the documentary, draws us deep into the life and career of a bold and sometimes headstrong performer; "Val" is a portrait of an actor who poured his all into his work
it's the portrait of a striving artist, endlessly searching; Val doesn't tell the whole story, but it does give a fascinating glimpse into a very human trajectory through the gauntlet of fame and fortune. It's a legacy totem for a deeply spiritual soul
an unusual doc offers fractured portrait of actor; While the promise of what he has might ultimately outweigh what he ends up giving us, there's just about enough to make Val an entertaining snapshot, at least until we get to see the bigger picture
by Benjamin Lee [The Guardian ]
