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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe Film News & Reviews

 
Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Paul Newman Retires!

Paul Newman Retires!

Paul Newman
Paul Newman making a point



"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

A sad day in the world of cinema, over at bbc.co.uk they have reported that 82 year old actor Paul Newman has decided to stop acting. The star broke the news in a TV interview on U.S channel ABC, declaring "I'm not able to work anymore... at the level that I would want to…"So I think that's pretty much a closed book for me."

Newman made his mark on silver screen history playing quintessential loners, complex characters outside the system and forever struggling with internal demons. (The Hustler)

Paul Newman
Somebody can eat 50 eggs
Charming and charismatic, few have matched his body of work or defined the matinee idol image of rebel cool with such presence.


Bringing a unique humanity and vulnerability to every role no matter how amoral, (Hud) the roguish scoundrel (The Sting) within communicating a deeper understanding of each part, often blurs the line between hero and loser.

Struggling with his profession the actor has said that the job never came easy to him, he really had to try. Endlessly compared to Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando and James Dean early in his career because of the similar Lee Strasberg method reality, time has shown his longevity
.
"You can't be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: 'Holy Christ, whaddya know - I'm still around!' It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career."- Newman on his staying power


Paul Newman
The Hustler
The personal issues and eccentricity that plagued his contemporary’s seems to have been expelled on camera. Allowing Newman’s private life to succeed too, his marriage to Joanne Woodward stands as a Hollywood benchmark.
"Why fool around with hamburger when you have steak at home?" - Newman on loyalty to his wife

An accomplished race car driver who says the sound of a V8 engine excites him like nothing else. By all accounts he is one of the “nicest guys you could ever meet” and his charity work is arguably more impressive than his film work.


Fighting the stereo type his piercing blue eyes and good looks inspired meant he was not always taken seriously in his craft, bravely playing against type (Buffalo Bill) whenever he got the opportunity.
"I was always a character actor. I just looked like Little Red Riding Hood." - Paul Newman on how he sees his style
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His partnership with Robert Redford for Butch Cassidy and The Sting is mythical now, many had hoped they would pair up one more time. Nominated for 9 Oscars, finally taking home the statue for the Martin Scorsese sequel to The Hustler, The Colour of Money.
"It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents and you say, 'I'm terribly sorry. I'm tired." - Newman on winning the Oscar

Paul Newman has been one of John Doe’s favourite actors of all time from a young age. In salute to a legend, here are JD’s 13 favourite films starring this infinitely talented performer whose retirement signals the end of an era.

1. Cool Hand Luke
2. The Hustler
3. Hud
4. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
5. The Sting
6. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
7. Somebody Up There Likes me
8. Nobody’s Fool
9. Slap Shot
10. The Hudsucker Proxy
11. The Verdict
12. Fort Apache The Bronx
13. Harper


Runners up:
Winning, Bufallo Bill and The Indians, the Left Handed Gun, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Long Hot Summer, The Young Philadelphians

Trivia: Paul Newman is Jake Gyllenhaal's Godfather

Here is the first part of a quality A&E Biography on Paul Newman.


Quotes care of www.imdb.com
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Comments
18 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]
1. May 28th 2007 @ 09:12. DuskDevi Says:
Hi JD...

...but his sauces will keep seasoning!

'The Sting'. Ahhhh. A favourite of mine...

I just read that the Woodward Newman marriage is celebrating its 50th year. I love that they're still 'fiesty' and passionate with each other...not frumpy...

Gotta tell ya...Newman was...still is...ouch...

Hope you're well JD.

Dusk
2. May 28th 2007 @ 09:49. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Dusk,

Compiling a list of my favourites was tough work, pretty much all my top 13 I consider great films.

The Sting is superb, the chemistry, dialogue and music all demand rewatching.

His marriage to Joanne Woodward is exceptional, as is the onscreen electricity in The long Hot Summer.

Love the pasta sauce and hsi attitude to life......

Great to see you as always, dont be a stranger.

PS- If I was that way inclined I would be jumping on Paul's Newman too.

3. May 28th 2007 @ 16:18. Cibbuano Says:
One of the best.... of course, Butch Cassidy is a classic, but The Sting has all the 'shenanigans' that I like from those days...

4. May 28th 2007 @ 23:13. Nickoftime's Sanity Corner Says:
John,

my favorite movie has always been Col Hand Luke...what a classic eh?

He'll do fine in retirement...hell he can live off the money from his food stocks anyway!

Great post!

Take care,

Nick
5. May 28th 2007 @ 23:45. D. Armenta Says:
Paul Newman, one of my all-time faves..I remember the first time I saw Slap Shot, years ago, and just about shat when he told off the team owner ("Your son looks gay to me...")

Once again, all your picks are my own, ha ha!

D.
6. May 29th 2007 @ 00:07. postmoderncritic Says:
Hey JD, wasn't it Jamie Lee Curtis that was Jake's godmother? I thought Paul Newman gave him one of his first driving lessons instead.
7. May 29th 2007 @ 05:24. Bryn Says:
The Hustler is my fave Newman.
And Butch of course.
Just a damn fine actor all round, and by all reports a gentleman to boot.
I love the line about loyalty too ... gold.

Big props to you JD for the post!
8. May 29th 2007 @ 07:19. JohnDoe Says:
Bring on the love for this icon, pleases me to see all the fine responses, Paul Newman deserves it!

Howdy Cib, (In a Baltimore accent)
The Sting is classic entertainment that works on every level for sure. That clever screenplay is a slight of hand that just fuels the onscreen chemistry of Newman and Redford. The moments with Robert Shaw on the train are favourites of mine.


Greetings Nick,
Cool Hand Luke influenced me so much when I was young Im sure I took away more than a healthy dose of hero worship from the film.

All the money from the Pasta Sauce goes to charity I think. Newman has quipped that it made more cash than his acting career.

Good to see you D, how's goes it?
Seems we do have similar taste on some things doesn't it?

Slapshot is such a deceptive film. Makes me laugh when I watch it, then other times I can't help but take it all too seriously. It really does capture the essence of Ice Hockey.

There is a great quote from Newman about Slapshot-
"Ever since "Slapshot" I've been swearing more. I knew I had a problem one day when I turned to my daughter and said: 'Would you please pass the fucking salt?'." - Newman

Glad you dug the post

Hi Bryn,
Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler are interchangable as #1 for me, masterpieces, nothing less.


9. May 29th 2007 @ 07:24. JohnDoe Says:
Hi postmodern,
Paul newman is Jake's Godfather and Jamie Lee is his Godmother I think.

I also read teh same thing, Paul Newman gave young Jake driving lessons. I think I would pay attention to instructor in that scenario, Newman is a nifty race driver.

Good to see you, hope you are all is well.
10. May 29th 2007 @ 09:23. Bryn Says:
Speaking of cowboys ...
Ness and I started watching Deadwood last night ... very good. Love all the foul language and graphic violence .... of course.
Cheers mate!
I look forward to our next sesh.
11. May 29th 2007 @ 09:32. JohnDoe Says:
Glad your into Deadwood, Cocksucker!

The more you watch the more addictive it becomes and if you look up the history of Deadwood it really does capture another time and place.

It does get grittier and dirtier the more it progresses, so enjoy.
12. May 29th 2007 @ 09:48. Bryn Says:
I had a feeling it would ...
Ness was like .."It's rather serious ..." lol
I'm like ...'Yeah ... but blackly comic too, like Six Feet Under hun"
I like spotting some of the actors from past movies, etc ... I barely recognised Keith Carradine at first!
... William Sanderson from Blade Runner! The principal from Ferris Bueller ...
Ian McShane is great ... he won a Golden Globe right?
13. May 29th 2007 @ 09:49. Bryn Says:
I'm sure Newman appreciates it .... lol
14. May 29th 2007 @ 22:58. JohnDoe Says:
Totally with you on the cast of Deadwood...so many familiar faces proving just how talented they are....Im not sure if McShane won, but i do know he was nominated.....Globes are worth less than Trixie anyway.
15. May 30th 2007 @ 03:08. Bryn Says:
Hahahaha!
And full frontal male nudity as well, you don't get that every day on a big budget American tv show, even if it is cable!
16. June 10th 2007 @ 01:07. yoda76 Says:
What, no Kudos for Colour of Money?

Let me put my hand up and say that for as crap as everyone says it is - it's a very good film ( as a sequel, a little average, but as a film on it's own...).

Newman's performance is great, as is Scorsese's direction. Shame about Tom Cruise, but hey - we're supposed to hate him in that movie, right? Therefore a brililiant piece of casting...

17. June 10th 2007 @ 01:24. JohnDoe Says:
Hi Yoda,
I agree, Colour of Money is Ok when not compared to the original.

I like a lot of the camera work and John Tuturro and Forrest Whitaker steal their scenes. As for tom I thought we were meant to look at him like Newman in the original, an asshole searching for character...he fails for me because he just comes across as an idiot, never evolving.
18. June 10th 2007 @ 01:59. yoda76 Says:
True, but I think the point is that Newman's character sees himself in Cruise, but is in the end disappointed and let down because he isn't a fresh version of himself.

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