Philip Seymour Hoffman. Born July 23rd, 1967. And died February 2, 2014.
I liked Philip Seymour Hoffman ever since I saw him in what he called his true "break out role", Scent of a Woman. It was a small, character role, but man, he was really good. He stood out among many as a great future talent. And that's exactly what he became.
His characters were diverse, full of emotion and honest. His career was broad, playing lovable comedic sidekicks (Along Came Polly) to one of the best aggressive and menacing bad guys in recent films (Mission: Impossible 3) to the gentle and observant (Capote). Of course those aren't the only movies to really use as examples of his talent, just his diversity. In 2005, he won the Academy Award for his title role in Capote. And, it was very well deserved.
He was known, respected and honored by many. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. And, unfortunately, his Hollywood death by drug overdose is not a shock to anyone. That is sad. Is this what we've come to expect from Hollywood, the talented artist and the passionate dreamer?
I've read a lot about Philip Seymour Hoffman's passing and there is a lot of opinions going around but there was one facebook post that summed up mostly what i'm hearing.
"...Stop blaming the dreamer for wanting to dream. For all we know, their careers [referring to others who also died in excess] and loves may have ended much sooner if they hadn't have found the crutches that eventually crippled them. The peace they felt in their highest moments is exactly what I wish them..."
The idea of this bothers me.
It bothers me that there is an overwhelming opinion that the addiction that killed him is ok because it was his crutch; just something to help him achieve his best performance and his dreams. I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. Why can't we believe that true dreams and talent are already within us? Are we so blind to the gifts we are given that we can't see them?
The article went on to say that his addiction is a disease that no one can understand and that it was not a selfish act, dying in such a way. Again, I'm sorry. But, I understand addiction. Actually, many people do. It is nothing but selfish. He chose escape over living with and facing his problems. And he chose a needle over giving his children a father. It sounds simplistic but it's not. It's a choice.
"The greatest burden we have to carry in life is self; the most difficult thing we have to manage is also self." -Hannah Whitall Smith
I respect and love Philip Seymour Hoffman's work. He always had a kind smile and was a good person . Of that, I have no doubt. He had success I'll never know, worked with some of Hollywood's most talented and accomplished more than many people could in his career. And, still, he was dissatisfied and empty. He was alone. I'm sad at his loss. And, for his children. Unlike the writer of the post above, I believe Philip Seymour Hoffman had a lot more work to accomplish. His talent was too large for anything less.
It's ok to be disappointed and mad at the decisions he made. It's also ok to be sympathetic to his struggles and his addiction.
We can mourn the loss of another great actor.
As I've been looking through the articles and pictures of him online, and there I saw him a little differently-- I noticed a compassionate soul with a little sadness behind those eyes. I wish he would have made a different choice. I wish he would have put down his needle and reached out again for help. I wish he was still here... and working... and happy.
Here are some of my favorite roles of his: Doubt, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, Mission: Impossible 3, Capote, Along Came Polly, Cold Mountain, 25th Hour, Almost Famous, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, and Scent of a Woman.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Hoffman.
Brice
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