R.I.P. Paul Newman
Sunday, 28. September 2008, 07:38:29
I'm not sure how my mother is gonna handle the news that Paul Newman has died. Oh, well, Tom Selleck still has quite a few good years left in him.
I'm not a fan of things "Hollywood," like going vegan because it's good for one's public image. I do have a lot of respect for the industry's anti-heros. Four in particular come to mind ahead of everybody else: John Wayne, Clark Gable, James Dean, Paul Newman.
These guys re-defined the business of being themselves. They also re-defined the concept of cool, each in his own way. Wayne was always the toughest guy on screen and off. Dean was the first actor to learn all the rules just so he could break them. Gable forever quenched America's linguistic puritanism with one word: damn.
Paul Newman wasn't so easily defined. He gave life and anguish to characters that inspired empathy, even those that forbade mimicry. I can explain that last comment, in case it isn't clear, with three words: Cool Hand Luke.
He also bucked the iconic rebel mold. Unlike others famous for forging their own paths, Newman was formally educated. He completed a BA in theatre then studied in Yale's graduate drama program before studying at The Actors Studio.
It couldn't have been easy getting established, but he never wanted for work after a point. Even up to the end of his acting career, Newman was a major force. I can't think of a single person that might have overshadowed him on screen. Case in point is The Color of Money.
Back in 1986 Tom Cruise was easily the box office's biggest draw. Newman was reprising a role he'd played 25 years before in The Hustler. Sequels, with very few exceptions, don't live up the hype so Newman had the odds stacked against him. He was arguably in a supporting role but won the Oscar for Best Actor anyway. How cool is that!
He starred opposite Kevin Costner (Message in a Bottle) and dominated the screen with ease. Not even Tom Hanks could hold a candle to Newman in The Road to Perdition.
On top of everything else, he was an auto racer, philanthropist, and food entrepreneur.
We live on in the lessons we teach and the examples we give. Paul Newman might be dead, but he's immortal.
I'm not a fan of things "Hollywood," like going vegan because it's good for one's public image. I do have a lot of respect for the industry's anti-heros. Four in particular come to mind ahead of everybody else: John Wayne, Clark Gable, James Dean, Paul Newman.
These guys re-defined the business of being themselves. They also re-defined the concept of cool, each in his own way. Wayne was always the toughest guy on screen and off. Dean was the first actor to learn all the rules just so he could break them. Gable forever quenched America's linguistic puritanism with one word: damn.
Paul Newman wasn't so easily defined. He gave life and anguish to characters that inspired empathy, even those that forbade mimicry. I can explain that last comment, in case it isn't clear, with three words: Cool Hand Luke.
He also bucked the iconic rebel mold. Unlike others famous for forging their own paths, Newman was formally educated. He completed a BA in theatre then studied in Yale's graduate drama program before studying at The Actors Studio.
It couldn't have been easy getting established, but he never wanted for work after a point. Even up to the end of his acting career, Newman was a major force. I can't think of a single person that might have overshadowed him on screen. Case in point is The Color of Money.
Back in 1986 Tom Cruise was easily the box office's biggest draw. Newman was reprising a role he'd played 25 years before in The Hustler. Sequels, with very few exceptions, don't live up the hype so Newman had the odds stacked against him. He was arguably in a supporting role but won the Oscar for Best Actor anyway. How cool is that!
He starred opposite Kevin Costner (Message in a Bottle) and dominated the screen with ease. Not even Tom Hanks could hold a candle to Newman in The Road to Perdition.
On top of everything else, he was an auto racer, philanthropist, and food entrepreneur.
We live on in the lessons we teach and the examples we give. Paul Newman might be dead, but he's immortal.
WIDGETIZE
Karen # 28. September 2008, 13:34
I'm still not quite sure why hearing of his death hit me so hard. I have never been a die hard fan or anything. I guess it's just the level of respect I have for him. The fact that he did so much to help make life better for so many people is so admirable. Every single day I strive to be like that...altruism is an amazing thing.
Cynthia # 28. September 2008, 13:49
night wolf # 29. September 2008, 19:13
ThanX for the add man.