RIP: Gene Hackman (1930-2025)

[AzStevenCal]

I watched Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and Life Aquatic and didn't enjoy any of them. Since they were touted by many viewers I just decided to avoid anything else by Wes Anderson. Even still, years later, I was tempted to watch Royal Tenenbaums because of Hackman but 20 minutes into it reminded me why I don't care for Anderson's films. I'm just not his audience.

 

[Chaplin]

I watched Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and Life Aquatic and didn't enjoy any of them. Since they were touted by many viewers I just decided to avoid anything else by Wes Anderson. Even still, years later, I was tempted to watch Royal Tenenbaums because of Hackman but 20 minutes into it reminded me why I don't care for Anderson's films. I'm just not his audience.

Oh I forgot about Life Aquatic. Loved that one too. Not as much as Royal, but Life Aquatic to me was a perfect follow up.

 

[Mulli]

He is just so nails in Crimson Tide, and it was such a well-written role as well. Not a bad guy, not a good guy, but a guy with conviction.

I haven’t seen it in forever, but didn’t he have racist convictions?

 

[Devilmaycare]

I loved Anderson's first 3 movies - Bottle Rocket is a charming hangout movie, Rushmore and Tenenbaums are absolute sure fire classics, and even though they existed in increasingly hyper stylized worlds, the characters all felt relatively grounded, in their own weird ways.

after that though, he seemed to be making movies with aliens pretending to be people in worlds far from anything resembling actual earth.

Don't forget the animated. Fantastic Mr. Fox was great. I also liked Isle of Dogs but it's in that 2nd tier of his movies.

 

[Stout]

I haven’t seen it in forever, but didn’t he have racist convictions?

Eh, as I recall (and this was looong ago), there were hints at that maybe, but I think he showed during the rest of the movie that wasn't the case? Again, long ago. I catch bits and pieces here and there, but nothing like that.

 

[Dback Jon]

Can't forget his role in The Birdcage!

 

[Stout]

Can't forget his role in The Birdcage!

Great movie.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I loved Anderson's first 3 movies - Bottle Rocket is a charming hangout movie, Rushmore and Tenenbaums are absolute sure fire classics, and even though they existed in increasingly hyper stylized worlds, the characters all felt relatively grounded, in their own weird ways.

after that though, he seemed to be making movies with aliens pretending to be people in worlds far from anything resembling actual earth.

Heh - I hated pretty much every minute of those 3 - just a slog to get through

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I watched Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and Life Aquatic and didn't enjoy any of them. Since they were touted by many viewers I just decided to avoid anything else by Wes Anderson. Even still, years later, I was tempted to watch Royal Tenenbaums because of Hackman but 20 minutes into it reminded me why I don't care for Anderson's films. I'm just not his audience.

This is me.

Different strokes and all, so I won't say they are bad, etc

They just clearly aren't for me. Took me a few to realize this, but it just is what it is.

Thankfully the Hackman catalogue is robust with a bunch of stuff I do enjoy and some I may need a reason to revisit or see for the first time and appreciate all the work he has left