Rest in Peace, Paul Newman
So, I'm taking a quick break in my break to write this up. It'll be the only post, besides twitter and such, until after Wednesday, but this is important so the rules are a little suspended.
A lot of people don't know this about me, but I love the classic films. No, I'm not a major viewer or snob, but I really enjoy certain films. For the longest time Young at Heart ranked in the top spot, with all the comtemporary films falling a distant second. Then How to Marry a Millionarie with Bette, Marilyn, and Lauren launched above Doris and Frank. I loved Pillow Talk. And Please Don't Eat The Daises. Not to mention Streetcar Named Desire and Rebel Without A Cause. I need to catch Giant. There's something about the subtle acting, the lack of T&A, and the talent that rings so very true. I love action movies, I do, but there are times and places that only the Golden and Silver Screen actors fill that void.
Paul Newman was first introduced, hardcore, to me in Cool Hand Luke. I was probably in elementary school when I first saw it with my mom. Yes, my actual biological mom sat down with me to watch a movie. It turns out it's one of the few movies we both enjoy the hell out of it. The whole movie had me sitting in awe, watching Luke in the prison yard. He was a badass before badasses were popular with me. The raw talent in Newman was electrifying. It wasn't like watching Ashton or Willis now, where it's mostly about the pretty and kaboom, even though Newman was drop dead gorgeous to my eyes. It was the way the screen just glowed, the way he could say one line and you got it. I remember being transfixed in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, not knowing who Newman was at the time, but seeing the play come to life after rewatching and reading it between. A turn of the head, a look and there was Brick. Not Newman, not Luke, not anyone else, but Brick. There is little I won't watch with that kind of acting in it. You look past the actor and fall into the character. raidingparty and I were talking about it the other day. There you go, Zachary. There's someone that will make me stare in absolute fascination. Newman's my Depp.
And one of the few true wishes I ever had about Hollywood types was to meet him, to thank him for the gift of making a bridge for me. I didn't give two shits and a shake about his autograph. I wanted to let the man know that all his hardwork paid off. Not because he was good at it, but because he was doing good with it. I don't twitter and carry on about how much like a god someone can be when I meet them. Part of why I go to Dragon*Con is to let the actors know they're appreciated. Usually I gotta purchase a signature for it, but for me, it's a small price. It's been pounded into my since childhood. I've heard stories about Kris Kristofferson, Tony Bennett, Richard Petty, and god-knows-who-else all my life. The key component? They're simply humans and it's what the do in their craft and trade that matters, not who they're wearing or screwing this week. It's what and who they are, as a person to you, outside the Hollywood hype.
Newman was one of the most underrated when it comes to the award bullshit. Maybe that was in his favor. Because he didn't care. He did what he loved because he loved it. He didn't let Hollywood rule him, and by god, there are more than a few people currently that need that drilled into their heads. He stayed married to his wife for fifty years. That's amazing and rare, in or out of Hollywood. He was caring about other people, he raised money and supported things that he felt needed it. It wasn't about the money at the end of a paycheck. It's so refreshing to find people like that. He was one actor I actually cared to learn about, because if it came out, then it was by his wishes. It wasn't some invasive photog looking to earn a few bucks. There's something dignified with that. And he was a diversified in his field. If you've ever seen Joanne Woodword's Glass Menagerie, you've seen his work. If he was tired of the Hollywood scripts, he raced in cars. He kept everything fresh.
There was something real about him. You could watch his interviews and know it was him. I've seen him on Leno before, and no matter if he's 35 or 81, he's still commanding your attention. His career spanned nearly the same length as his marriage. He chose his parts, apologized for the shit, and kept doing what he wanted. He stopped when he felt he couldn't do it anymore. That kind of self-awareness. I don't know, it's hard to understand and describe. Maybe y'all would have to grow up in my house, but it's for important to me. It's a rarity in my world. I can respect that more than anyone can imagine.
So for the world, I'm sorry that much living knowledge is now gone. From James Dean to Redford to pre-crazy Cruise to Larry the Cable Guy, he's been involved in half a century of American pop culture. He's one of the Golden actors that survived, that was loved and loved, that cared and was cared about. I'm sorry to see him gone. I'm tired of losing people that impacted us all. We're losing a damned good generation, and I'm so tired of it. They're so very important. And frankly, all the crappy actors nowadays need to study them as much as De Niro and Pacino. There's something to be said for the chameleon generation.
A lot of people don't know this about me, but I love the classic films. No, I'm not a major viewer or snob, but I really enjoy certain films. For the longest time Young at Heart ranked in the top spot, with all the comtemporary films falling a distant second. Then How to Marry a Millionarie with Bette, Marilyn, and Lauren launched above Doris and Frank. I loved Pillow Talk. And Please Don't Eat The Daises. Not to mention Streetcar Named Desire and Rebel Without A Cause. I need to catch Giant. There's something about the subtle acting, the lack of T&A, and the talent that rings so very true. I love action movies, I do, but there are times and places that only the Golden and Silver Screen actors fill that void.
Paul Newman was first introduced, hardcore, to me in Cool Hand Luke. I was probably in elementary school when I first saw it with my mom. Yes, my actual biological mom sat down with me to watch a movie. It turns out it's one of the few movies we both enjoy the hell out of it. The whole movie had me sitting in awe, watching Luke in the prison yard. He was a badass before badasses were popular with me. The raw talent in Newman was electrifying. It wasn't like watching Ashton or Willis now, where it's mostly about the pretty and kaboom, even though Newman was drop dead gorgeous to my eyes. It was the way the screen just glowed, the way he could say one line and you got it. I remember being transfixed in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, not knowing who Newman was at the time, but seeing the play come to life after rewatching and reading it between. A turn of the head, a look and there was Brick. Not Newman, not Luke, not anyone else, but Brick. There is little I won't watch with that kind of acting in it. You look past the actor and fall into the character. raidingparty and I were talking about it the other day. There you go, Zachary. There's someone that will make me stare in absolute fascination. Newman's my Depp.
And one of the few true wishes I ever had about Hollywood types was to meet him, to thank him for the gift of making a bridge for me. I didn't give two shits and a shake about his autograph. I wanted to let the man know that all his hardwork paid off. Not because he was good at it, but because he was doing good with it. I don't twitter and carry on about how much like a god someone can be when I meet them. Part of why I go to Dragon*Con is to let the actors know they're appreciated. Usually I gotta purchase a signature for it, but for me, it's a small price. It's been pounded into my since childhood. I've heard stories about Kris Kristofferson, Tony Bennett, Richard Petty, and god-knows-who-else all my life. The key component? They're simply humans and it's what the do in their craft and trade that matters, not who they're wearing or screwing this week. It's what and who they are, as a person to you, outside the Hollywood hype.
Newman was one of the most underrated when it comes to the award bullshit. Maybe that was in his favor. Because he didn't care. He did what he loved because he loved it. He didn't let Hollywood rule him, and by god, there are more than a few people currently that need that drilled into their heads. He stayed married to his wife for fifty years. That's amazing and rare, in or out of Hollywood. He was caring about other people, he raised money and supported things that he felt needed it. It wasn't about the money at the end of a paycheck. It's so refreshing to find people like that. He was one actor I actually cared to learn about, because if it came out, then it was by his wishes. It wasn't some invasive photog looking to earn a few bucks. There's something dignified with that. And he was a diversified in his field. If you've ever seen Joanne Woodword's Glass Menagerie, you've seen his work. If he was tired of the Hollywood scripts, he raced in cars. He kept everything fresh.
There was something real about him. You could watch his interviews and know it was him. I've seen him on Leno before, and no matter if he's 35 or 81, he's still commanding your attention. His career spanned nearly the same length as his marriage. He chose his parts, apologized for the shit, and kept doing what he wanted. He stopped when he felt he couldn't do it anymore. That kind of self-awareness. I don't know, it's hard to understand and describe. Maybe y'all would have to grow up in my house, but it's for important to me. It's a rarity in my world. I can respect that more than anyone can imagine.
So for the world, I'm sorry that much living knowledge is now gone. From James Dean to Redford to pre-crazy Cruise to Larry the Cable Guy, he's been involved in half a century of American pop culture. He's one of the Golden actors that survived, that was loved and loved, that cared and was cared about. I'm sorry to see him gone. I'm tired of losing people that impacted us all. We're losing a damned good generation, and I'm so tired of it. They're so very important. And frankly, all the crappy actors nowadays need to study them as much as De Niro and Pacino. There's something to be said for the chameleon generation.