NorthofEngland
Well-Known Member
Last year James Gandolfini (age 51???)
Now Philip Seymour Hoffman (age 47).
Over 20 years drug free, in 2012 P S Hoffman checked himself into Rehab
after a course of prescription pain killers led to him reacquainting himself
with his old friend/enemy - Heroin.
Feb 2nd 2014 P S Hoffman is found dead in his N Y apartment.
Most speculation revolves around heroin use as the likely cause of the genius actors premature demise.
A few weeks ago I watched the Brad Pitt movie - MONEYBALL
Philip Seymour Hoffman is cast against type in this, a change from the misfit/loser/damaged but deeply endearing characters he mastered portraying.
He played a Baseball Coach who disagreed with his managers grand strategy and did everything to undermine it.
In playing a professional sports coach, Hoffman played the role of a confident and stubborn blue collar 'man next door' American.
More usual roles included the Southern Preacher, in COLD MOUNTAIN, deeply corrupt and conflicted. About to murder his slave from fear his congregation would discover she was carrying his child.
Later in the film his predilection for moonshine whiskey and young whores shows itself a few times - but Hoffman never loses the sympathies of the audience.
JOHN C REILLY was another character actor who's earlier roles came the same way.
Many of Hoffman's earlier appearances were in the films of PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
were his ability to convey complex, even contradictory character traits did much to help Anderson tell his stories almost entirely through inference and ambiguity.
Hoffman's role in BOOGIE NIGHTS as a deeply pathetic 'loser in love' is one of his most recognised.
In the film, another by P T Anderson, his entire existence revolved around his obsession for heterosexual porn star, Dirk Diggler.
The desperation of his unrequited love leads to several humiliating and cruel episodes - often so real they are painful to watch, until he becomes little more than the subhuman who is allowed to stay around because he can be a useful part of their schemes to keep supplied with drugs.
Despite hating Hoffman's characters weakness it is not possible to hate the character - this dramatic ability to provoke disgust and endearment for the same character, even for the same reasons, was a unique gift of Hoffman's.
The films he has not yet made are never to be made.
The roles that could have made him immortal
(his ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST or his ON THE WATERFRONT)
are now never to be made.
He was an actor who had proven his greatness
but left the stage before ensuring his status as a legend.
RIP PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN
Now Philip Seymour Hoffman (age 47).
Over 20 years drug free, in 2012 P S Hoffman checked himself into Rehab
after a course of prescription pain killers led to him reacquainting himself
with his old friend/enemy - Heroin.
Feb 2nd 2014 P S Hoffman is found dead in his N Y apartment.
Most speculation revolves around heroin use as the likely cause of the genius actors premature demise.
A few weeks ago I watched the Brad Pitt movie - MONEYBALL
Philip Seymour Hoffman is cast against type in this, a change from the misfit/loser/damaged but deeply endearing characters he mastered portraying.
He played a Baseball Coach who disagreed with his managers grand strategy and did everything to undermine it.
In playing a professional sports coach, Hoffman played the role of a confident and stubborn blue collar 'man next door' American.
More usual roles included the Southern Preacher, in COLD MOUNTAIN, deeply corrupt and conflicted. About to murder his slave from fear his congregation would discover she was carrying his child.
Later in the film his predilection for moonshine whiskey and young whores shows itself a few times - but Hoffman never loses the sympathies of the audience.
JOHN C REILLY was another character actor who's earlier roles came the same way.
Many of Hoffman's earlier appearances were in the films of PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
were his ability to convey complex, even contradictory character traits did much to help Anderson tell his stories almost entirely through inference and ambiguity.
Hoffman's role in BOOGIE NIGHTS as a deeply pathetic 'loser in love' is one of his most recognised.
In the film, another by P T Anderson, his entire existence revolved around his obsession for heterosexual porn star, Dirk Diggler.
The desperation of his unrequited love leads to several humiliating and cruel episodes - often so real they are painful to watch, until he becomes little more than the subhuman who is allowed to stay around because he can be a useful part of their schemes to keep supplied with drugs.
Despite hating Hoffman's characters weakness it is not possible to hate the character - this dramatic ability to provoke disgust and endearment for the same character, even for the same reasons, was a unique gift of Hoffman's.
The films he has not yet made are never to be made.
The roles that could have made him immortal
(his ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST or his ON THE WATERFRONT)
are now never to be made.
He was an actor who had proven his greatness
but left the stage before ensuring his status as a legend.
RIP PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN
