Salon | Letters to the editor

_______________ PATHS TO GLORY BY MICHAEL SRAGOW (03/09/99)

When Stanley Kubrick passed away on March 7, the world lost its greatest living film director. Kubrick was multitalented on a level few are qualified to truly appreciate.
From the incredible effects he designed for "2001" to the special lenses he invented to shoot by candlelight for "Barry Lyndon," Kubrick was a brilliant scientist and engineer. His understanding of the photographic process and the technology involved seemed to go beyond the cognitive and into the intuitive. Yet this fantastic ability of his was subordinate to his sense of artistry and composition, all of which was commanded by his godlike understanding of drama.
To try to summarize his career or what was great about the man is an exercise in futility. Volumes have been written, and more will be written, and none will truly capture what Kubrick brought to the screen.
-- J. Kremer

_______________ BRILLIANT CAREERS: CONFIDENCE MAN BY CHARLES TAYLOR (03/02/99)

Charles Taylor lists the Neanderthal Nicolas Cage as one of the finest actors of his generation. I suppose that one should not be surprised to find this novel claim in a consideration of Paul Newman as a serious and profound actor, which he is not. Newman has been on occasion competent, as long as his character is not particularly intelligent. (Newman is himself intelligent; witness his letters in the Nation.) His work in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is breezy and fun, for instance, and he is well cast as the hapless, benighted coach in "Slap Shot." Whenever he tries too hard to act, however, his performances veer quickly into unintended slapstick. For real howling comedy roll a few scenes of "Torn Curtain" or "The Verdict."
Anyone who can maintain that Nicolas Cage is an actor of merit, label "The Sting" or "Butch Cassidy" stinkers, think the material in "Slap Shot" shallow or talk of Paul Newman as a great actor is by definition incompetent and tasteless. If you don't believe me, ask Newman. He seems to be a man of sense and humor. He'd probably agree.
-- Mark Woldin
New York

N E X T+P A G E+| Christian campus activists need to get a clue; Amway distributors promise not to spam their friends

_______________ PATHS TO GLORY BY MICHAEL SRAGOW (03/09/99)
	When Stanley Kubrick passed away on March 7, the world lost its greatest living film director. Kubrick was multitalented on a level few are qualified to truly appreciate. From the incredible effects he designed for "2001" to the special lenses he invented to shoot by candlelight for "Barry Lyndon," Kubrick was a brilliant scientist and engineer. His understanding of the photographic process and the technology involved seemed to go beyond the cognitive and into the intuitive. Yet this fantastic ability of his was subordinate to his sense of artistry and composition, all of which was commanded by his godlike understanding of drama. To try to summarize his career or what was great about the man is an exercise in futility. Volumes have been written, and more will be written, and none will truly capture what Kubrick brought to the screen. -- J. Kremer
_______________ BRILLIANT CAREERS: CONFIDENCE MAN BY CHARLES TAYLOR (03/02/99)
	Charles Taylor lists the Neanderthal Nicolas Cage as one of the finest actors of his generation. I suppose that one should not be surprised to find this novel claim in a consideration of Paul Newman as a serious and profound actor, which he is not. Newman has been on occasion competent, as long as his character is not particularly intelligent. (Newman is himself intelligent; witness his letters in the Nation.) His work in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is breezy and fun, for instance, and he is well cast as the hapless, benighted coach in "Slap Shot." Whenever he tries too hard to act, however, his performances veer quickly into unintended slapstick. For real howling comedy roll a few scenes of "Torn Curtain" or "The Verdict." Anyone who can maintain that Nicolas Cage is an actor of merit, label "The Sting" or "Butch Cassidy" stinkers, think the material in "Slap Shot" shallow or talk of Paul Newman as a great actor is by definition incompetent and tasteless. If you don't believe me, ask Newman. He seems to be a man of sense and humor. He'd probably agree. -- Mark Woldin New York
	N E X T+P A G E+\| Christian campus activists need to get a clue; Amway distributors promise not to spam their friends