As most have heard already, iconic Hollywood actor, Paul Newman, has died of cancer at the age of 83.  Most news outlets and other celebrities close to him have already issued reports and statements about Newman’s life, work, and generosity.  There really isn’t anything that I can add to this slew of information that could do justice and that isn’t already available.

Image Credit: Ray Tamarra

Still, I’d like to note the most significant works of Paul Newman to celebrate his long, storied career.  Of course, when I say “significant works,” I mean those few that stand-out in my mind; those that I have enjoyed the most.  It’s a shallow and selfish standard, I know.  But then, I’m sort of shallow and selfish.

The Sting (1973)

The winner of a fistful of Academy Awards, The Sting is truly a masterpiece.  Nevermind trying to get the score out of your head once heard, every bit of this movie is magnificent.  George Roy Hill directed and David S. Ward wrote this landmark film.  Robert Redford and Paul Newman co-star, a return with George Roy Hill from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  There are several things that I love about this movie, but what I appreciate most is its depth.  There are only a few films out there that can truly match the depth as seen in great novels.  The Dark Knight is the most recent that I can think of to achieve this.  The Sting is one of the greats that holds up over time and is just as fresh with every subsequent viewing.

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

The Coen Brothers have done a number of movies that I absolutely love.  Just off the top of my head: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Big Lebowski (”I’m the Dude!”), and Fargo, of course.  However, The Hudsucker Proxy may be the most enjoyable and complete; Coen Brothers films feel notoriously incomplete to me.  I’m not sure if it is the pacing or the general story structure, but the films tend to start at exactly the right moment but end too early.  It just seems like there’s always something missing from them.  Whatever the movies lack, however, they certainly make up for it in sheer presence.

The Hudsucker Proxy, on the other hand, is probably the most conforming in structure to the Hollywood standard.  It pays off though.  Paul Newman plays Kenneth Lay Sidney Mussburger, a conniving member of the board of Hudsucker Industries, who sabotages his company for personal gain.  Newman plays this part to perfection but is usually overlooked by Tim Robbins (who is also great).  Although, I would argue Newman is the one who carries the greatest load as his character actually drives the plot.  Regardless, Proxy passes all of my tests for greatness.

Road to Perdition (2002)

I just recently touched on Road to Perdition in AFI’s Ten Top Tens: Gangster.  Sam Mende’s second major motion picture (no kidding!) is a remarkable undertaking, adapted from Max Allan Collin’s equally impressive graphic novel.  Some, like Roger Ebert, who otherwise reviewed the film favorably, complain that the movie is too distant to the audience.  I disagree, but then I relate quite well to the cold, dark, brooding, distance of such films.

Let’s mention again that the standard of cinematography is set by Conrad Hall’s work in this film.  It seems that every single frame of this picture could be placed on a wall and enjoyed as art.  The Academy didn’t have a choice but to give him the film’s sole Oscar.  Newman, as always, brings such vibrance and sincerity to his role as John Rooney.  Rooney is a complicated person as is his surrogate son and favored employee/enforcer, Michael Sullivan, Sr. (Tom Hanks), and complicated as well is his son Michael Sullivan, Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin).  All three do a marvelous job, but Newman’s presence alone has such an effect in grounding their performances and placing such unbearable weight on the light celluloid.

Jude Law also proves irreplacable in his role as the man who must bring down the giant that is Sullivan.  This part reiterates that though Jude Law may not have what it takes to be a lead as Hanks or Newman does, but he is a remarkable supporting player.  Everything about the film is near perfect.  I can’t say enough about it.  The fact that it is Newman’s final screen appearance (he continued voice-over in a few films in years later) just places that much more poignance on the film in cinematic history.

Newman-O’s!! (1993)

I said I would do a piece about Newman’s most significant work.  If you’ve had Newman-O’s before, you know that this is definitely a good selection.  The best part about them is they come in mint flavored creme that’s non-dairy and all kinds are organic.  So, whether or not you actually give a crap about organic or vegan foods, you can feel like a jobless hippy for a day.  It gets better when you understand that since its inception, Newman’s Own brand has donated all profits to thousands of charities world-wide.  The grand total thusfar comes to over $250 million!  Astounding.  So, eat some good cookies, support charity, and feel good about yourself.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else accomplishing to such a vast extent what Newman has accomplished in his lifetime.  Let’s not forget too that he is a successful husband to his wife Joanne Woodward for more than 50 years.  That’s like half a millenia in Hollywood marriage years.  Remember that in such a case as his, death is not a tragedy, but a celebration of an individual’s ability to help shape the world.  Today, I’ll reflect on how little I’ve accomplished compared to Newman and probably get a little depressed.  But then, I’ll pull myself together, eat some Newman-O’s, watch Road to Perdition and suddenly realize that things aren’t so bad afterall.  I suggest you do something similar.