Dennis Hopper - RIP

[Rhodes]

Another of Hollywood's greats, Dennis Hopper, has sadly bitten the dust aged 74 following a losing battle with prostate cancer. RIP.

[Loose]

What was great about him Rhodes?

[Rhodes]

Loosely - You clearly haven't seen the film Speed where Hopper totally outshone so called stars Keanu Reeve and Sandra Bullock put together

[Big J R]

A great actor as well as a great director and screen writer.

 

 

I thought it was very bad taste for the Mail newspaper to say they were surprised he actually survived into his 70's with his record of 5 wives, drink and drugs abuse.

 

 

[Loose]

Loosely - You clearly haven't seen the film Speed where Hopper totally outshone so called stars Keanu Reeve and Sandra Bullock put together

Rhodesly - Clearly I had forgotten that "tour de force", surprising with so many BIG names in it. Did it win an oscar?

 

Did this "Hollywood Great" win any Academy Awards?

 

I suppose I'd count someone like Spencer Tracey or Henry Fonda as a "Great" but not some bloke who addles his brain with drink and drugs in self indulgency. Dennis Hopper begged to be given the part in Blue Velvet because as he said the part WAS him. Says it all really.

[officialspokesman]

Loosely - You clearly haven't seen the film Speed where Hopper totally outshone so called stars Keanu Reeve and Sandra Bullock put together

Rhodesly - Clearly I had forgotten that "tour de force", surprising with so many BIG names in it. Did it win an oscar?

 

Did this "Hollywood Great" win any Academy Awards?

 

I suppose I'd count someone like Spencer Tracey or Henry Fonda as a "Great" but not some bloke who addles his brain with drink and drugs in self indulgency. Dennis Hopper begged to be given the part in Blue Velvet because as he said the part WAS him. Says it all really.

 

 

Never understood why so much adulation is bestowed on actors whose only skill is pretending to be someone else. Most of them seem so far up their own jacksy and puffed up with their own self importance its embarrassing. As for Mr Hopper, I wonder how many lives he ruined, and how many families he destroyed with his drinking, drug taking and womanising. I have never been able to comprehend how anyone can excuse this behavior on the grounds that he was " a mans man, or a bit of a character".

 

The real heroes who deserve our adulation are doctors and nurses, and our brave military who daily risk life and limb fighting dodgy wars started by lying politicians, and who earn peanuts.

Edited June 1, 2010 by officialspokesman

[Rhodes]

Never understood why so much adulation is bestowed on actors whose only skill is pretending to be someone else.

Officialspokesman - Do you include Jimmy Stewart in that strange statement

[officialspokesman]

Never understood why so much adulation is bestowed on actors whose only skill is pretending to be someone else.

Officialspokesman - Do you include Jimmy Stewart in that strange statement

 

 

The only thing that's strange is that anyone should be remotely interested in the demise of a drug crazed old drunk.

Jimmy Stewart was an OK actor, no more, no less.

[Rhodes]

Jimmy Stewart was an OK actor, no more, no less.

I know Loosely for one will vehemently disagree with you

[Loose]

Jimmy Stewart was an OK actor, no more, no less.

I know Loosely for one will vehemently disagree with you

The only part of what OS said that I do disagree with Rhodesly. James Stewart had a knack for getting the Great Parts, being one of Hitchcocks favourite actors didn't hurt, also being lifelong best friends with Henry Fonda either. Married once, completely loyal, a decorated war hero from 2 wars who made private to brigadier general in four short years without once trading on his acting success or vice a versa is something to respect but not to worship. When you get a chance to consider the range of his acting skills in films like Shenandoah or Flight of the Phoenix you can't compare a thug like Dennis Hopper with him. Jimmy Stewart earned 2 Acacdemy Awards and 2 Golden Globes, does it make him a great? Maybe, maybe not but he was a favourite actor of mine.

[Rhodes]

James Stewart had a knack for getting the Great Parts, being one of Hitchcocks favourite actors didn't hurt,

Loosely - I don't think that the four Hitchcock films James Stewart starred in, namely Rope, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Vertigo, enhanced his career in the slightest as he was already a Hollywood great in his own right, he didn't need the Hitchcock films other than the fact that he cleverly negotiated a percentage of the profits of those films and others and became very wealthy as a result.

Anyway how can you compare Jimmy Stewart and Dennis Hopper, okay Hopper was a wild man but so what, you can't just take away his acting ability because of that.

[Loose]

Rhodesly - as I said, being a favourite of Hitchcocks didn't hurt, and Hitchcock's influence stretched far beyond his own film production, but rightly as you concur, it did not make Stewarts already successful career. I'm glad though that you agree that Stewart was a true "great".

 

It's just a question of favourites really. Hopper for me was by and large known for his roles in films like Blue Velvet, Red Rock West, Waterworld and your favourite, Speed - all immensly enjoyable in parts but as he said (Hopper admitted), playing himself. He had other parts, again the stereotypical psycho "baddie" and thus typecast there's little range to discuss. Prolific but by no means does this mean much, just worked when he needed to fund drugs, booze or alimony and there's little that I find likeable about him.

Edited June 2, 2010 by loose

[Arron_M]

This is a real shame, this guy was great to the film industry. Rest in piece Hopper.

[Rhodes]

Arron - I'm glad there is at least one other person on here who appreciated Hopper's amazing work

[Big J R]

Arron - I'm glad there is at least one other person on here who appreciated Hopper's amazing work

 

 

Me for one, Rhodesey !