Over the past two months, the movie world has lost three important artists to the medium that happen to have one first-rate picture in common. Today’s post will not only touch on that film, but their other contributions to both the large and small screen.
Elmore Leonard died today at age 87. One of the most celebrated crime novelists of all time, Mr. Leonard’s works have been adapted many times into film. Some have been critical and box office failures, such as 2002’s Big Trouble with Tim Allen and 2004’s The Big Bounce with Owen Wilson.
However, there is plenty of quality material to choose from based on the author’s canon:
52 Pick Up, a well-done 1986 thriller with Roy Scheider and Ann-Margaret
Characters created by Leonard are the basis for the acclaimed FX series “Justified”
When Quentin Tarantino was faced with the unenviable task of following up his 1994 game changing Pulp Fiction, he turned to Elmore Leonard’s literary works by adapting his novel “Rum Punch” into Jackie Brown. The result was a fantastic marriage between the voices of two brilliant writers.
Just six months after Jackie Brown came another great film based on Leonard’s work from one of the finest directors of the past 25 years. That would 1998’s Out of Sight from Steven Soderbergh that featured electric chemistry between George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez.
In Out of Sight, the father of Jennifer Lopez was played by Dennis Farina. In July, Mr. Farina passed away at age 69. Many perhaps know Farina best for his television work, including a two-year stint on “Law&Order”. I first noticed Farina for his magnificent guest role as a bad guy on “Miami Vice”. Farina would move on to star in a short-lived yet critically acclaimed series from “Vice” creator Michael Mann called “Crime Story”.
For me personally, my most beloved Farina role in film will always be as mobster Jimmy Serrano in 1988’s action comedy Midnight Run with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. It’s one of my favorite movies ever made. Farina also made his mark in 1986’s Manhunter and 2001’s Snatch, among others.
In June, James Gandolfini passed away at age 51. Like Farina, Gandolfini’s signature roles were on TV. Well, one role. And that would, of course, be that of Tony Soprano on HBO’s “The Sopranos”. I won’t get into detail expounding on the importance of that show other than state the obvious: “The Sopranos” is one of best TV shows ever and Gandolfini had the role of a lifetime in it.
Few actors have the opportunity to play a character as amazingly developed (through writing and his own performance) as Gandolfini. And the actor’s contribution to films were significant, too. He was basically the lone bright spot in 2001’s The Mexican with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. He appeared in blockbuster pictures including Crimson Tide and Zero Dark Thirty, where he portrayed CIA director Leon Panetta.
Much like Farina in Midnight Run, there is a signature Gandolfini film role for me. 1993’s True Romance directed by the late Tony Scott and with a screenplay from Quentin Tarantino gives Gandolfini a small but unforgettable role as a hitman who terrorizes Patricia Arquette. It’s a classic scene.
The talents of Leonard, Farina, and Gandolfini are all on display in 1995’s Get Shorty, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. The picture may star John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, and Danny DeVito, but Farina and Gandolfini both provide rock solid support in a very entertaining effort. Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, Get Shorty is the tale of a hitman (Travolta) who gets into the movie business and finds out the two professions share a lot in common. If you haven’t seen Get Shorty, it’s well worth your time. And it’s worth it even more now as a tribute to three gentlemen who contributed so much to film and television.
RIP Elmore Leonard
RIP Dennis Farina
RIP James Gandolfini
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