Paul Newman Retires!
May 28th 2007 08:55
Paul Newman Retires!
"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)
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
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
[ADVERT]
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
"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)
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
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
[ADVERT]
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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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
...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
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
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.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
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
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Once again, all your picks are my own, ha ha!
D.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
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!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
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.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
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.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
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.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
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.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
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?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
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!
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
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...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
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.
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog