Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman

8/12/2019 Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman

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POSTSCRIPT

THE MASTER

Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman.

BYANTHONY LANEFEBRUARY 17, 2014

Onscreen, he often gave the impression, even in company, of murmuring to himself, as

though submerged regrets were ready to overflow. Photograph by Brigitte Lacombe.KEYWORDS

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFM!"

CTORS"

MO#IES"

O$ITURIES"

%L& ' OR(ER)"

*MES &OO(S"

%CHRLIE &ILSO!+S &R)

$y ,he -,ar, of //0 %La1 ' Or2er) 1a- 1ell in,o i,- fir-, -ea-on0 an2 i,- -,ri2e.

Cop -ho1- ha3e a re4or2 of pulling goo2 a4,or- in,o ,heir gra3i,a,ional fiel2. I

on4e go, a 5ol, of re4ogni,ion0 an2 of 5oy0 1hen0 hopping 4hannel- an2 pau-ing for

a 2o-e of %6o5a70) from /890 I -a1 *ame- &oo2-:green in year-0 bu, alrea2y

har2;graine2 1i,h in4ipien, ,hrea,. -imilar promi-e lur7e2 in %The #iolen4e ofSummer0) an epi-o2e of %La1 ' Or2er) ,ha, aire2 on February


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#ie1er- ha2 a fe1 -e4on2-0 a, be-,0 ,o -i=e him up. If a-7e20 ,hey 1oul2 ha3e

,agge2 him a- one of na,ure+- pun4hing bag-:,he por4ine ,ype 1ho ge,- him-elf

bullie20 e3ery re4e--0 in a >uie, noo7 of ,he playgroun2 an2 no longer bo,her- ,o

4omplain.

n2 ,hen he e?plo2e2. Thi- li,,le pig 1en, ape. He -,are2 a4ro-- a, Ryan an2 hi-

finger ,appe2 ,he ,able. %&e 7no1 1ha, you 2i20 O.6.@ You hear me0 Ryan@) he

-ai2. He ro-e ,o hi- fee,0 an2 hi- 3oi4e 4limbe20 ,oo0 by an o4,a3e. He poin,e2 a,

hi- o1n fa4e0 an2 roare20 %Loo7 a, meA) The -4ene playe2 ou,0 ,he la1 fell in,o

2i-or2er0 gun- 1ere 2ra1n0 ,he plo, hare2 on0 bu, ,he in-,ru4,ion ha2 been

unambiguou-ly i--ue20 an2 from ,ha, momen,0 un,il Sun2ay0 February B0 B90 1e

obeye2. Philip Seymour Hoffman ,ol2 u- ,o loo70 an2 1e 2i2.

&ha, ha3e 1e been robbe2 of0 by hi- 2ea,h@ !o, -o mu4h a mo3ie -,ar0 I ,hin70 a-

-omebo2y 1ho ,oo7 our 2rama,i4 ,a?onomy:all ,ho-e la=y0 u-eful ,erm- by

1hi4h 1e li7e ,o 4la--ify an2 pa,roni=e our performer-0 e3en ,he be-, one-:an2

,hre1 i, a1ay. Lea2ing man0 4hara4,er a4,or0 -uppor,ing playerD really0 1ho gi3e- a

2amn@ Ei,her you hol2 an au2ien4e0 -o ,igh, ,ha, i, feel- la-he2 ,o ,he -ea,-0 or you

2on+,. Tha, i- 1hy ,he 2i-,in4,ion be,1een $e-, 4,or an2 $e-, Suppor,ing 4,or0

a, ,he 4a2emy 1ar2-0 gro1- e3er more lu2i4rou-:e--en,ial0 of 4our-e0 ,o ,he

-moo,h -,ru4,ure of ,he nigh,0 bu, un,rue0 in ,he long run0 ,o ,he 1ay in 1hi4h 1e

fee2 on film0 or -,ore i, a1ay for la3i-h fu,ure 4on-ump,ion. I -ome,ime- 1a,4h

%Rear &in2o1) 5u-, for ,he 7i47 of -eeing Thelma Ri,,er an2 ,ha,+- in a mo3ie

,ha, alrea2y boa-,- ra4e 6elly an2 *immy S,e1ar,0 for hea3en+- -a7eG0 an20 1i,h

,he -ame hunger0 I of,en 1a,4h %Charlie &il-on+- &ar) B8G for ,he -4ene- 1i,h

Philip Seymour Hoffman.

He play- a C.I.. agen, name2 u-, 3ra7o,o-0 an2 you 4an feel ,ha, mi--ing %o)

hanging righ, off ,he en2 of hi- fir-, name. He ha- a -a2 mu-,a4he0 -mo7e2

-pe4,a4le-0 an2 a gu, flopping prou2ly o3er hi- bel,. There i- a long -e>uen4e0 in,he offi4e of our lounging hero0 Repre-en,a,i3e Charlie &il-on Tom Han7-G0 ,ha,

-hear- 4lo-e ,o a Fey2eau far4e" i, 4ome- 4omple,e 1i,h phone 4all-0 bugging-0

my 2am- popping in an2 ou, of one 2oor0 an2 Hoffman mu-4ling in an2 ou, of

ano,her. You 4an -en-e ,he 2ire4,or0 Mi7e !i4hol-0 1ho 7no1- a ,hing or ,1o

abou, en,ran4e- an2 e?i,-0 reli-hing e3ery minu,e an2 1i-hing ,ha, ,hi- -,uff 4oul2


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ra,,le on fore3er. !o le-- 2ele4,able i- ,he on-laugh, ,ha, u-, unlea-he- in ,he fa4e

of hi- bo--0 a, Langley0 remin2ing him ,ha, he0 a ree7;meri4an0 ha- %-pen, ,he

pa-, ,hree year- learningFinnish.) $y 1ay of a 4o2a0 he ,a7e- a 1ren4h an2

-ma-he- ,he offi4e 1in2o1:,he earlier -ma-hing of 1hi4h0 in4i2en,ally0 he ha2

been -ummone2 ,o apologi=e for. Then 4ome- ,he 4o2a ,o ,he 4o2aD a- u-,

mar4he- a1ay in ,he highe-, po--ible 2u2geon0 he pau-e- briefly a, ,he 2e-7 of a

female a--i-,an, ,o grun,0 un2er hi- brea,h0 %Ho1 1a- I@) Silen,ly0 -he -ho1- himD

,humb-;up.

FROM THE ISSUE

$UY S PRI!T

E;MIL THIS

!o10 you 4an rea2 ,ha, momen, a- a mere 4urli4ue0 a, ,he -,ory+- e2ge" -he mean-

,ha, ,he bo-- ha2 i, 4oming. $u, !i4hol- 1oul2 -4ar4ely ha3e in4lu2e2 ,he line if

he 2i2n+, ,hin7 ,ha, i, re-pon2e2 ,o an urge in hi- au2ien4e. u-,+- rhe,ori4 ha-

brough, u- half1ay ,o our fee,0 an2 1e0 ,oo0 li7e Si-7el an2 Eber,0 1oul2 li7e ,o

-ignal our appre4ia,ion. Thi- in3ol3e- no,hing -o 3ulgar a- Hoffman+- brea7ing ,he

four,h 1all0 a- ,hough i, 1ere ma2e of gla--0 an2 plea2ing for our applau-e.

Ra,her0 li7e many of hi- peer-0 no, lea-, $ran2o0 he 2emon-,ra,e2 ,ha, life i,-elf0

1hen li3e2 ,o ,he hil,0 a4>uire2 a flouri-h of ,he ,hea,ri4al. gain0 our 2aily

2i-,in4,ion0 be,1een ,he -in4ere an2 ,he in-in4ere0 1ill no, -uffi4e. u-, 1a-

ab-olu,ely genuine a- he lai2 in,o ,he C.I.. 4hief0 bu, he 1a- al-o >ui,e a1are of
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,he performan4e ,ha, he 1a- pu,,ing on0 no, 5u-, for ,he benefi, of hi- fello1;

employee- bu, for ,he -ma47 of hi- o1n -a,i-fa4,ion.

ll of u-0 a, -ome poin,0 play ,o ,he gallery of our-el3e-. Tha, i- 1hy 1e -pea7 of

%ma7ing a -4ene0) ,he phra-e ,elling of bo,h unfeigne2 ou,rage an2 4al4ula,e24on4ei,. T. S. Elio,0 a, hi- mo-, pro3o7ing0 -ugge-,e2 ,ha, O,hello 1a- 2oing

-ome,hing in ,hi- 3ein in hi- ma5e-,i4 final -pee4h:%4heering him-elf up0) in

Elio,+- -,ar,ling 1or2-. &e are mean, ,o imagine ,he Moor0 in mi2;ora,ion0 eying

an in3i-ible mirror0 a- ,hough ,o 4he47 hi- noble frame0 5u-, a- Tol-,oy0 in ,he ,hir2

4hap,er of %&ar an2 Pea4e0) a-7- u- ,o pi4,ure Prin4e-- Hlne0 %glan4ing no1 a,

her beau,iful roun2 arm0 al,ere2 in -hape by i,- pre--ure on ,he ,able0) in ,he mi2-,

of a gli,,ering re4ep,ion. Hoffman 1a- no prin4e0 an2 he 7ne1 i,0 bu, he 1a- 1i-e

enough ,o 7no1 ,ha, 3ani,y burro1- 1ell belo1 ,he -7in.

Hen4e ,he fir-, 4lo-eup of him in %The Ma-,er) BBG0 a- Lan4a-,er (o220 ,he

lor2 of a 4ul,0 1ho -i,- maroone2 in ligh, in an o,her1i-e 2ar7 room0 1earing re20

li7e a 4ar2inal. He i- mee,ing a bum name2 Fre22ie0 an e?;-ailor an2 po,en,ial

a4oly,e0 bu,0 ,o 5u2ge by ,he po-e ,ha, (o22 hol2-0 1i,h hi- fa4e half;hi22en by

one han20 you 1oul2 ,hin7 he 1a- 1ai,ing for Ro2in. Hoffman ha2 ,he mo-,

e?pre--i3e han2- I ha3e e3er -een0 an2 he 2eploye2 ,hem ,o full a23an,age0

1he,her 1ri-,ily 4on2u4,ing hi- o1n bon mo,-0 in %Capo,e) B


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regre,- an2 grie3an4e- 1ere rea2y ,o o3erflo1. Some film-0 I ,hin70 affor2e2 him

,oo mu4h lee1ay in ,ha, re-pe4,. Hi- fan,a-i-, an2 ob-4ene 4aller0 in %Happine--)

//JG0 To22 Solon2=+- para2e of -uburban repre--i3e-0 1a- horribly 4on3in4ing0

an2 ,oa2li7e in hi- 4lammine--0 bu, he bore2 e3en hi- ,herapi-,0 an2 i, may no, be a

film ,ha, many Hoffmani,e-0 a-i2e from ,he mo-, 2e3ou,0 1oul2 re3i-i, in a hurry.

In %*a47 oe- $oa,ing) BG0 ,he one fea,ure he 2ire4,e20 he 1a- in4on-olable0

an2 Charlie 6aufman+- %Syne42o4he0 !e1 Yor7) BJG0 li7e1i-e0 foun2

Hoffman rolling ,hrough ,he a4,ion in a pri3a,e fog of 2e-ola,ion0 beyon2 ,he rea4h

of o,her 4hara4,er-0 e3en ,hough hi- par,:a- a ,hea,re 2ire4,or 1ho en2le--ly re;

4rea,e- hi- o1n e?i-,en4e on a gigan,i4 -e,:-eeme2 li7e ,he perfe4, fi,.

$e,,er by far 1ere ,he in-,an4e- in 1hi4h ,ho-e -oli,ary urge- 1ere for4e2 ,o figh,

1i,h hi- ,a-,e for ,he gregariou-:1hen0 in -hor,0 he barrelle2 in an2 boun4e2 offo,her people. Thi- -ingular player0 1ho-e 2rama,i4 eminen4e0 li7e ,ha, of Charle-

Laugh,on0 1a- a- unmi-,a7able a- hi- phy-i4al 4on,our-0 1a- happy ,o be pi,4he2

in,o a -,an2off0 or in,o a bu-y en-emble. Hen4e hi- -ublime poli,i4al hea2;,o;hea20

in %The I2e- of Mar4h0) 1i,h Paul iama,,i:,1o 2aun,le-- a4,or- playing ,1o

4on-4ien4e;free 4ampaign manager-0 nei,her gi3ing half an in4h of groun2. The

more a2ep, an2 1ell arme2 hi- 4o;-,ar0 ,he more Hoffman brough, ,o ,he fray0

1he,her 1i,h Laura Linney0 1ho playe2 hi- -i-,er in %The Sa3age-) B8G0 or0 ,he

-ame year0 1i,h Mari-a Tomei0 in %$efore ,he (e3il 6no1- You+re (ea2.) Thi-

1a- a 1on2erfully ,au, a44oun,0 from ,he 3e,eran Si2ney Lume,0 of ,1o bro,her-:

Hoffman an2 E,han Ha17e:1ho 7no47 off ,heir paren,-+ 5e1elry -,ore. You 4an

gue-- ho1 1ell ,ha, goe-. The a,mo-phere of ba2 2eb,- an2 impe2e2 2ream- gi3e-

Hoffman plen,y ,o brea,he0 al,hough i,+- unbearable0 no10 ,o -ee him -pra1le2 in a

ha=e of heroin0 in hi- 2ealer+- apar,men,0 lamen,ing0 %I+m no, ,he -um of my par,-.

ll of my par,- 2on+, a22 up ,o one):he pau-e-0 -ee7ing ,he righ, phra-e:%one

me.) !o le-- 1i-,ful0 bu, more hear,ening0 i- ,he ne?, -4ene0 1hen Tomei0 a- hi-

fai,hle--0 u-ele--0 bu, affe4,iona,e 1ife0 4ha,- 1i,h him in be2. %I 2on+, 7no1 1hy

you 1an, ,o 7eep me0) -he ,ell- him0 bu, Hoffman -imply open- 1i2e hi- han2-0 a-

if ,o -ay0 Tha,+- lo3e.

From early on0 ,hi- 1a- 1ha, 1e ,rea-ure2 in HoffmanD hi- 1ill ,o brea7 ,he habi,

of -oli,u2e:all ,he more -o be4au-e 1e reali=e ho1 4ru-hing an a22i4,ion i, 4an

be. There 1a- S4o,,y0 ,he boom opera,or he playe2 in %$oogie !igh,-) //8G0 a


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-hy -piri, in ,he fie-,a of porno fli47-0 1ho ma2e a 4lum-y pa-- a, Mar7 &ahlberg

in fron, of a gleaming Cor3e,,e0 an2 ,hen0 rebuffe20 -a, in ,he fron, -ea, an2 1ep,.

- for Le-,er $ang-0 ,he ro47 5ournali-, in %lmo-, Famou-) BG0 no,hing in

Hoffman+- r-um 1a- more 1ren4hing ,han ,he 4areful0 lo1;,one2 a23i4e ,ha,

$ang- 2i-pen-e2 o3er ,he phone0 one e3ening0 ,o a roo7ie in ,he -ame profe--ion0

-,eering him a1ay from brigh, ligh,-0 an2 from ,he lure of lo3eline--. %oo2;

loo7ing people0 ,hey go, no -pine" ,heir ar, ne3er la-,-. They ge, ,he girl-0 bu,

1e+re -mar,er0) he -ai20 a22ing0 %The only ,rue 4urren4y in ,hi- ban7rup, 1orl2 i-

1ha, you -hare 1i,h -omeone el-e 1hen you+re un4ool.)

Ho1 4oul2 ,ha, no, -pea7 ,o a million mo3iegoer-@ If ,hey embra4e2 Hoffman

1i,h ar2or0 i, 1a- in par, be4au-e he loo7e2 -o un4ool0 an2 -o unbeau,iful0 an2

be4au-e he -o ob3iou-ly haile2 from ,he -ame ,ribe a- ,hey 2i20 an2 be4au-e,here wasa 7in2 of beau,y0 af,er all0 in ,he flame of feeling ,ha, go, -,o7e2 in-i2e

,ha, -1ea,y hef, an2 pallor. The or2inary bo2y hou-e2 a furna4e. $e-i2e-0 1ho+2

be a roman,i4 lea2 ,he-e 2ay-0 in Holly1oo2@ &hen 2i2 ,he in2u-,ry la-, 2eli3er a

fine roman4e for gorgeou- gro1nup-@ Yearn a- 1e may for Cary ran,0 an2 for

ran,;li7e oppor,uni,ie- for eorge Clooney0 1e 21ell in ,he age of Hoffman.

Thi- i- no, ,o 2eny ,ha,0 1hen re>uire20 an2 -horn of hi- formle-- yello1ing bear20

,he guy 4oul2 ,i2y up ni4ely. In2ee20 ,here 1a- an in-,an, humor ,o be ha2 from

pu,,ing him in 2emure an2 e3en preppy gear. Remember ,he agoni=e2 -mile of

$ran2,0 ,he per-onal a--i-,an, in %The $ig Lebo1-7i) //JG0 1ho0 in imma4ula,e

5a47e, an2 ,ie0 1a- oblige2 ,o -ho1 ,he (u2e:2re--e20 a- u-ual0 a- if for a -a47

ra4e:aroun2 ,he Lebo1-7i man-ion0 bur-,ing 1i,h pri2e a- he 4ome- ,o a

pho,ograph of !an4y Reagan %Fir-, La2y of ,he nation)G. See ho1 helple--ly he

-,an2- ,here0 arm- flapping a, hi- -i2e-0 half bu,ler0 half penguin0 1hen 4onfron,e2

1i,h (u2ei-m in full -pa,e. Then0 ,here 1a- %Pa,4h 2am-):

&hoaA %Pa,4h 2am-0) ,he Robin &illiam- fia-4o from //J0 abou, ,he me2i41ho u-e- 4lo1ni-h 4aper- ,o help ,he -i47 an2 ,he 2ying@ The film ,ha, 1a-

-ligh,ly le-- en,er,aining ,han bir2 flu@ &ell0 ye-D ,here i- Hoffman0 pre-en, an2

4orre4, a- a 1oul2;be 2o4,or0 hi- hea2 -,u47 in hi- boo7-. n2 ye,0 e3en here0 he

fin2- -ome,hing ,o 1or7 1i,h:,urning from hi- 2e-70 a2mi,,ing freely ,ha, he+- a

pri470 bu, a-7ing Pa,4h 1he,her ,erminally ill pa,ien,- 1oul2 prefer %a pri47 on


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,heir -i2e0 or -ome 7in2ergar,en ,ea4her 1ho+- going ,o 7i-- ,heir a--.) I,+- an

e?4ellen, >ue-,ion. Tra47 ba47 ,hrough ,he Hoffman Ku3re0 an2 you 2i-4o3er

no,hing bu, ,he ,ra4e- of a pro:an a4,or 1ho forba2e him-elf ,o loo7 2o1n upon a

pro5e4,0 or0 if he -e4re,ly 2i20 ,o -hare ,ha, 4on2e-4en-ion 1i,h ,he 3ie1er.

Slumming 1a- no, an op,ion. En5oy0 in-,ea20 ,he lu-,ine-- 1i,h 1hi4h he 5oine2 in

,orna2o;4ha-ing a- if i, 1ere a barn 2an4e0 in %T1i-,er) //G0 or ,he -,rangely

baffle2 loo7 in Tom Crui-e+- eye-0 2uring %Mi--ionD Impo--ible III) BG0 a- he

,ormen,- ,he 3illain:Hoffman:by hanging him up-i2e 2o1n ou, of an airplane.

&e 4a,4h Hoffman+- e?pre--ion0 1i,h ,he 1in2 ho1ling by0 an2 ,he ma2ne-- ,ha,

grip- i, i- no, merely in3in4ible bu,0 e3en a, ,hi- al,i,u2e0 amu-e2. Haule2 ba47 up0

he refu-e- ,o 2i3ulge informa,ion0 an2 Crui-e -eem- hone-,ly perple?e2 a- ,o 1hy

he:4hi-elle20 perpe,ually young0 boun2le--ly popular0 an2 aglo1 1i,h 1orl2;

re-4uing 3ir,ue:-houl2 be ma7ing no hea21ay 1i,h ,hi- -4hlub. I, i- no,0 in ,ru,h0

a ma,,er of hero 3er-u- ba22ie" i, i- a mapping of one -,ar a- i, near- ,he ,ra5e4,ory

of ano,her an2 -,ar,- ,o 1a3er.

ll of 1hi4h pro3e- ,ha, genre 1a- no, -ome,hing ,o frigh,en Hoffman. Early on0

he -a1 ,he 4hallenge ,ha, i- lai2 2o1n ,o e3ery 2arling of ,he ar, hou-eD a-7 no,

1ha, ,he main-,ream 4an 2o for you bu, 1ha, you 4an bring ,o ,he main-,ream0 an2

1ha, pre4iou- le--on- migh, be ,ra1le2 along ,he 1ay. He 1a- ,1en,y;four 1hen

he 1a- 4a-, a- a -mug -4hoolboy in %S4en, of a &oman) //BG:again0 in preppy

mo2e0 1i,h hi- hair nea,ly bru-he2 a- if by a fu--y mo,her. He -ni,4he- on ,he

-4hool pran7-,er-0 ,hu- ,riggering ,he blin2 rage of l Pa4ino0 1ho ,hen -,an2- up

for ,he impor,an4e of no, being a ra,. If Hoffman ,oo7 ,he 4han4e ,o learn from ,he

ol2er a4,or0 an2 ,o ob-er3e ho1 harangue- 4oul2 be 4alibra,e2 for ,he 4amera0 you

4oul2 har2ly blame him. Min2 you0 hi- o1n perora,ion-0 in 2ue 4our-e0 1oul2 loo7

rougher an2 more re2;fa4e2 ,han any Pa4ino ran,. I- i, ,he fa,e of e3ery genera,ion

of performer0 ho1e3er 4omman2ing0 ,o -eem ,ou4he2 1i,h ar,ifi4e 1hen 4ompare2

1i,h 1ha, 4ome- ne?,@ n2 1ill Hoffman0 -ome2ay0 -eem mannere2 in hi- ,urn@

I,+- har2 ,o ,hin7 -o0 -u4h 1ere ,he pain- ,ha, he ,oo7 ,o 4amouflage ,he fa4, ,ha,

hi- bag of ,ri47- 4on,aine2 any ,ri47- a, all. &e may no,i4e u-,0 in %Charlie

&il-on+- &ar0) po7ing hi- gla--e- on,o ,he bri2ge of hi- no-e0 hi,4hing up hi-

pan,-0 or plan,ing him-elf four->uare0 han2- on hip-0 in fron, of ,he bo--+- 2e-7"

bu, 1e 2on+, ,hin7 of ,he-e 2e,ail- a- being buil, up an2 rehear-e2 by Hoffman0


8/9

an2 he 2oe-n+, a23er,i-e ,hem. To u-0 ,hey -eem li7e ,ypi4al u-,:,he ba-i4

ingre2ien,- of 1ho he i-. $y 4on,ra-,0 I happen ,o ,hin7 ,ha, %Capo,e) wasmore of

a -ho14a-e. You 4an har2ly blame Hoffman0 an2 you 4an -ee 1hy he 1on an2

2e-er3e2 hi- O-4ar for ,he par,0 bu, ,he mo3ie i,-elf 1a- ,oo rea2ily en4ourage2 ,o

-,an2 ba47 from him in a1e. &hen Harper Lee Ca,herine 6eenerG -4orn- Capo,e0

on a ,rain0 for paying ,he por,er ,o prai-e hi- boo7-0 her 4en-ure 5u-, -li2e- off him0

an2 ,he 4ampne-- of hi- 4a47le0 a, being foun2 ou,0 ,ell- u- ,o 4arry on lo3ing ,he

naugh,y imp. Hoffman+- a--embly of Trumanhoo2 1a- 2a==ling0 from ,he bo1 ,ie

,o ,he 2ain,y gai, an2 ,he Looney Tune- 4on,ral,o0 bu, ,he 2a==le 1a- unrelie3e2

an2 unrela?ing0 li7e ,he glare of an ar4 lamp0 an20 in ,he en20 -ome of u-0 a, ,he

ri-7 of -oun2ing ungra,eful0 foun2 i,0 a- Capo,e 1oul2 -ay0 2e ,rop. !o0 for

preferen4e:for Hoffman a, hi- heigh,:I 1oul2 go for Fre22ie.

Fre22ie Mile- i- a frien2 of (i47ie reenleaf *u2e La1G0 in %The Talen,e2 Mr.

Ripley) ///G. Fre22ie i- ,rouble0 an20 more ,o ,he poin,0 he 4an -niff ,rouble

1hen i, emana,e- from o,her fol7. E3eryone 1ho a2mire- ,he film remember- hi-

arri3al:one of ,he grea, arri3al-0 in2ee20 in ,he hi-,ory of 4inema0 a- he 5ump-

from an open;,op lfa Romeo in an I,alian pia==a0 bop- ,o1ar2 u-0 7i--e- (i47ie0

pour- a -lug of 1ine0 an2 ,hro1- i, 2o1n hi- gulle, in a -ingle 2raugh,. $u, ,ry a

more lega,o -4ene0 on (i47ie+- ya4h,0 1hen La1 2u47- 2o1n0 belo12e47-0 ,o

ma7e 1a3e- 1i,h 1yne,h Pal,ro1. Fre22ie i- lef, in 4harge of ,he boa,. On4e

more0 Hoffman+- ,e4hni4al 2i-play0 if you loo7 4arefully0 i- off ,he -4ale0 1i,h

Fre22ie nur-ing hi- 4o47,ail0 nibbling ,he oli3e on i,- -,i470 an2 4a-ually laying a

-of, han2 on ,he ,iller0 a- if any har-her effor, 1oul2 be an in-ul, ,o hi- lou4hene--.

$y no10 ho1e3er0 he i- -o in3e-,e2 in ,he 4hara4,er0 an2 1e are -o lo-, in hi-

,hrall0 ,ha, 1e dontloo7 4arefully. &e 5u-, ba,he in ,he ea-e of i,0 an2 1e -ni47er

along 1i,h him a- he 5eer- a, Tom Ripley Ma,, (amonG0 up in ,he bo10 1ho i-

-pying on ,he lo3ema7er- 2o1n in ,he hol2. %Tommy0 ho1+- ,he peeping@)

Fre22ie 4rie-0 1i,h glee un4onfine2. He repea,- ,he line0 1i,h le-- pun4h0 an2 ,hen0

in a -pee2y pa,,er0 a22-0 %Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy.) I 7no1 of no

more gra4eful 2iminuen2o0 a, lea-, in ,he 4omi4 realm. 6ing Lear -ay- %!e3er)

fi3e ,ime-0 before he 2ie-.G I, i- ,he -oun2 of a man 1ho i- en,irely a, home in ,he

1orl20 4hu47ling a, ano,her man 1ho i- -,ill e?ploring i,0 an2 -,ill ama=e2 a, ,he

2eli4iou-ne-- of i,- -in-.


9/9

The film 1a- 2ire4,e2 by n,hony Minghella0 -omebo2y el-e 1ho-e lo-- 1e 4oul2

no, a, fir-, belie3e an2 4oul2 ill affor2. Minghella -a1 ,he frui,fulne-- of allo1ing

4hara4,er-0 an2 ,he a4,or- 1ho embo2ie2 ,hem0 ,o ,a7e ,urn- in ,he -po,ligh,:,o

-,ru, an2 fre, ,heir ,ime upon ,he -,age0 an2 ,hen ma7e 1ay. &ho o1n- ,he mo3ie

i- ne3er >ui,e 2e4i2e20 an2 ,he one ,hing more full;bloo2e2 ,han Hoffman+-

-1agger0 in hi- fir-, appearan4e0 i- ,he lan 1i,h 1hi4h he yiel2- ,o ,he bli--ful air

of reper,ory:a ,ra3elling ,roupe0 pu,,ing on a -ho1. There i- a mo2e-,y in ,ha,

approa4hD an une?pe4,e2 ,rai,0 in -u4h a for4e of na,ure a- Philip Seymour

Hoffman0 an2 in -o immo2e-, a ,ra2e a- 4inema. You -,are a, ,he bul7 an2 bla=e of

him0 an2 you ,hin70Thatsgone@ Tho-e o,her li3e- ,ha, he ha2 ye, ,o 4rea,e an2

fle-h ou,0 in all ,heir in,en-i,y:1hen 2o 1e ge, ,o -ee ,ho-e@ !e3er0 ne3er0 ne3er0

ne3er0 ne3er. *u-, en5oy 1ha, 1e ha2 of him0 I gue--. - ,he 7i2 -ai20 %Loo7 a,

me.)

Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman

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Transcript of Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman