Rooster Illusion: In Memory of Paul Newman (1925-2008)

“I’d like to be remembered as a guy who tried - who tried to be part of his times, tried to help people communicate with one another, tried to find some decency in his own life, tried to extend himself as a human being. Someone who isn’t complacent, who doesn’t cop out.”
-Paul Newman, may he rest in peace.

Last Saturday (September 27th), Paul Newman died of cancer.  He was a great actor and, I believe, a great man as well.  I don’t think I can add much to the countless articles and speeches commemorating Mr. Newman, but I’ll do my best.  

Cool Hand Luke [1967]:  This is a great movie (so great that you may see a more in-depth review at some point).  It isn’t a happy movie (although it is not lacking in humor), nor is it always easy to watch.  But it is really, really good.  The direction and cinematography are flawless, and the script is superb.  And the music still get’s me a little teary.  Seriously.  You should look it up on iTunes.  Of course, the highlight of the movie is a performance by Paul Newman.  He brings depth to what could so easily have been an obnoxiously melodramatic role.  Newman’s transition from easy-going rebel to bitter anti-hero is heart wrenching in places, and always believable.  Newman was an actor who actually acted, rather than taking roles based solely upon his “celebrity persona.”

Road to Perdition (2002):  Another great movie. While many celebrities do not age well, gradually losing talent before fading into obscurity, Paul Newman retained his ability to bring depth to any performance.  His John Rooney is at the same time likable and frightening. A mob boss who tries to bring honor and family values to a dishonest profession.  It is a habit of mine, when watching a movie, to think of all the ways it could have been done wronged.  Newman’s character could have been anything from a cardboard cutout to a Godfather copycat (this film has been compared to The Godfather, which I think is a bit unfair, since Perdition was infinitely better).  But it wasn’t.  Newman took the role and made it his own, and that counts for a lot.

If you really want to know more about Paul Newman, or any of his movies, then go to www.imdb.com.  Why do I mention this website in every single column?  Because I want people to get interested in movies.  And if anyone reads one of my reviews and wants to learn more, then it seems reasonable to provide them with a means of doing so.  In this case, I hope that I got people interested in Paul Newman.  He really was a great actor.
If you want to contact me (possibly to complain about my reference to The Godfather), then my e-mail is        jmelv08@stlawu.edu.  Why do I keep telling you this?  Am I really that starved for attention?  God, I hope not.