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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPhilip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014)
by Mick LaSalle
They say the graveyards are full of indispensable men, and yet its hard not to see the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman as a disaster for motion pictures and for the art of screen acting. To look back on what this consummate American actor accomplished just in the last 15 years is to imagine what he might have done over the next 25 or 30 except we cant even have the satisfaction of imagining: Hoffman was always surprising us.
An unprepossessing boy-man caught between types, he started out not looking like anybody or like anything in particular. He turned that into an advantage, by showing he could play everything. His features were raw, his body almost uncouth, and yet he was capable of remarkable delicacy. A real artist, his center was impossible to locate because it was always different, and changing. He could be light or heavy, warm or cold.
What remained consistent was his power of thought, which he brought to bear on all his great work, including, notably, the title role in Capote, one of the most astonishing and sublime chameleon performances in American cinema.
There are rare actors such as this people that audiences want to look at, people audiences cant help wanting to look at, even if they dont quite know why. In the case of Hoffman, his opacity was an odd gift a quality present even in his throwaway performance, such as in Hunger Games: Catching Fire. With Hoffman, we never really knew what he was thinking but we always understood that he was thinking, and that it was something interesting and mesmerizing and slightly out of reach.
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http://blog.sfgate.com/mlasalle/2014/02/02/philip-seymour-hoffman-1967-2014/
1000words
(7,051 posts)The very good ones are always taken from us too soon, it seems.
Rec
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)Those are the ages of his kids... the fatherless kids he loved less than drugs
progressoid
(49,992 posts)Not sure its fair to say he loved his children less because of his addiction without fully knowing his circumstances.
alittlelark
(18,890 posts)...............
Disease is disease is disease.
Very sad, tragic.... let's find a way to not let this DISEASE take another victim !!!
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)You show an ignorance of addiction that borders on insulting.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)He had been sober for around two decades before relapsing recently.
From where did you draw the conclusion that he "loved" drugs?
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)to not have to see the disease up close. I have very conflicting feelings about addiction. I do understand it is a disease and I try to remember that when my sister in law spends all of her family's money on drugs or threatens to run them over as they are attempting to leave the house, but it is very hard. She does harm to my brother and my niece and it is very hard to just say well she has a disease.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)They need to take themselves out of harm's way
..and detach from her. Get away.
It's very hard to pull away from an active addict. They might want to check out Alanon, or other recovery programs. http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/friends-family-alcoholics/ has tons of information
eggplant
(3,911 posts)What magical crystal ball do you have that gives you such insight?
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)bahrbearian
(13,466 posts)PasadenaTrudy
(3,998 posts)know nothing about the disease of drug addiction, or you are very sheltered.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Addiction isn't an easy thing. It's a battle that is fought every day.
Paladin
(28,266 posts)lapfog_1
(29,210 posts)Skittles
(153,169 posts)you have NO CLUE what addiction truly means
rug
(82,333 posts)liberal N proud
(60,338 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)Everything this guy did was good, and such a good character actor. My favorite role was as the CIA guy in "Charlie Wilson's War". Just excellent. I love good movies, and this guy was a gem of a actor. A life cut WAY too short. SAD. So SAD.
Boomerproud
(7,958 posts)I didn't know he had children. Tragic for his family and for all who appreciate artistry.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)at a young age. First time I saw him was in Boogie Nights. What a great movie and a great performance from Mr. Hoffman.
RIP
PasadenaTrudy
(3,998 posts)I can watch it over and over. Also check out Philip in "Happiness", another weirdo role for him.
Spirochete
(5,264 posts)not sure which one, but it won't be Love Liza. Too sad for today.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)Gothmog
(145,359 posts)I enjoyed his performances