I thought I had read Thomas Wolfe, but it turns out I haven’t.
That didn’t stop me from going to see the movie Genius, which details the publication of Wolfe’s first two novels, and his relationship with his editor Max Perkins.
Jude Law’s Wolfe is a loud, melodramatic Southerner, self-involved yet low in self-esteem. Colin Firth as Perkins is his solid, steady opposite, the voice of reason who, despite his better judgment, is drawn to Wolfe’s charm and bravado.
I expected the movie to focus on their editorial process, and it does. But instead of passing any judgments on Wolfe as a writer, it celebrates their relationship – – more like a father and son than editor and writer.
Both of their families suffered at times from their single-mindedness, but no one more than Wolfe himself.
I now have Wolfe’s first book Look Homeward, Angel on hold at the library. I suppose I was charmed as well.
Posted in Books, Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Movies, Relationships, Writing
Tagged books, celebrities, Colin Firth, editor, entertainment, father, Genius movie, Humor, Jude Law, Movies, Relationships, son, Thomas Wolfe, writer
An apology
By now you’ve no doubt heard that John Heard died.
Yesterday my social media feed was full of articles about the actor, all attributing his success to Home Alone.
I know he’s not here to read this — and let’s face it, he wouldn’t if he could — but I feel the need to apologize.
While the family comedy may have made the most money in his filmography, it certainly did not make the most of Heard.
If you’re interested and willing to do a bit more research than his obit writers, I encourage you to watch Heard in the gripping thriller Deceived, co-starring Goldie Hawn. He also played opposite Tom Hanks in the comedy Big (a great excuse to watch that again). And he was an excellent Arthur Dimmesdale in a TV miniseries version of The Scarlet Letter in 1979.
Let’s hear it for one of the great character actors. He will be missed.
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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Movies, Television
Tagged actors, Big movie, celebrities, character actors, Deceived movie, entertainment, filmography, Goldie Hawn, Home Alone, in memoriam, John Heard, Movies, Television, The Scarlet Letter