Friday, June 30, 2023

R.I.P. ALAN ARKIN...

You were gentle yet sinister, happy yet sad, making each performance personable and unique. 

The proof is in the pudding: The Return of Captain Invincible; Wait Until Dark; Edward Scissorhands; The Rocketeer; The Seven-Percent Solution; Gattaca; Escape from Sobibor; The Other Side of HellSimon; Argo; Popi; Full Moon High; Big TroubleThe Magician of Lublin; Magicians; Raising Flagg; Freebie and the Bean; Spencer Confidential; Inspector Clouseau; The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause; Noel; The Fourth Wise ManGet Smart '08; Dumbo '19; Minions: The Rise of Gru; The Last Unicorn; The Muppets; Firewall; Thin Ice; The Change-Up; Marley and Me; Going in Style; The Kominsky MethodEros; The Incredible Burt Wonderstone; Stand Up Guys; Joshua Then and Now; Catch-22; The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming; The Defection of Simas Kudirka; Jakob the Liar; The Private Lives of Pippa Lee; Woman Times Seven; Improper Channels; The Monitors; City Island; Slums of Beverly Hills; Glengarry Glen Ross; Deadhead Miles; Fire Sale; The In-Laws '79; The Pentagon Papers; North; Hearts of the West (aka Hollywood Cowboy); Bad Medicine; Grudge Match; Grosse Point Blank; Havana; Indian Summer; RenditionMother Night; So I Married an Axe Murderer; Little Murders; Million Dollar Arm; Coupe de Ville; Picture Windows; Jerky Boys: The Movie; Enter Laughing; Steal Big Steal Little; Little Miss Sunshine; Sunshine Cleaning; Last of the Red Hot Lovers; America's SweetheartsThirteen Conversations About One Thing; Chu Chu and the Philly Flash; Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins; And Starring Poncho Villa as Himself.

However, my favorite of your portrayals remains that of Mr. John Singer in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Without uttering a word, you emoted loud and clear, expressing empathy and concern in the throes of a difficult world.

You were also a skilled singer, as heard in Calypso Heat Wave; a deft director, as shown by Samuel Beckett is Coming, and a prolific writer, with such titles as Out of My Mind and An Impoverished Life under your belt. Heck, you even contributed to Galaxy Magazine. 

You were one of my all-time favorites, Mr. Arkin, a man I looked up to and favored. No matter the role, no matter the intent, you did it all with merit and ease, and for that, I (and your many fans) will always regard you with unbounded respect.   

No comments:

Post a Comment