gasgiant

I will wear) my “I <3 Toxic Waste” shirt today in memory.

3 days agoby myvoiceismypass

Real Genius is a great film in many ways, marred only by the assumption that a military laser is a bad thing to be working on — I always thought that it would be neat to do. But the characters are great, a ton of the plot is great. It’s worth watching! In a lot of ways the later film PCU (also fun) ripped off a ton of the same plot points.

Now, where can one find the review the film deserves? This is definitely not it.

3 days agoby eadmund

Real Genius was my actual favorite movie growing up. I used to watch it every few years, then slowed down so I wouldn't wear it out. Loved all the nerdy high-tech hijinks and the characters! My path into engineering was already assumed but this set it in stone. I went to the university that had a tour closest to the movie I could picture.

3 days agoby karmakaze

I have seen and enjoyed quite a few Val Kilmer movies, but his special appearance in 'Top Gun:Maverick' was heartwarming (the scene where he jovially asks Maverick, "who was the better pilot between the two of us").

Tombstone and Saint were such nice movies too. Underrated, with a distinct comedic touch. A talent gone before his time.

3 days agoby srvmshr

Many years ago Val Kilmer and his mini entourage sat at a table adjacent to me at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He was very gracious with the handful of passers-by who recognized him. At one point we made eye contact, and exchanged a friendly nod.

He was in some great films. What a legend.

3 days agoby DamnInteresting

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43553573

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43554329

there are already a couple of posts on val kilmers death

3 days agoby dudefeliciano

ctrl+f the doors

Looks like I'm the first. Panned by the critics, but excellent movie about the craze of the 60s leaving a purely countercultural vision slightly aside (already thoroughly documented) but showing how it damaged one of its major stars.

3 days agoby fer

Heat is one of the best action movies of all time

3 days agoby ldjkfkdsjnv

For a period of time, I couldn't tell if Val Kilmer was Jim Morrison or it was the other way around. Will be missed.

3 days agoby rodolphoarruda

RIP. Great acting in The Island of Dr. Moreau

3 days agoby arc_of_descent

I have a Guild Wars 2 character named Wanda Trossler. To this day no one has gotten the reference.

3 days agoby riddley

RIP inventor of skeet surfing, Nick Rivers!

3 days agoby hk1337

So, you'll hammer later.

3 days agoby dmd

I super randomly mentioned this movie last night (as being unwatchably cringe, even as a fan of the genre), so it was pretty eerie to see this news today.

I'll be watching Heat instead of this :)

3 days agoby pixelpoet

"Nerds vs Jocks" is a trope that bugs me to no end because my experience in school and afterwards is that jocks are better than average. I never got bullied by a jock, in fact, when people tried to ambush me at my dorm I ducked into the room of the captain of the rugby team and that was the last time anybody tried to ambush me at my dorm.

3 days agoby PaulHoule