Slog - Comments on Sydney Pollack, 1934-2008 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008 Sydney Pollack, a fine (The Way We Were, They Shoot Horses Don't They, The Electric Horseman) and sometimes great (Three Days of the Condor, Jeremiah Johnson, Tootsie) and ok, sometimes not that awesome (Havana, Random Hearts, The Interpreter) American film director who also moonlighted as a producer (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Sense and Sensibility, The Fabulous Baker Boys) and a surprisingly excellent actor (Husbands and Wives, Eyes Wide Shut, Michael Clayton) died yesterday (Monday) from cancer at the age of 73, following a 47-year career in movies and TV. Pollack was great. He was one of the most reliable... Copyright 2008 Tue, 27 May 2008 00:10:26 -0800 Tue, 27 May 2008 15:53:00 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Gabe Born in 1969, I have had the pleasure of enjoying many of Mr. Pollack's works. Presently, I've smoked too much Sativa too get you further, but I'm sure you can all make it on your own.

]]> Gabe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032518 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032518 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 01:36:56 -0800 Comment by catnextdoor Aw, now thats too bad. RIP.

]]> catnextdoor http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032522 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032522 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 05:17:20 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus Pollack made some of the classiest films Hollywood ever produced. It's the end of a great career and - along with the passing of John Frankenheimer - the end of the era of directors who cut their directing teeth in early television. Only Sidney Lumet remains from that most creative school of directing.

Pollack was also a very gentle, kind person, and we know the world suffers whenever we lose one of those.

Three Days of the Condor is an excellent choice, Sean.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032525 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 05:59:29 -0800 Comment by shitbrain Fuck.

The only actor I enjoy watching more than Sydney Pollack is George C. Scott.

]]> shitbrain http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032530 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032530 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 07:01:58 -0800 Comment by SeMe last time i saw him was on the sopranos advising dying gangster johny sacs.

]]> SeMe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032531 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032531 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 07:12:51 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe My love will never die.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032534 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032534 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 07:32:13 -0800 Comment by PC off topic:

realclear:

Tracking Polls (General)
Gallup: McCain 47, Obama 45
Gallup: Clinton 49, McCain 44
Rasmussen: McCain 45, Obama 45
Rasmussen: Clinton 47, McCain 45

]]> PC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032539 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032539 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 08:30:44 -0800 Comment by heywhatsit Yeah, that's real interesting PC.

I love Pollack. My only regret is that now I have "The Way We Were" running through my head. Dammit.

]]> heywhatsit http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032541 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 08:57:12 -0800 Comment by ellarosa oh, thanks heywhatsit. now i do too. damn.

]]> ellarosa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032548 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032548 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 09:19:58 -0800 Comment by Sally Struthers Lawnchair I feel like I'm supposed to care. I'll try.

]]> Sally Struthers Lawnchair http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032558 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032558 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 09:43:46 -0800 Comment by monkey Excellent post. I couldn't agree more all except for The Interpretor. I really liked that movie and mostly because it felt like a Pollack film. That's something that I loved about all the movies he was involved in. No matter the level of his involvement, even when he was just a producer, you knew it was a Sydney Pollack film.

I've got Out of Africa, Electric Horseman, and The Interpretor all lined up. I just happened to have rewatched Michael Clayton right before reading he'd died. I need to own Three Days of the Condor.

He's definately a Hollywood maverick that I will miss.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032626 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032626 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 11:30:37 -0800 Comment by Emily No love for Out of Africa, Nelson? (Thanks 11.) I adore many Pollock movies, but I think of Out of Africa first, every time.

]]> Emily http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032642 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032642 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 11:51:43 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe If it weren't for Barry's score, Out of Africa wouldn't have been all that memorable. (IMHO)

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032644 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032644 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 11:55:11 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways Pollack was a brilliant actor and a so-so director.

Redford is a so-so actor and sometimes a pretty good director.

Tootsie rocks, even though it has enough plot holes to stock a Dunkin' Donuts and Out of Africa...has anyone popped this in the vcr/dvd player in the last 20 years? It's a forgetable, badly cast movie with a pretty score and nice cinematography.

oh, and don't forget Pollack's cameo in Death Becomes Her...he was hilarious as the E.R. doctor who has a heart attack after diagnosing the Meryl Streep character as functionally dead.

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032663 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032663 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 12:19:13 -0800 Comment by elswinger Pollack was a great director and a great man. He also had great taste in film when he hosted his own show on Turner Classic Movies.

Keep an eye on TCM because usually they will change there scheduled movies to do a 24 hour tribute to someone who just died. Coincidentally they are showing Three Days of The Condor at 10:30pm (Tuesday) as part of their salute to Faye Dunaway.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032666 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032666 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 12:21:34 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I'll get roasted for this, but I don't think much of Pollack's oeuvre, and think in some ways he's the beginning of the end for Hollywood.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032701 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1032701 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 13:07:27 -0800 Comment by brad Reading of Pollack's death was one of those, "catch my breath in my throat" kind of moments. I re-read the article on MSNBC several times letting it sink in. Pollack was associated with so many excellent films, and yes a couple bombs. Tootsie, The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor, The Negotiator, Michael Clayton. All good. Also his film, Sketches of Frank Gehry, excellent.

I'm glad you mentioned Husbands and Wives, because that is a great one. I may have to watch that again in his honor.

The man was classy, and improved everything he was a part of.

]]> brad http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1033147 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/sydney_pollack_19342008#c1033147 Film Tue, 27 May 2008 15:53:00 -0800