Great point about being able to elevate some seriously lacking works. The Firm is, by most standards, a crummy-to-mediocre movie. But Hackman's Avery Tollar shines in every scene he's in, making his subplot fairly memorable in a mostly forgettable movie.
Hackman was a crazy good anti-hero. That's hard to pull off even once in a career, and he did it multiple times.
The news about his death got me really bad. There were so much sadness and a lonsome way to die for the three of them: The wife, Hackman & the poor dog. It's so hard to comprehend it and so late. All the time I was waiting for the results about the cause of death, I had this flashback of the last scene from The Night Moves. What an unresolved ending. It shocked me when I watched the movie & the cruelty of Hackman's ending: I don't like it even a bit.
Great point about being able to elevate some seriously lacking works. The Firm is, by most standards, a crummy-to-mediocre movie. But Hackman's Avery Tollar shines in every scene he's in, making his subplot fairly memorable in a mostly forgettable movie.
Hackman was a crazy good anti-hero. That's hard to pull off even once in a career, and he did it multiple times.
Yeah great point. A thriller that comes down to a conspiracy around billable hours is made immediate and consequential by Hackman.
Great post, Sam. The Conversation is a masterpiece. So is Unforgiven.
Agreed, thanks!
I have a soft spot for Heist... how can one resist that fireworks dialogue, and the way it's delivered? Great writing on Unforgiven... thanks Sam!
Me too. Thanks, Martine!
Thanks for this Sam. Hackman meant a lot to me.
And you're right on the money, his death does echo the two Harry's he played in The Conversation and Night Moves (also my two favourites).
He was an actor, but he created something more on the screen.
Thank you, Craig!
I loved him in The Conversation.
Yeah it's a flawless performance.
The news about his death got me really bad. There were so much sadness and a lonsome way to die for the three of them: The wife, Hackman & the poor dog. It's so hard to comprehend it and so late. All the time I was waiting for the results about the cause of death, I had this flashback of the last scene from The Night Moves. What an unresolved ending. It shocked me when I watched the movie & the cruelty of Hackman's ending: I don't like it even a bit.
It's a dark and unsatisfying ending, which I think works for the story, but yes, it's unnerving.
Thanks, Harry!