by While it is inhuman to want for immortality — that impossible task is now possible if you have the right tangent and talent.
You become immortal today by starring in a major motion picture.
No other job — politician, religious icon or justice keeper — has the same capacity for memory and meaning than: The Movie Star.
Faces 60 feet wide and 30 feet tall enchant people. They long for the false beauty and scripted dialogue in their smaller, ordinary, lives.
Film is forever.
Television is fleeting.
Theatre is of-the-moment.
If you want everlasting iconography, evergreen adoration and ongoing attention for the rest of your life — star in a movie — and create the domain of the Gods where you give power and life to flawed human frailties that last your lifetime and beyond.
Absolutely fabulous image David – love it!
Just out of curiosity…
If you were offered a particular character in a film (say in a “remake” of a block buster), what would be your dream choice of movie/ role?
Thanks, Katha! I love that image, too. It is magical, mythical and right on point with the trek into immortality.
I think the memorable roles are created once and then never duplicated — but if you force me to make a choice — the Jimmy Stewart role in “Wonderful Life” is one that any good actor could pull off with great success because that movie is perfect in every dimension… while only James Dean could pull off a “James Dean” role… his movies, as a whole, are mainly forgettable… except for him.
Wow David!
I understand what you are saying – an unforgettable role can only be created once…but you never know…you could have added some new dimension in it!
Frank Capra is one of my all time favorites…
There was this Hindi movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101733/
that was inspired by his “It happened one night” – I watched this one first then the Capra one – I still love it….
Not sure about the “James Dean” one – because haven’ seen it…any other example?
Thanks for the fine information, Katha!
I think any Tom Cruise role is un-special because of him. I could plug in Colin Farrell or Brad Pitt or George Clooney instead of Tom and get the exact same performance and box officer returns.
Now talents like John Malkovich and Marlon Brando and Tommy Lee Jones and Michael O’Keefe and Robert Duvall make each character their own and to even try to imitate them, or replicate their on-film performance, would be ridiculous and dangerous.
James Dean — he was in “Giant” and “Rebel without a Cause” — a great actor.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000015/
Absolutely, couldn’t agree more David!
But still people are just “crazy” about Tom Cruise’s so called superstar status – just because he sells?
I remember seeing “Rebel Without a Cause” – but I was too young to really grasp it – have to see it once more.
Now I think I can come up with a few more – It’s Anthony Quinn in “Omar Mukhtar – The Lion of the Desert” – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081059/
and, Audre Hepburn in “Wait until Dark” – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062467/
Katha —
Yes! I guess Tom is “cute” and watchable. I don’t think he’s a very good actor, though, and his performances are not unique or everlasting. If he has a talent it is picking the right script that fits his limited persona.
Yes, Anthony Quinn is irreplaceable — as is Audre Hepburn. Barbara Streisand is another irreplaceable as is Liza Minelli.
Hi David,
Tom is “cute”? He is plain and simple immature even in his forties!
George Clooney is way more “cuter”…!!!
You can’t think Tom Cruise as Michael Clayton or you can’t even think Tom Cruise acting in “In Pursuit of Happiness”…
I love Barbara’s voice!
That’s a good point about Clooney playing Cruise roles but Cruise not being able to handle Clooney roles.
I’m with you on Barbara. She was a star of great magnitude right from the start and she has endured and never dimmed.