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Jack Kubrick wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 4:11 pm Ray Liotta

This is a saddening shock. I just watched Something Wild recently for the first time in maybe 30 years and he is such a cyclone of malevolence in that movie. And GoodFellas, of course, is an untouchable masterpiece with Liotta as one of the all-time great anti-heroes. He's also great in Joe Carnahan's Narc, a film that was a big splash 20 years ago, gave Liotta's career a nice jolt, yet now seems forgotten.

Andy Fletcher in 1989 (circa the DM 101 tour/album) was my absolute style icon. I bought similar glasses, wore black turtlenecks, gelled my hair back. Then of course, Mike Myers and Dieter immediately came along to ruin that look for everyone.

Matt wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 9:55 pm Andy Fletcher in 1989

Jack Kubrick wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 4:11 pm Ray Liotta

Despite all the other great performances, the film I immediately thought of was Schrader's Forever Mine even though it is, I suppose, just as much (or more) Fiennes' and Mol's film as his. Among Schrader's most underrated from an underrated period. I'm inclined to dig out my copy though God knows it needs an upgrade.

Jack Kubrick wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 4:11 pm Ray Liotta

The only thing I have to add to the well-deserved praise afforded Something Wild is how Liotta never stops being a volatile force of truly frightening chaos while also having some of the funniest moments in the film (the patronizing disgust in his voice when he delivers the line, "Oh, Charlie, pizza?" never fails to get a laugh out of me). As renowned as Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter is in popular culture, I'd argue that Liotta's villain is the most compelling psychopath in Demme's filmography, and his entrance (already highlighted on Criterion's FB page) is one of the greatest in any film. That it was the first film of Liotta's career makes his first onscreen appearance that much more mesmerizing and magnetic.

Horribly sad news to cap off what has indeed been an awful week.

MitchPerrywinkle wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 1:48 am That it was the first film of Liotta's career makes his first onscreen appearance that much more mesmerizing and magnetic.

That would indeed be amazing, but I knew it had to be too good to be true. It looks like his first film was actually a Pia Zadora vehicle from 1983. (Now, that's a punchline you don't hear much anymore,)

zedz wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 3:42 am

MitchPerrywinkle wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 1:48 am That it was the first film of Liotta's career makes his first onscreen appearance that much more mesmerizing and magnetic.

That would indeed be amazing, but I knew it had to be too good to be true. It looks like his first film was actually a Pia Zadora vehicle from 1983. (Now, that's a punchline you don't hear much anymore,)

That would be the multiple Razzie nominated The Lonely Lady (NSFW), in which Liotta's character lays the groundwork for all his future characters by assaulting the main character with a garden hose!

(That film also has the ultimate Awards acceptance speech line!)

Forgot another mediocre movie - Heartbreakers. All the more disappointing given the cast - Gene Hackman, Anne Bancroft, Sigourney Weaver, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Jay, etc. - and the fact that it was made by David Mirkin of The Simpsons fame (from the classic years to boot).

The one LOL moment for me came from Liotta's delivery of the line "Do you have any idea how much therapy you people need?" He was genuinely sweet and likable as a guy who becomes an honest man for love only to find out he's been conned.

And to focus on good movies, how great is he as the heavy in Observe and Report?

The same year he plays an adjacent cop antagonist to the lead in the underrated Youth in Revolt, both films are unsung masterpieces

Some of the tributes popping up around the music world have been kind of nice. At the Who's concert last night, the screens displayed a photo of Liotta at the end of one of their songs in his honor, The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde (who typically doesn't memorialize any non-musician she doesn't know on social media) wrote a lengthy remembrance of Liotta, making a case for her favorite The Iceman, and Questlove posted a tribute too.

His interview on Marc Maron’s podcast was unexpectedly one of my favorites, despite the intensity of his roles you come away with a real sense of his humility toward acting. And what a fascinating life/career path he had.

Bo Hopkins at 84.

George Shapiro at 91.

Ronnie Hawkins at 87.

Denise Francine Boyd Andrews, whose life was chronicled in Charles S. Dutton's The Corner.

Alec John Such, Bon Jovi’s original bassist.

Atlanta rapper Trouble, at only 34.

Brad Johnson star of Always (1989) & Flight of the Intruder (1991) back in February but only reported recently: https://www.thewrap.com/brad-johnson-me ... ies-at-62/

Unfortunately Brad Johnson may also be best remembered for starring in the first three in the series of the most famous of the Christian rapture films, the Left Behind series, as the amazingly masculine razor advert named philandering aircraft pilot Rayford Steele (the same character that Nicolas Cage plays in the feature film remake version of the first film).

Johnson is also in that mid-90s TV movie sequel to The Birds, The Birds II: Land's End (which in some ways is closer to the narrative of the original Du Maurier story, albeit still set in the US)

Australian writer/director Roger Scholes, aged 71, found dead after going missing in Tasmania over the weekend. He directed one feature film (The Tale of Ruby Rose, 1987) plus documentaries and television work. No online obituaries as yet.

Australian television director and cinematographer Richard Walker, aged 70.

Jim Seals of duo Seals and Crofts at 80.

Julee Cruise, 65.