dual personalities

So Gene Hackman died last month. He was 95 and had had a long and fruitful career/life. Over the weekend I watched my two favorite GH movies: Bite the Bullet (1975) and Hoosiers (1986). I enjoyed them both very much.

Bite the Bullet is a western written and directed by Richard Brooks who also wrote/directed The Professionals (1966). They are similar in a lot of (good) ways. A ragtag group of misfit men (including two former Rough Riders) and one woman are trying to get somewhere and have to cross a desert. They are good people and the one young jerk learns from the older, wiser men and changes. Each player is given one or two good scenes where they confess their secrets, but there is relatively little dialogue. Everyone handles the physical stuff like pros. It is the kind of movie I like best.

Hoosiers is one of the best sports movies ever and even if, like me, you couldn’t care less about basketball, you can’t help getting carried away by it all.

Of course, Gene Hackman made a lot of other good movies during his long career. I remember when my parents went to see The French Connection in 1971. They came home and were very excited about this great movie, which they had enjoyed very much.

Gene Hackman was always convincing and real–as a good guy and as a bad guy. I prefer the good guys.

In other news, the crocus at Don’s house are blooming!

The daffodils in my yard are about six inches tall and there are some buds! Some of them do look a bit frost-bitten. Hopefully they will be okay.

*Pre-game prayer, Hoosiers