Lights, Camera, Action

Lights, Camera, Action

I love movies. Well, actually I love stories. I have talked before about the fact that I would love to read more books, but the actual physical act of reading is very difficult for me. Anyway, I love movies; sights, sounds, people, and stories. But best of all I like the actors. In an amateurish way, I study them. The best actors make you forget that, in real life, they may be spoiled brats making millions of dollars, and then, on the screen, they become someone else.

George C. Scott, General George S. Patton; when he stands in front of that gigantic American flag at the beginning of the movie and teaches the gathered soldiers, "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." I don't see the actor in costume, standing on a set, I see a General inspiring men who are about to risk their lives for their country.

Marlon Brando, Terry Malloy, sits in the back of the taxi and tells his brother, Charley, how he should have helped him, "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley. " His life goes on but his pride is dead. I cried the last time I saw it. At my age and in my position, the scene hits too to close to my heart.

Yul Brenner, King Mongkut of Siam, dying, his beliefs changed in such a short time, by a woman! A WOMAN! He lies on his deathbed and instructs his heir apparent how to comport himself as king. Then as the young one speaks on how things will change, the King's hand goes limp. Anna cries, and so do I. I did not see an actor die, I saw a proud King die. The last time it was on TV I intentionally passed it by, because it is too good at making me feel grief. Then later as I channel surfed, I happened to stop on it just as the King died. I was in tears in seconds flat.

Marisa Tomei, Lola, was in a movie called What Women Want. The movie itself is not stellar but that doesn't mean that certain performances can't be. Nick, the leading man played by Mel Gibson, sleeps with Lola but does not call her for days after. Lola can't deal with it. She gave herself to him believing there would be more. Now she realizes there isn't. Her only hope to recover from this is to believe that Nick is gay. Lola is a tortured soul confronting him, begging for absolution, out of control, "You talk to me like a woman, you think like a woman. Nick, come on, admit it. You're totally and completely gay!" Only for her benefit, he admits it. She is saved!

Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard; Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca; Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now; Katherine Hepburn in A Lion in Winter; Sidney Poitier in The Heat of the Night; Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity; Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs; Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter; Frances McDormand in Fargo; Jack Lemmon in The Apartment; Ricardo Montalban in Star Trek II; Robert DeNiro in Goodfellas; Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction... And ten minutes from now I will think of many more!

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