Philip Seymour Hoffman

In Anton Corbijn’s foreign espionage thriller A Most Wanted Man, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman lends his take on an unconventional looking German intelligence agent, one without the usual dashing attributes associated with cinematic spies. Although sprinkled with cerebral-minded intrigue and conducting its atmospheric tension in methodical fashion, A Most Wanted Man feels relentlessly sluggish in its execution to live up to its labored political-coated drama. This low-energy, plodding spy showcase has its isolated highlights in sleek suspense, but fails to drive home any genuine revelations about its touchy subject matter regarding counter-intelligence suspicion and terrorist paranoia. Despite solid and committed performances, it’s a slow burn of a thriller that simply lingers without fortifying any convincing punch.

Apart from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1 being one of the biggest films to be released in the holiday season, it will be viewers’ last chance to see Philip Seymour Hoffman in action. After the awful and unimagined death of the renowned actor, rumors started to fly that Lionsgate may use digital resources to complete his …

The splitting of the conclusions of recent fantasy or sci-fi franchises into two parts (or more – looking at you, Peter Jackson) has been financially successful for Hollywood studios, but less so creatively. Only arguable trendsetter Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I proved a satisfying film in its own right by being so rich in character interplay and having an actual sense of progression. Mockingjay – Part I is heavy on character beats, but they are repetitive ones due to its limited scope through withholding all the big stuff until Part 2.

With it being October, our site will be featuring lots of great writing on the Horror genre. This month doesn’t just bring the scares for me though, it also brings the postseason playoffs for my favorite sport: Baseball. While I won’t have as much on the line this year as my Braves played a sub-.500 …

Throughout the beginning of Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man, it is hard to ignore that there are only a handful of upcoming performances left from Philip Seymour Hoffman in this world. The actor’s untimely death earlier this year left a hole in the world of cinema, one that will not be filled anytime soon. Hoffman was a character actor who managed to become an A-lister, without ever losing his chameleon-like ability to channel whatever or whomever he wanted.

God’s Pocket Written by John Slattery and Alex Metcalf Directed by John Slattery USA, 2014 Whatever its initial intentions were, it’s now impossible to watch John Slattery’s feature directorial debut God’s Pocket without feeling intensely depressed due to the presence of its leading actor, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. It’s not his last film overall–that’ll …

Though similar phrases have been said of other actors in other films, it’s impossible to imagine anyone but Philip Seymour Hoffman as Caden Cotard in Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York. So fully does Hoffman embody Kaufman’s personal neuroses represented in Cotard that the line between actor and character is not just blurred – it is decimated. …

When Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away, film fans remember his subtle genius in his performances.  Even though he has been celebrated for his later roles, the performance that resonates with me the most is his turn as the late rock journalist, Lester Bangs in Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous.  But, with Bangs also being …

I still remember the first time I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was in Paul Thomas Anderson’s  Magnolia, and I was 13 years old. Already, I’d been bitten by the film bug, and that bite had driven me to pursue films that my friends had no interest in seeing. As such, I wouldn’t come to …

What more can be said about Philip Seymour Hoffman, especially in the wake of his terribly tragic, premature death? He was perhaps the finest actor of his generation, he was deeply loved in his community, and he was a partner, a father.

The film world was rocked last weekend with news of the unexpected death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the most well-respected actors working before his untimely death, Hoffman was known for his incredible range, and his ability to deliver a stunning performance, no matter the role. The varied nature of his filmography is …

An actor leaving us is the most strange of phenomenon. There is some solace in that, leaving behind a rich and diverse body of work, available to be re-watched forever, they do take on a certain unique immortality.

With I Am Legend and Constantine in his filmography, two not entirely successful features but both ones with impressive sequences here and there, director Francis Lawrence would seem an adequate fit for a populist sci-fi or fantasy franchise instalment.

Now that we are nearing the big awards of the season, it is time to revisit the nominations and predictions for the 2013 BAFTAs.  Part 2 will cover the following categories: (see part one here) Best Film Best British Film Leading Actor Leading Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Director The EE BAFTA …

The Master Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson Written by Paul Thomas Anderson USA, 2012 “Man is not an animal,” Lancaster Dodd calmly and firmly intones into the ear of the perpetually addled, horny, and wayward Freddie Quell early in The Master. This is, in some ways, the key phrase at the center of Paul Thomas …

The Master Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson Written by Paul Thomas Anderson U.S.A., 2012 To hard core movie goers and so-called movie buffs, director and screenwriter Paul Thomas Anderson requires no introduction. In under 20 years he has mesmerized, entertained, perplexed and surprised people with an impressively diverse filmmography, one that spans, at this point …

Acting and directing categories  during awards seasons are always the hardest to determine. Who to choose and what for film is a constant battle, not to mention who deserves to be nominated. Between the veteran nominees (Clooney, Streep, Scorcese) to newbies in the awards season (Fassbender, Refn and Oldman (!)), let’s see who deserves a …

Much of our lurid film community is of the belief that America’s acting prowess died with its classic stars like Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly. However, I’m here to argue that America’s actors are stronger than ever and can match up toe to toe with the likes …

Philip Seymour Hoffman has seen work on no less than four of Paul Thomas Anderson’s best known films: Sydney, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love.  Even though Hoffman has had ample opportunities to shine for Anderson in supporting roles, his director pal has yet to offer Hoffman the lead on any of his films.  …

Universal is being slow on giving the go ahead for the next Paul Anderson movie. The director of “There will be blood” has chosen Philip Seymour Hoffman to be part of his next, unnamed movie endeavor. Hoffman would be the lead in an untitled period drama as a “Master”, according to http://weblogs.variety.com/. The Master hatches …

Good criticism is a skill that must be learned, practiced and perfected – but more importantly, it comes with time. Seeing a diverse array of films broadens your views and expands your cinematic vocabulary while aiding in making astute comparisons. The more diverse and numerous the films in your vocabulary, the more insightful, relevant, and …