STILL ON PATROL

Paul Newman, 1923-2008

It was with great sadness that I saw the news Paul Newman had died over the weekend.  For anyone who is not only a movie fan, but who cherishes those few public figures who are selfless and use their position to do good works, Mr. Newman's death is a great loss.

As an actor, Mr. Newman was virtually without peer throughout his long career.  From his young-stud days in such movies as Hud, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, and the classic Cool Hand Luke, to the hits of my teens Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, to his legal classics such as Absence of Malice and The Verdict, to using his advancing age to full advantage in The Color of Money, Road to Perdition, and a virtuoso performance in HBO's Empire Falls, Paul Newman never failed to deliver characters that could be at one point hard-bitten and moments later melt every woman's heart with his crooked grin and twinkling, clear blue eyes.

Unlike far too many in Hollywood and the movie industry, Mr. Newman avoided the spotlight of calling public attention to himself via scandal.  Married to Joanne Woodward in 1958, their marriage survived until his death.  When once asked whether he had ever been tempted to stray, Mr. Newman answered, "Why would I want hamburger when I've got steak at home?"  Mr. Newman also expressed his desire to avoid Hollywood "rubbish" and made his home, with his family, on a farm in Westport, CT.

Mr. Newman was never shy about sharing the successes he enjoyed.  It has recently been revealed that his entire share in the "Newman's Own" company, which sells salad dressings, popcorn, sauces, spaghetti sauce and similar products, has gradually since 2005 been entirely transferred to charity ownership.  The value of this contribution?  $120 million.  Over the existence of the "Newman's Own" company, it had already given over $250 million to charitable causes - 100% of its profits.  Mr. Newman also established the "Scott Newman Foundation" that produces anti-drug films for teens, after his son's death from an alcohol and valium overdose.  He has established dozens of "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps in the U.S., Europe, and Africa for ill and impoverished children.

Paul Newman will be missed, to be certain, by an industry that has seen far too few icons like him.  But he has left a rare mark on our society not only as a nonpareil artist of the silver screen, but as someone to which we could all aspire in the good works he has done for real people, not just the glitterati of Hollywood.  Paul Newman always gave the rest of us so much more than we could ever repay with the price of a movie ticket.  Rest in peace, Mr. Newman, you have done the good work and fought the good fight.  Rest in peace that you left the world a better place for your having been here.

"John Adams" Is Worthy Viewing

It is rare these days to be able to say something on television exceeded my expectations, unless my expectations for a particular program run to how trashy or ridiculous it will probably be.  The HBO miniseries, “John Adams,” for which I had unreasonably high expectations going in, far exceeded them to the point that I find myself at a loss for words with sufficient hyperbole to describe just how good it is.

Based on the nonpareil biography penned by David McCullough, “John Adams” picks up the life of our second President in 1770 just as the infamous Boston Massacre is taking place.  Adams comes upon the immediate aftermath of the shooting of five Bostonians by British soldiers to find bodies bleeding in the snow.  Yet, through his devotion to the rule of law and principles of justice, Adams not only represented the British soldiers and their commander against murder charges, but won their acquittal. 

The story follows Adams through the end of his life, including his service in the Continental Congress,  his Presidency, his ambassadorship to France, and his times as elder statesman.  McCullough and the film-makers have done a magnificent job also telling the story of Adams’ relationship with his wife, Abigail, who was every bit his equal, his match and his soul mate.  There is no question that his great accomplishments were in large part hers, too, as they shared their every thought and advise as this country was being birthed.

With this country’s (and mine) long fascination with the War Between the States, the real people and stories of the American Revolution and the founding of this country often are lost in fairy-tale versions of the events.  We glory in the brilliance of George Washington and his military triumphs at Trenton and Yorktown, and the survival of Valley Forge, but conveniently forget the shortages, privations and personal sacrifices of so many others, and the many more losing battles Washington fought against the British.

One of the strong suits of “John Adams” comes in the intimate portrayal of the difficulty our Founding Fathers lived through in founding this country.  They had no template to follow and no Cable TV pundits to tell them how to do things.  They were creating something that had never been done in the history of mankind.  It was a great leap of faith that could either have been a leap into oblivion, or the most successful experiment with democracy that the United States has come to be.

We learn that independence from Britain was a scary prospect.  Would the U.S. be able to stand on its own, or was it merely changing ownership to another European power?  Many urged caution and appeasement of the English crown even while Americans were fighting and dying at such storied places as Concord and Bunker Hill.  These were human beings, not super-humans, beset by anxieties, clashing personalities, fears, and misunderstandings.

Adams is brilliantly portrayed by Paul Giamatti, with Abigail played by Oscar-nominee Laura Linney.  David Morse is startlingly good as Washington, and Tom Wilkinson (Arthur” in the movie “Michael Clayton”) is turning in another tour-de-force performance as Benjamin Franklin.  The rest of the cast does not let these leads down in the least bit.  The sets are outstanding and spot-on for the real cities.  The costume designers have captured a gritty realism and avoided turning “John Adams” into another over-costumed set-piece.  The music is outstanding and compelling.  In other words, every aspect of this production is top-notch.

I have often urged in my newspaper column that we do a better job of learning our history and taking it to heart.  “John Adams” offers a painless and entertaining opportunity to indulge in learning about the American Revolution and the founding of this country in an accurate light, in other words, with all the glory and honor, and the mud and warts and the humanity of the unsurpassed people of 18^th-century America from which we sprang. 

If you missed this past Sunday’s premiere with the first two episodes, find a way to see them.  If you don’t have HBO, find a friend who does.  Two episodes ran back-to-back this past Sunday, and five more will run on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. EDT to the conclusion.  This miniseries is well worth the effort.  As an American you will feel much better about yourself if you do.

Heath Ledger Dead at 28

Many today are mourning the untimely death of actor Heath Ledger at the too-young age of 28.  The Aussie actor was found dead in his New York City apartment yesterday afternoon.  The presence of some prescription medications has police and the media speculating about a possible accidental overdose, but no cause of death will be known until an autopsy is completed.

Ledger, on the left in this scene from The Patriot with Mel Gibson, found perhaps his greatest fame as Ennis Del Mar in the controversial Brokeback Mountain.  He had just completed filming the role of the Joker in the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight. 

I was and will remain a fan of his work.  He combined rugged good looks with a dramatic presence that always had an undertone of a wry sense of humor.  His character in The Patriot, Gabriel, the eldest son, in my opinion was the soul of that iconic movie, one in my DVD collection that gets viewed many, many times over.  Also on my repeat-viewing list is A Knight's Tale, a whimsical look at a squire's rise through the medieval tournament jousting circuit scored with good old rock-'n-roll.

It is so sad and such a waste when talented people die young as has Ledger, regardless of the eventual cause of death.  Send out prayers for his family, especially his two-year old daughter with actress Michelle Williams. Such a waste.

"Amazing Grace" - The Movie

The DVD of the movie "Amazing Grace" was released this week.  If you haven't seen it, it would be a good rental, or buy it for your collection.  Even if you did see it in theaters, it is worth another look.  There are several features included with the DVD that would make it a useful study for a church group or Bible study.

"Amazing Grace" is primarily the story of William Wilberforce, the British Member of Parliament who almost singlehandedly spear-headed the movement to eliminate slavery in the British Empire.  In this respect, it is a story of courage to stand up to heavy opposition for one's personal beliefs.

The title "Amazing Grace" comes, however, from the story of Fr. John Newton, which is also integral to the movie.  Newton was a slave ship captain who was quite successful in the transport of African slaves to other shores, in squalid, inhumane conditions.  On one trip, his ship was caught in a severe storm.   Newton was convinced the ship would sink and he would die.  In his dire straits, he cried out to God for help.  The ship and Newton survived, prompting Newton to start reading the Bible and studying Christianity.  He eventually became an Anglican priest and served as a Rector in the Church of England.  Newton also became a prolific hymn writer, completing enough to fill 2 or 3 hymnals.  His story of grace and redemption was set down in the lyrics of "Amazing Grace."  Newton's powerful Christian spirit and personal witness about the evils of the slave trade were a significant part of the inspiration for Wilberforce to continue his struggle to eliminate slavery.

Newton's original lyrics to "Amazing Grace" are a powerful witness to the saving grace offered to us by God.  I listened to the music CD that came with the DVD on my way to court this morning and was once again moved to tears by this tune.  If anyone questions the reality of the saving grace of God, and the power of the historic Faith handed down from the Saints which once formed the basis of the Anglican Communion and the spread of Christianity throughout the world, then one need only reflect on the story of John Newton to see its existence and know its unique strength which is there for any of us if we will only ask. 

Amazing Grace (How sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall profess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

"Bambi" Makes List of Top 25 Horror Movies

Time Magazine has published a list of the top 25 horror movies of all time.  Check out the entire list at www.time.com .  It's a lot of fun - a trip down memory lane to such classic screamers as Alien, Halloween, Carrie, Jaws, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho and many other greats. 

Similar to those dreaded multiple-choice, "what doesn't belong on this list?" achievement test questions is the appearance of "Bambi", first released in 1942 but a perpetual children's movie staple for over 60 years since then.  Somehow I am struggling to see those cute animated forest animals in the same light as the creature from Alien or Bruce the shark from Jaws . 

But, the author of the list says:  Amazing that the first movies parents took their tots to in the 30s and 40s were the early Disney features. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Dumbo all exploited childhood traumas. Parents disappear or die; stepmothers plot the murder of their charges; a boy skips school and turns into a donkey. Kids were so frightened by these films that they wet themselves in terror. Bambi, directed by David Hand, has a primal shock that still haunts oldsters who saw it 40, 50, 65 years ago.

Yes, it was bad and scary when hunters entered the forest and Bambi's mother was killed.  It was scary when a forest fire raged.  But in the end Bambi was cared for by his father and there was a redemptive theme to the movie.  I don't remember being so frightened by any of these Disney classics that I wet myself.  I didn't toss my popcorn in the air like I did when the head came out of the bottom of the abandoned fishing boat in Jaws.  If anything, Bambi has been the curse of deer hunters for 60 years, nearly all of whom have had to answer the question more than once, "how can you shoot Bambi?"

I hope this inclusion of Bambi on the Top 25 Horror movies list was meant as nothing more than a cool joke by the author.  If so, it's a good one, juxtaposing the picture of Bambi and the skunk "Flower" with photos of Carrie walking from the burning gym, Jason from Halloween, or the Chainsaw killer.  "Bambi" certainly had its scary moments and it was a fun reminder to see it on this list.

On the other hand, if the author really means his statement that the classic Disney movies of the 1940's and 50's "exploited childhood traumas" as a serious critique of this body of work, give me a break.  One of the great flaws in our modern society is the extent to which we seek to insulate children from awareness of potential childhood traumas.  Where once a child falling on the playground and breaking his/her arm was seen as "one of those things" it is now a source for litigation and massive expenditures to "injury-proof" playgrounds to the point where all the kids can do is sit and stare at one another.  The same could be said if we do not allow children to see movies such as "Bambi" because we now somehow consider it "exploitation."

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that we shouldn't protect our children from harm.  It is our duty as parents to do so.  It's just that we tend to do so now to such extremes that we are forcing children to get older in a vacuum as opposed to truly "growing up" as developing members of society with a subjective awareness of what surrounds them.  The human race is not a risk-free proposition, and children should know that inherently as they grow, instead of being harshly blind-sided by that fact when they reach adulthood.  These lessons are far better learned when parents can deal with them and control the consequences instead of later when that is not the case.