05.26.08
Posted in obituaries, industry news at 8:32 pm by FilmFemme
I’m always a little bit excited to use tags that I don’t use very often — but I’m not excited to use my obituary tag on Sydney Pollock, who died Sunday at his home in the Pacific Palisades. He was diagnosed with cancer 9 months ago.
From his role as Jack in one of my very favorite Woody Allen movies, Husbands & Wives, to his producing and acting credits on last years truly great Michael Clayton, Pollock brought a certain unassuming sophistication to his work. I have mentioned him on this site before, as someone with an eye for energy and visual stimulation.
With a quiet personal life (he was married to Claire Griswold from 1958 until his death — 50 fucking years) and a screen persona that was more paternal (as evidenced by his role as nurturing, tough-love father figure in Michael Clayton, as well as his turn as Will’s actual father on the sitcom Will & Grace) than commanding, Pollock may not have been the first actor to come to mind when reciting the A-list. But with a filmography that includes 2 Oscars (Best Director and Best Picture for Out of Africa) and a slew of contemporary classics from The Way We Were to Tootsie, Pollock contributed meaning and life to American film and his brand of class and humanity will be missed.
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04.07.08
Posted in obituaries, industry news at 7:46 am by FilmFemme
I don’t have much to say about the death of Charlton Heston. Should I be sad? The guy was pretty old. I’m also embarrassed to admit that I haven’t seen very many of his most famous films, including Ben-Hur, Planet of the Apes and The Ten Commandments (apart from bits and pieces every Easter…actually, that’s often the only thing that reminds me it’s Easter at all). So, his screentime that is most memorable to me is his interview in Bowling for Columbine and as you may know, that was not a very flattering portrayal. Also, did he have Alzheimer’s or what? I wonder if he thought people with Alzheimer’s should be allowed to have guns, too. Quite a dilemma, Charlie. Anyway, I mostly just wanted to use my “Obituaries” category. So, here’s hoping they let you take your guns to heaven (please note that I did not make a “from his cold dead hands” joke anywhere. But it wasn’t because I didn’t want to.)
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01.26.08
Posted in obituaries, opinion, industry news at 8:27 pm by FilmFemme
When I was 15, I thought it would be cool to be a film snob. It’s hard to be a 15 year old girl and be a snob about anything - if you want to have any friends, which I did want. Actually, I needed friends, because I couldn’t drive yet and didn’t want to hang out with my parents basically ever. So, when I couldn’t convince my dad to drive me to the Egyptian theatre in Denver, I would go to the movies with my 15 year old friends. This is how I saw gems like Bounce and Forces of Nature (hmm…Ben Affleck doesn’t have a drug problem, does he? Too bad.) However. This is also how I saw 10 Things I Hate About You and how I fell in love with Heath Ledger. Everyone mentions the swoon-worthy moment of Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You on the bleachers while Julia Stiles‘ Kat plays soccer, but that’s not the moment I replay. Kat and Heath find themselves at one of those wild high school parties that seem to only happen in movies. She drinks too much, dances on a table and eventually barfs. But even though up until this point, Heath was only seducing her because he was getting paid, he takes care of her. And he is so fucking charming and beautiful. I still want that.
I was too young and unhip to really be affected by the deaths of other young luminaries like River Phoenix or Kurt Cobain. I am old enough now and I feel affected. What makes me so sad is the knowledge that he will never be in another movie (who is going to take his roles? Josh Hartnett? Please!). His resume is so short when I know that he would have kept getting better and better (not to mention hotter and hotter). It’s my understanding he was even going to venture into directing. It’s so tragic, it really is. So let’s just watch one of his movies, weep and say no to drugs. Well, at least two of those things.
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