Gene Hackman

The death of Gene and Betsy Hackman hit me hard. And as the details unfolded, it became clear how many ways a person can die. Hantavirus? Who would have thought? Since their passing, I’ve watched a few Hackman films I had not seen. 

There was this one called “Under Suspicion” that Hackman and co-star Morgan Freeman had produced, meaning they probably put up a great deal of money. Freeman was a detective, very much like he was in “Seven.” Hackman was a rich man with secrets. I’m not going to spoil the ending, because although the movie is murky it makes a good point: and if I tell you what that is, it’ll spoil the movie. 

I also watched Hoosiers, which was a great sports film. All about second chances, which we’re all entitled to but very rarely receive in this world.   

I also watched a bunch of Hackman movie clips, most of which were compiled, edited and voiced by AI, which I hate. 

Hackman was everyman, and he specialized in emotions that aren’t easy to capture. The flickerings of greed, smouldering lust, satisfaction, (sexual or otherwise), jealousy, ambition, shame, all that stuff we grapple with while trying to keep others from seeing us sweat. 

As an actor, Hackman mastered the outer and inner layers of what it means to be a human. 

I knew he’d retired in 2005, but I’ll miss him just the same.