If you have yet to hear about the death of Paul Newman, you most likely won’t be interested in what’s to come.
My mom’s favorite actor of all time, Newman succumbed to a long battle with cancer on Friday at his Connecticut home. His long list of accomplishments and accolades range from Oscar, Tony and Emmy nominations to being ranked as one of the sexiest men in film history and even a “God Among Men.”
Despite many video montages and written tributes already released in remembrance of Newman’s filmography and life, I will go ahead and list my favorite films from Newman’s career.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid:
Not just my favorite Newman movie, this is possibly my favorite Western. It is hard to identify my favorite cowboy movie of all time, but this film is hands down the winner as the most enjoyable of all Newman’s work. His good-humored banter with Robert Redford is classic. Newman’s dialogue is perfectly delivered giving the exact emotional tone necessary for the scene. It really doesn’t get much better than this when you’re looking for quality Paul Newman.
The Hustler:
This quiet, well-paced drama about an up-and-coming pool player who plays in a high-stakes game for the sole purpose of respect offers more than just a great Newman character. It also highlights the greatness of Jackie Gleason as Newman’s “fat” opponent and George C. Scott as a slimy manager. This is very cliché to say, but they don’t make movies like The Hustler anymore.
The Sting:
Another outstanding Newman/Redford film, this movie won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Score. Newman stars as a veteran conman who teams up with Redford to swindle a criminal banker for all he’s worth. If you are looking for non-stop laughs and delight I recommend this as a movie worth your time.
Road to Perdition:
I think this movie is often overlooked as to what a wonderful job Newman does opposite other acting superstars Tom Hanks, Stanley Tucci, Jude Law and Daniel Craig. Newman portrays a crime boss who is caught up in having to protect his business and family from Hanks’ hit man character after allowing the killing of Hanks’ family.
Cool Hand Luke:
Lines like “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate,” and classic moments such as eating 50 hard-boiled eggs quite possibly makes this Newman’s most remembered character. As Luke Jackson, a plucky prisoner in a Southern chain gang who refuses to cave in to authority, Newman received an Academy Award nomination for his terrific portrayal of a guy who couldn’t be broken.
The Hudsucker Proxy:
This might be an odd choice because probably few of you have ever heard of this movie. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this quirky comedy is about the corruption of big business in the 1930s. Newman plays the evil corporate bigwig and is surrounded by a cast that includes Tim Robbins, John Mahoney, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Charles Durning.
Cars:
I’m not really a big fan of this movie. I like it, but I consider it to be the weakest of all the Pixar films (which isn’t necessarily a terrible thing considering it is up against the likes of Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and Wall-E). Newman voices a car that is an ex-racer wise beyond his years. He helps young Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson and based after legendary actor Steve McQueen) become a better racer and a better member of the vehicular society.
Thousands of actors would love to have these kinds of movies on their resume, but that is just a small portion of how amazing Newman’s craft really was. I haven’t had room to include movies like The Verdict, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Hud, Exodus and Absence of Malice. If you have a couple of nights on your hands and you want some entertainment, I suggest you spend a few of those with the late, and great, Paul Newman.
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