RIP Burt Reynolds

[X-Hack]

The 1970s Southern action comedy that Reynolds personified was always my favorite genre as a kid -- the Burt Reynolds films were my favorite but I also loved films like Convoy, Every Which Way But Loose and, later on, Tank. They all had the roguish good ol boy hero sticking it to corrupt, overbearing and ultimately bumbling government and corporate authority while showing the potential of a post-racial South that felt real enough at the time. I actually came across this academic paper analyzing Burt Reynolds's career in that context a few year ago - definitely worth a read:

Burt Reynolds, Hollywood’s Southern Strategy « Post45

And as a 9-year-old, I loved Smokey and the Bandit II because I loved elephants and Mean Joe Greene.

 

[WriteThinking]

Quick aside, if i knew how to start a thread, I would start one on song lyrjcs with Paul Williams being the kick off point.

Click on whatever area/link you want to start the thread in (Journalism Topics, Sports & News, Everything Else, etc.), and look to the upper right. Click on where it says Post a New Thread...

 

[WriteThinking]

I think Clooney qualifies. He doesn't do the "winking at the camera" stuff as clearly as Reynolds did - but like Burt, he's an actor who really seems to enjoy his work.

I recently watched an AFI special awards ceremony on TV that honored Clooney, and really enjoyed it. Had no idea he was such a thoughtful, well-spoken and much-respected actor -- and not at all just for his acting.

And the moments between him and his dad, Nick Clooney, a former TV journalist, were really something -- moving and incredibly genuine. The whole thing was the viewer seeing what you thought was a truly real, and good, person, and not an actor. I was just short of blown away, like he was someone I'd love to have dinner with -- and not just for his looks, which always could happily engage me.

One of the memorable lines he made of point of saying: "If cameras are going to follow me everywhere, I'm going to damn well take them to the places where they need to go..." (pan shots of faraway places where drought and hunger are driving people, not the pursuit of Hollywood fame).

On wealth and goodwill: "People here have no idea how much they have. It needs to be shared..."

On his toddler twins: "They're about two feet tall, and every day, they make me feel...small."

Nick Clooney, toasting George: "I still have hope that, even at 84 years old, I can grow up to be my son."

It was a really nice show, with bits of interviews with George and clips from his movies interspersed with others from many of the causes he and his wife are involved with, or leading.

 

[qtlaw]

Good match, Clooney has that smirk as well. He sounds like a great guy (but when you get what $250M for tequila, a bit easier no?)

 

[lakefront]

I recently watched an AFI special awards ceremony on TV that honored Clooney, and really enjoyed it. Had no idea he was such a thoughtful, well-spoken and much-respected actor -- and not at all just for his acting.

And the moments between him and his dad, Nick Clooney, a former TV journalist, were really something -- moving and incredibly genuine. The whole thing was the viewer seeing what you thought was a truly real, and good, person, and not an actor. I was just short of blown away, like he was someone I'd love to have dinner with -- and not just for his looks, which always could happily engage me.

One of the memorable lines he made of point of saying: "If cameras are going to follow me everywhere, I'm going to damn well take them to the places where they need to go..." (pan shots of faraway places where drought and hunger are driving people, not the pursuit of Hollywood fame).

On wealth and goodwill: "People here have no idea how much they have. It needs to be shared..."

On his toddler twins: "They're about two feet tall, and every day, they make me feel...small."

Nick Clooney, toasting George: "I still have hope that, even at 84 years old, I can grow up to be my son."

It was a really nice show, with bits of interviews with George and clips from his movies interspersed with others from many of the causes he and his wife are involved with, or leading.

I saw the David Letterman show on Clooney. A shame to see him called an elitist, he has a ton of money but is a real regular, mid-american guy.

 

[DanOregon]

I did remember him on CNN talking about Darfur - probable the first time Wolf Blitzer mentioned Darfur (might have been the last too).
Clooney has been pretty thoughtful of his career. Seeing the ups and downs of his aunt. A dozen failed pilots and bit parts on sitcoms. Saw him at another movie tribute show to him where he mentioned that if ER was scheduled for Fridays and not Thursdays, he probably wouldn't be where he was getting an award. In a lot of ways he's just a "working actor" trapped in the body of a leading man. Still hangs out with the same crew he did when his pilots were getting shot down.

 

[mateen]

With the usual caveat that we can't really know these guys, Clooney does seem to have a sense of perspective on the world and his role in it - he seems a bit like Paul Newman in that regard. Apart from his work on larger causes, he gave $1 million each to 14 of his long-time friends: George Clooney Reportedly Gave $1 Million to Each of His 14 Closest Friends

 

[lakefront]

With the usual caveat that we can't really know these guys,

Yes! All discussions about the famous should start this way, not practical, but totally good point.

 

[playthrough]

With the usual caveat that we can't really know these guys, Clooney does seem to have a sense of perspective on the world and his role in it - he seems a bit like Paul Newman in that regard. Apart from his work on larger causes, he gave $1 million each to 14 of his long-time friends: George Clooney Reportedly Gave $1 Million to Each of His 14 Closest Friends

I remember when that came out. $1 million in 20-dollar bills, in suitcases. Effing great.

I saw that Letterman interview too. Can't really understand not liking Clooney. Newman's a good comparison.

 

[hondo]

My favorite Burt movie remains White Lightning. He got him a little Shaky Puddin' in that movie.

 

[Chef2]

Reynolds had signed on to play in Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" but he passed away before shooting any scenes.

I will be going to this movie next year when it comes out.

 

[Songbird]

Speaking of which, with his foot fetish, I'm surprised Tarantino hasn't been #metoo'd yet.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Speaking of which, with his foot fetish, I'm surprised Tarantino hasn't been #metoo'd yet.

He was, but it didn't get the attention of many others.

2 Months After Being Hit By #MeToo Allegations, Quentin Tarantino’s Career Is . . . Totally Fine?

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

She was the one that got away, as many men can relate, and many men who wind up marrying the wrong one afterward.
But the longer time goes on it sounds like maybe he was the wrong person for her.

Sally Field Is Glad Burt Reynolds Didn’t Get the Chance to Read Her Memoir

 

[Slacker]

She was the one that got away, as many men can relate, and many men who wind up marrying the wrong one afterward.
But the longer time goes on it sounds like maybe he was the wrong person for her.

Sally Field Is Glad Burt Reynolds Didn’t Get the Chance to Read Her Memoir

From a side link:

On several occasions, Reynolds referred to the breakup as one of his biggest regrets, calling Field the “love of my life” in a 2015 interview with Vanity Fair. “I miss her terribly,” he said. “Even now, it’s hard on me. I don’t know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up.” In an interview the next year, Field said that she and Reynolds didn’t talk that much. When told that Reynolds often referred to her as the one that got away, Field smiled and replied, “Well—yeah.”

I'd seen Reynolds' quote before, but not Field's. Will be interesting to see how her book expands on that.

About That Time Burt Reynolds Accidentally Snubbed Greta Garbo

 

[Michael_ Gee]

When "Starting Over" came out (it was set in Boston), Reynolds was one of my first interviews for the Phoenix. He was very pleasant if a little defensive about the role. He sure was handsome, though. PS: Starting Over was a mediocre movie (might not have been his fault!) but Jill Clayburgh was very beautiful in the late '70s.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Slacker-
Matter of taste but Fart would take ca. 1975 Sally Field over Loni Anderson - a blowup doll who couldn't act - any day.
Sally Field had a little tomboy in her, and you knew she could dress up great if she had any reason to. The kind of girl you could drink beer and eat oysters with.
Anderson's femininity looked completely artificialized to me even as a horny teen, like it wouldn't age well. And it didn't.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Burt Reynolds, Hollywood’s Southern Strategy « Post45

X-Hack-
Awesome read. Thank you for posting

 

[DanOregon]

You think about the women Reynolds was with throughout his life, Field, Anderson, Judy Carne, Dinah Shore - he didn't have a "type".