Haim
On Paramount Pictures
I'm Andy Warhol with other peers
Hey has beens
I'm the American dream
So let's stay out tonight
You see, I just can't stop it
I just can't stop it
Ooh, girl I say ooh
Whatever happened, my friend
Ooh, girl I say ooh
Whatever happened my friend Corey Haim?
- from the song "Whatever Happened To Corey Haim?" by The Thrills
Yesterday I found myself chuckling a little when I read that former child actor Emmanuel Lewis -- aka TV's "Webster" -- was turning 39. Older than me but still locked in my mind as a little kid, even though he was about 13 years old during the run of Webster, playing a little boy about 6 or 7 years old. I remember he was hyped as the next Gary Coleman. I can't help but think Lewis has to be grateful that never came to pass.
Growing up in the 80's made two things pretty hard to avoid: John Hughes movies or movies starring one of the two Coreys -- Haim and Feldman. To the best of my knowledge, neither Haim or Feldman actually starred in a Hughes film but I could be wrong on this.
As I'm sure you know, Corey Haim died this morning at age 38 of an apparent accidental overdose. The term "accidental overdose" always puzzles me because popping pills, shooting up, or snorting blow seems a very deliberate act. There is no accident involved. I think we tag "accidental" to OD as a kind way of saying he (or she) didn't mean to die. And that's fair enough, I suppose.
Like so many people of my generation I watched several Corey Haim films multiple times, from the very good ones (Lost Boys and Lucas) to the very bad ones (License To Drive). Just the other night I saw Haim, in the role of Sally Field's son, in the truly great movie Murphy's Romance. It's Field's and co-star James Garner's movie and they both shine but Haim, in his supporting role, was believable and a nice presence playing a good-natured kid who loves his Mom, misses his absentee father (who later shows up), but also sees all his father's flaws plainly.
Corey Haim had problems. Clearly. Lots of them. And while I sympathize with addicts and those who struggle with addiction I also believe we are ultimately responsible for our one great gift from God (or Nature or the Universe): Free will. We have the ability to gain knowledge, to know what is good and bad for us, and to make choices accordingly. Corey Haim didn't have to smoke dope, which he said later led to cocaine, which later lead him to crack. He said he would always be a relapsing addict. I would argue he chose to be a relapsing addict.
I don't mean to sound quite so harsh because I really do have good memories of the movies Haim made. Lost Boys was great and I watched it time and time again. And just as I have chosen to remember the version of Michael Jackson that was of astonishing talent and great music (as opposed to the more tragic version), I will remember Corey Haim was the titled character of Lucas. That was my favorite of his movies. It was, in my opinion, his best performance. In the role of a smart but awkward 14 year-old, Haim made Lucas the viewer's friend. We rooted for him. We wanted him to get the girl even though we knew he wouldn't. We wanted him to triumph over the jocks who were picking on him, even though his efforts were mixed at best. It had a happy ending too and that's how I'll remember Haim as an actor; as a kid, wearing an oversized varsity jacket, and raising his arms in the air as an adolescent victory.
J
I'm Andy Warhol with other peers
Hey has beens
I'm the American dream
So let's stay out tonight
You see, I just can't stop it
I just can't stop it
Ooh, girl I say ooh
Whatever happened, my friend
Ooh, girl I say ooh
Whatever happened my friend Corey Haim?
- from the song "Whatever Happened To Corey Haim?" by The Thrills
Yesterday I found myself chuckling a little when I read that former child actor Emmanuel Lewis -- aka TV's "Webster" -- was turning 39. Older than me but still locked in my mind as a little kid, even though he was about 13 years old during the run of Webster, playing a little boy about 6 or 7 years old. I remember he was hyped as the next Gary Coleman. I can't help but think Lewis has to be grateful that never came to pass.
Growing up in the 80's made two things pretty hard to avoid: John Hughes movies or movies starring one of the two Coreys -- Haim and Feldman. To the best of my knowledge, neither Haim or Feldman actually starred in a Hughes film but I could be wrong on this.
As I'm sure you know, Corey Haim died this morning at age 38 of an apparent accidental overdose. The term "accidental overdose" always puzzles me because popping pills, shooting up, or snorting blow seems a very deliberate act. There is no accident involved. I think we tag "accidental" to OD as a kind way of saying he (or she) didn't mean to die. And that's fair enough, I suppose.
Like so many people of my generation I watched several Corey Haim films multiple times, from the very good ones (Lost Boys and Lucas) to the very bad ones (License To Drive). Just the other night I saw Haim, in the role of Sally Field's son, in the truly great movie Murphy's Romance. It's Field's and co-star James Garner's movie and they both shine but Haim, in his supporting role, was believable and a nice presence playing a good-natured kid who loves his Mom, misses his absentee father (who later shows up), but also sees all his father's flaws plainly.
Corey Haim had problems. Clearly. Lots of them. And while I sympathize with addicts and those who struggle with addiction I also believe we are ultimately responsible for our one great gift from God (or Nature or the Universe): Free will. We have the ability to gain knowledge, to know what is good and bad for us, and to make choices accordingly. Corey Haim didn't have to smoke dope, which he said later led to cocaine, which later lead him to crack. He said he would always be a relapsing addict. I would argue he chose to be a relapsing addict.
I don't mean to sound quite so harsh because I really do have good memories of the movies Haim made. Lost Boys was great and I watched it time and time again. And just as I have chosen to remember the version of Michael Jackson that was of astonishing talent and great music (as opposed to the more tragic version), I will remember Corey Haim was the titled character of Lucas. That was my favorite of his movies. It was, in my opinion, his best performance. In the role of a smart but awkward 14 year-old, Haim made Lucas the viewer's friend. We rooted for him. We wanted him to get the girl even though we knew he wouldn't. We wanted him to triumph over the jocks who were picking on him, even though his efforts were mixed at best. It had a happy ending too and that's how I'll remember Haim as an actor; as a kid, wearing an oversized varsity jacket, and raising his arms in the air as an adolescent victory.
J