Like everyone, I'm still processing the sudden passing of actor James Gandolfini at 51. While most are remembering him for his stellar work on HBO's The Sopranos, I find it's his supporting work in films that seem to resonate most with me today.
Before finding stardom as Mob boss Tony Soprano, Gandolfini spent most of the '90s playing what best could be described as "memorable heavies." Whether he was toying with Patricia Arquette in Tony Scott's True Romance or tussling with John Travolta in Barry Sonnenfeld's Get Shorty, Gandolfini's bad guys always had a quiet, almost soothing menace about them. They were soft-spoken, affable characters that put you at ease with a seductive smile and playful banter just before unleashing the inevitable hurt on their prey.
And while I'll always have a soft spot for those loveable grunts, Gandolfini proved he could tackle roles as diverse as a prison warden to the director of the C.I.A. and make them uniquely his own. He simply had a presence about him, a presence that made good films better and bad ones a little more enjoyable. His work will be missed.
Friday, June 21, 2013
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