tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post6746655459432966909..comments2024-03-13T06:28:44.715-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Philip Seymour Hoffman: A Legend LostAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-36522951897845616382014-02-16T21:10:40.770-05:002014-02-16T21:10:40.770-05:00Thanks Eric, I really appreciate that. I can't...Thanks Eric, I really appreciate that. I can't believe it either.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-23319017296440763002014-02-16T18:03:04.576-05:002014-02-16T18:03:04.576-05:00This is a beautiful tribute, Alex. I still can'...This is a beautiful tribute, Alex. I still can't believe he's gone.Eric @ The Warning Signhttp://twscritic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-50919425953724198252014-02-10T01:36:19.669-05:002014-02-10T01:36:19.669-05:00That's so great that you got to see him as Wil...That's so great that you got to see him as Willy Loman. That's a performance I should've headed to NYC to catch. <br /><br />Thanks so much for this comment, Anna. I still can't believe it happened either. So sad. So soon. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6664304422370537802014-02-10T01:27:59.656-05:002014-02-10T01:27:59.656-05:00Thanks Kelly, I really appreciate you stopping by ...Thanks Kelly, I really appreciate you stopping by and commenting. Cheers!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-12535116431118483622014-02-10T01:27:41.984-05:002014-02-10T01:27:41.984-05:00He's so good in Happiness and BTDKYD, and for ...He's so good in Happiness and BTDKYD, and for very different reasons. I still consider BTDKYD his best performance. So much anger and vile and hatred. What a twisted man.<br /><br />I think being in the public eye is damn difficult too. Such a sad loss.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-19076909828843370442014-02-09T10:57:15.766-05:002014-02-09T10:57:15.766-05:00It's been a week now and I still can't bel...It's been a week now and I <i>still</i> can't believe what happened. And like any sensible cinephile following the death of a prominent name in Hollywood, I re-watched one of Hoffman's films the evening of his passing. I opted for <i>Capote</i> and I was reminded of how great he was in it. It also dawned on me that he wasn't just playing Truman Capote; he <i>was</i> Truman Capote.<br /><br />And then there was the two performances he delivered in 2012: Willy Loman and Lancaster Dodd, both of which I easily claimed as Hoffman's best. Those two roles showed how intense he can get for a performance. They also showed that with Hoffman's passing, we lost one of the most provocative actors Hollywood has ever seen.<br /><br />Great piece, Alex.MovieNut14https://www.blogger.com/profile/17250239873504510289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-78059193850223022782014-02-09T00:39:00.530-05:002014-02-09T00:39:00.530-05:00Very nice blog you have here, by the way :) I'...Very nice blog you have here, by the way :) I'm looking forward to exploring it a bit more and reading future posts.frozensun11https://www.blogger.com/profile/09866354704773032789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-38914400159621895552014-02-09T00:36:53.620-05:002014-02-09T00:36:53.620-05:00The PSH role that commanded my unending respect fr...The PSH role that commanded my unending respect from there on after, was in 'Happiness', a movie NOT for the feint of heart. It took a lot of guts for him to play that role, and he played it like he had nothing to lose. Also his part in 'Before the Devil Knows Your Dead' is bone chilling. But I recommend a bit of a wait before watching both movies until the sting of his passing subsides, especially BTDKYD, because it hits a little close to reality. I want to watch Boogie Nights again and Capote. PSH knew how to fill up the screen, he demanded full attention. So sad he had to go that way, way too early. I think being an actor must be a lot more stressful than the public realizes.frozensun11https://www.blogger.com/profile/09866354704773032789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-36187416129705259052014-02-08T22:26:50.961-05:002014-02-08T22:26:50.961-05:00Thanks buddy. He will be sorely, sorely missed. It...Thanks buddy. He will be sorely, sorely missed. It's interesting, I just read an old article on him in which he said his Magnolia character was the film character that most resembled his real self. He said he "acted" very little in that film. Interesting. So sad he's gone.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-16731126778109256362014-02-08T12:08:56.217-05:002014-02-08T12:08:56.217-05:00Beautiful write-up man. It's a terrible loss. ...Beautiful write-up man. It's a terrible loss. I don't think I ever realized just how much I admired his work until now. Like you said, he didn't give bad performances. His performance in Magnolia (so glad you highlighted it) might be his best, but it's almost impossible to narrow it down to just one.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-91011303798854285942014-02-06T19:18:09.453-05:002014-02-06T19:18:09.453-05:00(sigh) It certainly is. Such a sad loss. I still h...(sigh) It certainly is. Such a sad loss. I still haven't even begun to accept it yet.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-10455321660318440402014-02-06T19:09:00.342-05:002014-02-06T19:09:00.342-05:00Horrible. That's horrible. I was so sad when I...Horrible. That's horrible. I was so sad when I read the news... Knowing that I'll never delight on another performance of his... It hurts so much.<br />This is one of the saddest losses in cinema we've had in a long time.<br />Eloi Bigashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00866919781841843332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-28412234378030189252014-02-05T20:31:52.794-05:002014-02-05T20:31:52.794-05:00Thanks Nick, and man, that sudden sadness... keeps...Thanks Nick, and man, that sudden sadness... keeps hitting me too. So sad that he's gone. Really appreciate your kind words about the post. PSH certainly was one of the most intelligent, gifted actors we had.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-51727252093558311372014-02-05T19:50:15.596-05:002014-02-05T19:50:15.596-05:00Loving tribute, Alex. Your thoughts on "Magno...Loving tribute, Alex. Your thoughts on "Magnolia" are so beautiful and pair perfectly with that closing paragraph, that idea that he was always on. He considered EVERYTHING he did in a performance, didn't he? Sometimes I think the criticism "phoning it in" is overused or wrongheaded but, nevertheless, Hoffman never phoned it in. He gave it his all. Anything less than his best would sacrifice the gift.<br /><br />Now I'm getting sad again.Nick Priggehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17895803287589438170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-32379726935460396982014-02-05T15:17:33.417-05:002014-02-05T15:17:33.417-05:00Oh I'm right there with you... it's lack o...Oh I'm right there with you... it's lack of a Best Picture nomination was ridiculous. But you're right, a little too controversial, a little too "off" from what most people were expecting from a PTA flick. Still, a flawless film.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-19055426447914168952014-02-05T06:24:25.320-05:002014-02-05T06:24:25.320-05:00Oh, right. I forgot that he was. I must have been ...Oh, right. I forgot that he was. I must have been thinking about the fact that the movie itself wasn't nominated for best picture. It was my personal best picture that year and it's my favorite movie of the 2010's so far, so I consider that one of the biggest Oscar snubs in years. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01756097367777913176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-85848892527323185912014-02-05T01:55:32.197-05:002014-02-05T01:55:32.197-05:00Hey Will, thanks for drawing attention to his hila...Hey Will, thanks for drawing attention to his hilarious work in Along Came Polly. I seriously love him in that movie. He is the reason I consider that a rather rewatchable romcom, as opposed to a disposal one.<br /><br />He is sensational in The Master. It could very well be remembered and lauded as the finest work of his career. What a powerful achievement that was. But just a reminder, he <i>was</i> nominated for an Oscar for that performance. Rightfully so.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-15976441960501255532014-02-05T01:53:34.654-05:002014-02-05T01:53:34.654-05:00Thanks Dan, I really appreciate that. So sad that ...Thanks Dan, I really appreciate that. So sad that he's gone. I still can't believe it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-33360044451491294972014-02-05T01:52:59.431-05:002014-02-05T01:52:59.431-05:00So true. He never called attention to the acting o...So true. He never called attention to the <i>acting</i> of his performances. He simply wanted to maintain the illusion of <i>being</i> there. A very difficult skill, but one he exercised regularly.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27068751165861536032014-02-05T01:51:43.600-05:002014-02-05T01:51:43.600-05:00Thanks Jason. You're right, even in a movie li...Thanks Jason. You're right, even in a movie like Twister, he was able to assert his unique presence. And while I am so very sad that he is gone, the work he left us will last forever.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-83464335456126369212014-02-05T01:50:40.818-05:002014-02-05T01:50:40.818-05:00Thanks man. Yep, an amazing one indeed.Thanks man. Yep, an amazing one indeed.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-42749330920517653752014-02-05T01:50:24.060-05:002014-02-05T01:50:24.060-05:00Thanks, I appreciate that. I would've loved to...Thanks, I appreciate that. I would've loved to have seen him on stage. I hear his Willy Loman was otherworldly. Surely one of the best performers there ever was.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-60781730002347312132014-02-04T23:41:57.649-05:002014-02-04T23:41:57.649-05:00One of the best example of his acting ability, in ...One of the best example of his acting ability, in my opinion, is his performance in Along Came Polly. <br /><br />This scene in particular: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b51LIPX5C4<br /><br />"LET IT RAIN!", "RAIN DANCE!", "Timeout! My legs are burning.", "Mathletes don't where body art like that, 'nuff said."<br /><br />So, so funny and so, so good.<br /><br />If you continue watching that scene until the end you realize how much better he was than he needed to be, or should have been in that movie. In that scene he was dealing with bad writing, a boring character to work with, and uninspired extras, and he made it great. Who knows if those lines were even in the script? I think that it was just supposed to be a basketball scene with a conversation and then a short game and a sweaty belly gag at the end. It had no right to be as good as it was, but Hoffman made it so.<br /><br />The day before he died I was having a conversation with someone about our favourite actors. I said that Hoffman might be my favorite actor working today. I'm not just saying this because he passed away, but I think that he may have been the most talented actor working today. He was certainly in the mix at least with others such as Daniel Day-Lewis and Joaquin Phoenix. <br /><br />I think his greatest performance was in The Master, in which he wasn't even nominated because of the whole scientology controversy. That character should have been impossible to play, but he made it look easy. The audience had to believe that his followers believed what he was saying, but at the same time know that he was completely making everything up as he went along. Perhaps my favorite scene in the film (besides the processing scene, maybe) is his wedding speech just after his daughter gets married. The one with the story about the dragon. The reason I think it's so great is because even though the audience knows what he is saying means absolutely nothing to anyone, including himself, his followers still clap and laugh like what he had just said was so clever and inspiring. How do you act towards two different audiences like that, and do it so convincingly? I have no idea, and there are very few actors in the world who do.<br /><br />And now, unfortunately, there is one less.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01756097367777913176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-45972002994512730652014-02-04T14:49:21.006-05:002014-02-04T14:49:21.006-05:00Incredible piece of writing, Alex. You capture so ...Incredible piece of writing, Alex. You capture so perfectly why we love cinema and the work of the actors that bring these characters to life. I totally agree that in this current crop of Hollywood performers Hoffman was one of the best. His passing is very sad - a talent lost far too soon.Danhttp://www.top10films.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-51446221434098055732014-02-04T13:02:58.852-05:002014-02-04T13:02:58.852-05:00It's easy to take an actor of Hoffman's ca...It's easy to take an actor of Hoffman's caliber for granted. Looking back on his career, I rediscovered so many great roles. He delivered the kinds of performances that don't call attention to themselves (well, except for The Master and Capote, where the characters called for it). Hoffman was a true, old-fashioned character actor and his presence on screen will be sorely missed.W.J.http://inwidescreen.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com