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Monday, May 26, 2008
Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack dies
The holiday weekend ended on a very sad note with the passing of Sydney Pollack, the Oscar-winning director of such films as Tootsie, Out of Africa (which got him the Academy’s prize), The Way We Were, The Firm, Three Days of the Condor, and many more. The director had been suffering from cancer.
Pollack’s name may not be very well known to rank and file audiences, partly because he had never been a visual stylist like a Spielberg, Scorsese or a Coen. But, as many have pointed out, the special thing about all his movies was that they never played the audience for fools. Even less-than-great movies like his Sabrina remake couldn’t rightly be accused of being stupid. And although he wasn’t especially well known for visuals, he still had a knack for staging strong sequences, such as the explosion of a bus in his final theatrical film, The Interpreter.
Although his efforts behind the camera had flagged late in his career, Pollack kept up his strong reputation with some very fine performances in front of the camera, working for esteemed directors like Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut) and Woody Allen (Husbands and Wives). One of his last on-screen appearances was as the boss of George Clooney’s law firm in Michael Clayton, a film that is very much like one of Pollack’s own movies: Understated but riveting. As it happens, Pollack was one of the producers on the film, with an assist from the recently departed Anthony Minghella.
Looking through his filmography, I’m sad to realize I haven’t caught up with a lot of his early work, like They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, Three Days of the Condor or even The Way We Were. I’ll look forward to doing that soon to appreciate all the more what a fine talent we have lost. He will be missed.
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