Saturday, May 11, 2019

RIP ALVIN SARGENT...


You were a screenwriter of the supreme, varied sort, giving moviegoers such sterling submissions as "I Walk the Line", "Julia", "Ordinary People", "Paper Moon", "What About Bob?", "Straight Time", "Hero" and "The Sterile Cuckoo", in addition to writing for "Ben Casey", "Route 66" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour". 


However, Marvel fans will always hold you close to their hearts for your contributions to Sam Raimi's "Spider-man" trilogy (even if uncredited on the first entry), as well as Marc Webb's revisionist "The Amazing Spider-man".


Of your participation on Raimi's initial sequel, Roger Ebert summed it up best:  "Now this is what a superhero movie should be.  'Spider-man 2' believes in its story in the same way serious comic readers believe, when the adventures on the page express their own dreams and wishes. It's not camp and it's not nostalgia, it's not wall-to-wall special effects, and it's not pickled in angst. It's simply and poignantly a realization that Spider-man is a burden that Peter Parker is not entirely willing to bear."


It's that sort of special depth, execution and insight that set you apart from the rest. May your ensuing, spiritual journey be characterized by the same exemplary ingredients. 

No comments:

Post a Comment