RIP Taylor Negron

Tags

better off dead, cancer, fast times at ridgemont high, how i got into college, one crazy summer, taylor negron, whoopee boys

Many people may not know who Taylor Negron is, but they may well recognize him from his many wonderfully bizarre and hilarious roles mostly as pizza deliveryman or mailman. All he did was quite memorable at least to me. With over 100 roles, Taylor certainly kept busy and it’s no wonder.

Another sad loss to the cruelty of cancer.

Here’s a little bit of Taylor that I always loved and should be used to best remember him:

“Smile my boy, it’s sunrise” – Robin Williams’ last words spoken onscreen couldn’t be more perfect

Tags

absolutely anything, jim anchower, night at the museum 3, ricky gervais, robin williams, steve coogan, Teddy Roosevelt

It’s been a while since I rapped at you (to take words from the mouth of the legendary Jim Anchower), and I apologize for that, but I wanted to throw this out as we careen towards the end of another year and set our sights on the new beginnings of a fresh 12 months.

Yesterday, I took my two amazing sons to see the third installment of the Night at the Museum franchise. While mostly middling films that certainly can capture the imaginations of youngsters watching them, the presence of comedy heavyweights Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan and of course Robin Williams in the Night at the Museum films gives the adults accompanying said youngsters something to watch as well. As I sat through the silly chase sequences rather reminiscent of the first two films populated by CGI dinosaurs, constellations and other antiquities come to life, I realized that I was seeing Robin Williams final on-screen performance (he does have another role, voice only, in Absolutely Anything coming out in 2015) and the enormity of that overwhelmed me. My sons only recognize Williams from playing Teddy Roosevelt in these films, so they certainly didn’t grasp the weight of this performance, which in every way was typical Williams – done with gusto and genuineness and peppered with a little crazy, but in a way that is all good and expected.

But as the time ticked away on the screen life of one of the big screen mainstays of my life, a man who was only one year older than my own father when he took his own life earlier this year, I got a little teary-eyed knowing I wouldn’t ever again see him doing what he did best. And when his final line was spoken, “Smile my boy, it’s sunrise,” I’m not sure he could have had a better cinematic send-off. While perhaps insignificant outside of the context of the film at the time of the filming, this line carries a tremendous amount of weight in light of the circumstances of Williams passing. Part of me felt like we lost him all over again.

I’m not sure what else to say about this other than seeing this film affected me in a way I didn’t expect. I was happy that I was there with my boys, that I was able to hold my 7-year old’s hand as we walked out of the theater closely followed by my 9-year old as they happily recounted their favorite parts. While Williams‘ line didn’t make their list, I quietly pocketed it in my own memory as my favorite part.

R.I.P. Elizabeth Peña

Tags

adrian lyne, Elizabeth Peña, jacob's ladder, jezzie, john sayles, la bamba, lone star, modern family, pilar

Another good one is gone. Elizabeth Peña, best known for her work in La Bamba, Jacob’s Ladder, Lone Star and most recently Modern Family has passed away at the young age of 55. What a total fucking bummer. She had an incredible presence onscreen and her loss to the film and TV community will be great. Her 30+ years in the business is testament to her abilities and her craft.

Her performances in Jacob’s Ladder as Jezzie and Lone Star as Pilar have remained with me since the first time I saw the films and I would rank them both among the best of 1990s. For these, I can’t thank her enough.

My thoughts are with Ms. Peña‘s husband, children and family. May you rest in peace, Elizabeth.

Since Halloween is upon us and Jacob’s Ladder is one the scariest movies I’ve ever seen, here is the famous party scene clip, one that is testament to Elizabeth Peña‘s allure and ability:

RIP Richard Attenborough

Tags

a bridge too far, actor, brighton rock, chaplin, cry freedom, director, doctor dolittle, fellowship fund, gandhi, jurassic park, muscular dystrophy association, oscar winner, richard attenborough, the great escape

This past weekend, Lord Richard Attenborough passed away at the age of 90. Renowned for his stage and film acting as well as his directing, Attenborough leaves behind a legacy that looms quite large. An Oscar-winner for his direction and production of Gandhi, Attenborough dazzled audiences for over six decades on screen acting in classics such as Doctor Dolittle, The Great Escape, and Brighton Rock and behind the camera directing other classics such as A Bridge Too Far, Cry Freedom and Chaplin. Attenborough‘s charitable efforts were as immense as his record on stage and film. He had been a longtime supporter (50+ years) of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 2004, he became the organization’s Honorary Life President and in 2012, the Richard Attenborough Fellowship Fund was established, “to honour his commitment to world-class research and offer Fellowships to enable clinical research and training at leading neuromuscular centres in the UK.”

I have to admit that most of the notices of his passing listed him as “Richard Attenborough, Jurassic Park actor…” – laughable to think that’s how he will mostly be remembered.

RIP, Lord Attenborough.

Here he is winning the two Oscars for Gandhi:

RIP Lauren Bacall

Tags

bette davis, betty grable, birth, dogville, douglas sirk, golden age, harper, hollywood, honorary oscar, how to marry a millionaire, humphrey bogart, in memoriam, key largo, lauren bacall, marilyn monroe, noir, Oscars, r.i.p., the big sleep, trouble is my business, written on the wind

God damn, this is getting exhausting. Another day, another legend gone. Lauren Bacall passed away today at the age of 89. She will undoubtedly be remembered for that smoky voice and the most famous eyes of Hollywood’s Golden Age this side of Bette Davis which could melt you in a Nevada second. Her time onscreen with first husband Humphrey Bogart in noir staples like The Big Sleep and Key Largo, in classics like How to Marry a Millionaire (with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable) and Douglas Sirk‘s Written on the Wind as well as perfect turns in later films like Harper, Dogville and the wildly underrated Birth have long cemented her legacy. Lauren had been working up until the time of her death and was set to make her return to her noir roots with Trouble Is My Business. I don’t know the status of the film and I hope that we get to see it in a finished form. She was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2010 for “her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures.”

Bacall is one of the last of the old Hollywood icons. When each of these last legends die, the few remaining lights of the Studio System burn out. Will there ever be another Betty Bacall? You know there will not be. She was an important link to the past, able to bridge the decades with her flawless work. She will be missed.

Damn, the In Memoriam video at the Oscars just keeps getting longer. Let’s take a break for a while, okay?

Rest in peace, Lauren. You were a true pleasure to watch ply your craft.

RIP Robin Williams

Tags

aladdin, awakenings, club paradise, dead poet's society, death to smoochy, deconstructing harry, flubber, good morning vietnam, good will hunting, happy days, harold ramis, insomnia, jumanji, mork & mindy, mrs. doubtfire, one hour photo, patch adams, philip seymour hoffman, r.i.p., robin williams, shazbot, the best of times, the birdcage, the fisher king, toys, what dreams may come, world according to garp

As I was getting ready to order something from Amazon for my oldest son this evening, I stumbled across the news that Robin Williams, comedy extraordinaire, had passed away by way of an apparent suicide. Williams had his demons in the past, had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and was currently battling depression. This is a sad loss for the film and comedy communities. Always colorful in his dress, behavior and language, Williams was always just that – himself. For better or worse. We saw plenty of better and lots of worse with him, but he still managed to carve out a great career for himself on film, excelling in both comedic and dramatic roles. His performances in The World According to Garp, The Birdcage, The Fisher King, Dead Poet’s Society, Good Will Hunting (for which he won an Academy Award) and his small but unbelievably memorable role in Deconstructing Harry will always remain with me. Of course he had other great roles and that’s what we had come to expect from him. I hate typing these words as I have done for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Harold Ramis in the not too distant past. His career spanned the bulk of my lifetime and I first got to know him through Mork & Mindy which is one of the first TV shows I can remember watching. He was talented, emotional and tortured and brought to life some really great characters.  In short, he was a winner.

May you rest in peace, Robin. Thanks for the memories.

RIP Harold Ramis

Tags

analyze that, analyze this, animal house, back to school, bedazzled, bill murray, caddyshack, carl spackler, clark griswold, egon spengler, ghostbusters, groundhog day, harold ramis, john winger, meatballs, national lampoon's vacation, peter venkman, phil connors, rip, stripes, tripper harrison

God damn it. Another good one is gone. If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, chances are Harold Ramis made you laugh. Whether being careful not to cross the streams in Ghostbusters or battling Eastern Block communists in Stripes as an actor, or bringing the guffaws in monologues by Carl Spackler in Caddyshack or food fights in Animal House as a writer, or bringing the inevitable pain commencing after Sonny & Cher‘s “I Got You Babe” played while directing Groundhog Day, Harold Ramis had a great comedic gift and we are all better off that he shared it with us. Many of the great Bill Murray characters that he inhabited (Carl Spackler, Tripper Harrison, John Winger, Phil Connors, Peter Venkman) would not have happened without Ramis and for that we should all be grateful. And never forget, he took a John Hughes script for National Lampoon’s Vacation and helped create a classic American character. Thoughts and good vibes go out to the Ramis family and his friends.

First Phil Hoffman dies, now this. Fuck.

Here’s a clip from one of my childhood faves, Stripes:

And another fabulous clip from Back to School:

RIP, Harold.

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman

Tags

dead, magnolia, paul thomas anderson, philip seymour hoffman, rest in peace, rip, the master

As news crossed the wire today that Philip Seymour Hoffman had passed away today at age 46, the result of a drug overdose, I wanted to not believe it was the case. Unfortunately, the news was true. There are few actors working today that have the range that Hoffman had, able to work in comedy and drama with equal aplomb. An accomplished stage actor as well, the acting community has lost one of its most talented members. His turn as Phil Parma in Magnolia and Lancaster Dodd in The Master are what I would consider his top two performances, and I don’t doubt that Paul Thomas Anderson will miss him most as he directed Hoffman in both films.

This loss is crushing. I feel most sorry for his three young children who will no longer have a father. The acting community will bounce back from this loss as they have so many times before. I wish Hoffman‘s family the most sincere condolences as they try to come to terms with this senseless loss.

Here’s a link to an article I wrote before The Master came out detailing what I think are his five/six best performances.

Rest in peace, Mr. Hoffman.

Kumar Pallana has passed away – R.I.P.

Tags

best play ever, bottle rocket, kumar pallana, man, mr. littlejeans, pagoda, royal tenenbaums, rushmore, wes anderson

Kumar Pallana

Damn. His three quirky roles in Wes Anderson‘s Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums were among my favorites of all three films. He added a lot of flavor to all three, which had quite a bit already and he owned it.

From his role as the worthless safe cracker in Bottle Rocket:

to his small role and perfect one line in Rushmore:

What did you think of the play, Mr. LittleJeans? Best play ever, man.

to the manservant/stabber Pagoda in The Royal Tenenbaums:

Straight fire. You will be missed, Kumar.

R.I.P. Roger Ebert 1942-2013

Tags

fellini, gene siskel, roger ebert

The last of the big gun movie critics left us today after his long battle with cancer. Roger Ebert is/was a titan in the film criticism business. His loss touches all of us who watch films as he has been the gold standard for so long. Everyone knows this and I doubt I can add much to what has been said since news broke earlier today that he had passed.

I do want to share my one brush with Ebert, though. I was living in Chicago (Evanston, actually) while my wife was getting her PhD. We were returning from a trip to Indiana and we were coming back on the Toll Road, that interminable stretch of constant construction that lies between Indiana and Illinois. As we are pulling up to one of the toll booths, I see a black Nissan Pathfinder ahead of us with the license plate that read: MOVIES and I saw the salt-colored hair of the man driving it. I immediately announced to my wife that it had to be Ebert. She of course told me I was crazy in only the way that she can with such charm that even I can’t get upset with her. Determined to prove her wrong, I tried maneuvering to get closer weaving as he did through the dense traffic as we got closer and closer to the booths. Through the honks and anger of the other drivers I was able to finally pull up next to the Pathfinder right as we reached the booths. Sure enough, I looked over and there he was, scraping for change to pay the 75 cent toll. When he finally looked over at the two of us, our necks craned, some dumbass smile pasted across my face, he graciously waved, deposited his coins in the hand of the tollbooth attendant and motored through the booth. Afterwards, I gave my wife the business about me being correct and she being wrong (not something that happens terribly often) and drove the rest of the way up the Dan Ryan and Lake Shore Dr./Sheridan Rd. to my condo with a smile on my face.

I don’t know that this encounter would have done much for most people, but that was the effect Mr. Ebert had on me. He and I love movies in the same way – we are willing to sit in darkness and watch countless stories unfold before our eyes and be transported to places unfathomable. His skill with words and love of cinema will be missed dearly.

Here is my favorite quote from Ebert and one I take to heart:

“There are no right answers. The questions are the point. They make you an active movie watcher, not a passive one. You should not be a witness at a movie, but a collaborator. Directors cannot make the film without you. Together, you can accomplish amazing things. The more you learn, the quicker you’ll know when the director is not doing his share of the job. That’s the whole key to being a great moviegoer. There’s nothing else to it.”

Rest in peace, fair sir. May you be somewhere now talking film with Fellini and arguing with Siskel.