In 1977 Richard Dreyfuss was very angry in two fantastic films. Two movies that with Jaws top the list of his greatest performances: Herbert Ross’ The Goodbye Girl and Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Two completely different films with a similarly distressed Dreyfuss as the glue that holds them together in my heart. Like a earth toned mid 70’s ice cream sandwich. (I did intend for this post to be on both films, but I quickly discovered that Close Encounters needs a space of its own. Don’t fret Marsha Mason fans. The Goodbye Girl will have a turn in the near future). The first thing you may remember about Close Encounters is the Devil’s Tower mashed potatoes. You […]
Tempers
Tempers: Sweet Bird of Youth
You: If you had to have a dinner party with 10 famous people of your choosing who would you pick? Me: Well I’m glad you asked me that. When planning a fantasy celeb dinner party you must remember that it’s still a party. Gandhi, for example, is a great man, but at a party he might be a downer. With that in mind, my choices are: Jean Cocteau, Tina Fey, James Franco, Miles Davis, Groucho Marx, Nicki Minaj (Groucho needs a sassy young thing to chase) and two Geraldine Pages. One to perform, and one to interrogate. I first met Geraldine as Alexandra De Lago in Sweet Bird of Youth. It was love at first sight and we have enjoyed […]
Series II: Tempers
It’s time for another Mirror special series. Get ready for: Tempers. Don’t worry, Race in Film isn’t going anywhere, I’m just tacking another one on. tem·per /ˈtÉ›mpÉ™r/ –noun 1. a particular state of mind or feelings. 2. habit of mind, esp. with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition: an even temper. 3. heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc. Marcus Aurelius said “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.†Abert Einstein said “Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.” Mark Twain said “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to […]