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A Fan's Report: "Diary of a Mad for David Strathairn Housewife"

2008-07-31T18:50:00.002-04:00

Though I am not regularly updating this blog anymore, I recently received a wonderful essay written by a David Strathairn fan. It was about her journey across the U.S. to see Mr. Strathain in Hannah and Martin. Be sure to read it below and, should you want to, feel free to respond and share your own Strathairn encounters.

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Diary of a Mad for David Strathairn Housewife
By P.V.

Let’s face it, the last time I felt this way was when I used to drag my parents to nine am mass on Sunday so I could stare at the back of Dave Del Grande’s head. It was a crush so powerful, I forgot to pray for bigger boobs, smaller lips, and a 1600 on my SAT. I forgot everything. Except to wear my tightest, sexiest jeans.

I’m in “love” like that again. But now, all I have to do is turn on my DVD player. David Strathairn, David Strathairn, David Strathairn…. Isn’t his name amazing? I keep saying it out loud until my husband and two young sons just roll their eyes. “Are you watching “Limbo” again, mom?” they sigh. You may not recognize his name, but I’m sure you’d know his face. He’s the tall, dark and handsome actor who played Eddie Cicotte in Eight Men Out, the poker faced pimp in LA Confidential, the smooth-talking, pathetic high school teacher in Blue Car. He excels at playing complicated men-- the quiet thinker, the tortured everyman, the conflicted pervert.

And because my devotion to him knows no bounds, I am forced to do the one thing I despise more than anything. Travel.

He’s in a play in New York, and I’m going. By myself. This is no small day trip, as I live in Los Angeles. I’ve bought my plane ticket, booked my hotel, and packed my tightest jeans. I’m petrified. I’ve never traveled alone, have only been to New York once before, and my nine years as a stay at home mom have cemented my love for routine. Get up, make coffee, fix lunches, feed frogs… From the steel-enforced bubble of my air conditioned minivan, New York seems like a frightening cauldron of chaos, the subway system a labyrinth from hell. I am deluged by images from the 1980’s-- blackouts, muggings, the Central Park Jogger…

But still, D.S. is there. And so I must go.

My five year old helps me pack. He insists I bring a fancy outfit and a checkers set. He says he won’t miss me at all.

I walk onto the plane, sans card games, Star Wars books, string cheese and sippy cups. I keep checking my bag, feel like I’ve forgotten something. Oh yeah-- my family! As we take off, I realize that this is more than just a trip to see an actor, it’s a journey back to my life before marriage and kids. A trek back to ancient days before two a.m. feedings and carpools, before every plastic container was evaluated on sight as a possible barf bucket. To a time when I was, pure and simple, a theater geek who loved to sit in the dark and dream. My youngest son is about to begin kindergarten and I’m feeling the vague urge to restart the writing career I abandoned when my kids were born. But here’s the question. Do I have the energy, the passion, the courage to try again? Have I waited too long to go back?

As my taxi approaches Manhattan, I press my nose to the glass. I feel like Marjorie Morningstar, about to arrive at South Wind. Like I did when my parents drove me up to my freshman dorm. New York City, in all its elegant glory, stretches out before me. I want to simultaneously do a war whoop and run screaming back to my Honda Odyssey.

I step into my hotel room, and breathe in the silence. It’s weirdly like church. Dave Del Grande is nowhere in sight, but I realize how much I’ve missed having a quiet place to be alone. I sit down on the bedspread and actually start to get weepy as I realize I can hear myself think. And that I’ll have to face these thoughts. What the hell am I doing here? Have I really flown across the country to see an actor I think is cute? Am I insane? I dress for dinner, nervous. One of my biggest fears about this trip has been having to eat alone, as in L.A. this is tantamount to having the word “loser” stamped on your forehead. But as I enter a nearby pub, its hushed darkness comforting, I relax. I sit and have a glass of wine, eat my food slowly. There is no jabbering, milk spilling, fighting. I can taste my fish, my salad, the bread… All around me are men, eating by themselves. I feel their power.

After a few glitches (intending to go to Ground Zero, I end up at Coney Island), I find my city legs. I ride the subway everywhere—to the Met, the Frick Collection… I go see “Assassins” at the Roundabout Theater and “Bug” in Greenwich Village. When I want to speak to people, I do. When I don’t, I’m silent. I don’t shout the words, “Stop that!” even once. Instead, I wake up late and eat croissants. I stare deeply at Jackson Pollock paintings. I smile. I write furiously in my notebook-- page after page after page after page. Where are all these ideas coming from? And where have they been hiding all these years?

Finally, the day arrives. I wake up and wonder why my stomach hurts. Then I remember. Today is the day I’m seeing D.S. I’ll be just a few feet away from him. I look at a plastic ice container and start evaluating it as a barf bucket for me. I suddenly realize that maybe you’re not supposed to actually see your movie star crush in person. Maybe you’re supposed to stay like, 3,000 miles away. Will I start sobbing/shaking when he walks onstage? Turn into one of those insane Beatles fans who drag their fingernails down their face?

I get to Soho early and try not to have a heart attack. I walk around, pretending to shop, then at 2:30 head to the Manhattan Ensemble Theater to watch “Hannah and Martin”-- a play about the real life love affair between German philosophers Hannah Arendt and Martin Heidegger.

I sit down and realize that this moment, my sitting in this chair, is why I came.

The lights dim and the play begins. I am lost. Lost in my theater past, lost in the experience of watching a play about something important—the complexities of love.

When the lights come up, I am stunned to find that I don’t feel like dragging my fingernails down my face at all. D.S.’s performance as Heidegger is amazing—deluded, brilliant, frightening-- and during the after play discussion, I stare at him. He’s wearing jeans, a white shirt, his hair rumpled, looks like a regular guy. And suddenly I understand that I’m not actually in LOVE with David Strathairn, but instead want to BE David Strathairn. Doing something I’m passionate about, and doing it well. I’d trade nothing for having my children, kissing their sweaty heads, rushing to the emergency room in the middle of the night, hearing them sing when they think no one’s listening… But I miss me. Seeing this actor, in this city, has reminded me of the complexities of what I love. Of who I am.

I step outside the theater. The sun is going down, the streets are emptying. I grab a cup of coffee and walk toward the subway. A French tourist asks me for directions. For the first time in nine years, I feel like I belong in my own skin.

Underground, I watch the subway whiz by then screech to a stop. I step inside, ready to go home.

I laugh out loud to think that my crush was really on myself. And that I can finally ditch these jeans.

Thank God. Because damn, they’re tight.

M'kay...

2008-06-02T18:02:00.001-04:00

So...hi. It's been awhile since I've updated the blog. Sorry.

I don't think I'm going to continue this blog much longer, to be honest. Life's too hectic and busy, and it's becoming difficult enough just to keep up with and update the website. So this blog may have to either be put on hold or dropped entirely.

Sorry, guys. But whenever new Strathairn projects come up, feel free to leave comments/feedback/thoughts if you really want.

Adios for now!

My Blueberry Nights

2008-04-03T22:42:00.004-04:00

My apologies for the lack of entries. I've been rather swamped. I'm getting ready for a major senior art exhibition (as well as graduation!) at the end of the month, so my thoughts and time has been, well, elsewhere. But on to David..!

My Blueberry Nights opens in limited theaters around the country starting tomorrow. If it's playing in your area, either now or in the next several weeks, we are reserving this entry for any thoughts/opinions on Wong Kar-wai's English language debut (and, of course, David's performance). Let us know what you think.

Converse About Conversations... (Update)

2008-02-19T11:44:00.002-05:00

Conversations in Tusculum starts preview performances tonight and, as such, we would like to reserve this entry for any future thoughts/comments/reviews from fans who see the play during its run through March 23.

So, if you wish to share your thoughts, please post them under this entry. Knock on wood!, I'll be seeing the Saturday, March 8 matinee show (unless I'm hit by a bus or something)..and I hope I will not be the only one to put in my two cents here afterwards.

Edit: Short two cents below.

Did not get hit by a bus. Miraculously made it to NYC and, even more miraculously, saw the show on Saturday afternoon. It was terrific--thoughtful, engaging, complex, interesting..wonderful to finally see Mr. Strathairn perform live and worth every penny. Strathairn, Aidan Quinn, and Brian Dennehy are a powerhouse group and each was outstanding in their own right. David's performance was natural and subtle but great, even hilarious at times.

If you're looking for a good way to spend your time in NYC or just for "something to do", the play has extended to March 30th. Highly recommend that you check it out.

The Spiderwick Chronicles - Update (Review)

2008-02-15T17:15:00.004-05:00

As most of you know, David's newest film, The Spiderwick Chronicles, opened in theaters nationwide yesterday. We would like to reserve this entry for any Strathairnators who see the film in the coming days/weeks/month to share your thoughts on the flick. What did you think of David's peformance? His character? The other actors? The film as a whole? Let us know.

I'm hoping to catch it this weekend and will, of course, report back afterwards. Go see it guys! :)

So what are your thoughts on The Spiderwick Chronicles?

EDIT: My review is below.

I saw the film on Saturday. As a whole (and having not read the books), I found the film enjoyable. It's geared more for children, naturally, but it was easy enough to get into the story and characters and the "magical, unseen world" inhabited by goblins, faeries, ogres, etc.

That being said, I was surprised at how short the film ended up being (and feeling). The plot felt rushed, most particularly in the beginning and at the very end (the villians demise was particularly annoying and bogus to me), with the magical aspects of the story being thrust upon the viewer rather than eased into. But then, considering it's a film for families, anything longer might have been too much for youngsters. The writing team (which includes John Sayles!) appears to have done a clever job of condensing the books, but there are still loop holes--a major one having to do with David's character, Arthur Spiderwick.

At one point in the story, the Grace children must seek out Spiderwick to have him destroy the book and, when they discover him, he has lost all sense of time. As it turns out, he has spent the past 125 years hanging around in a secluded forest (doing what, we are left to guess) and walking around transfixed. He is not dead, but then, what has been doing and where exactly is he? It's bizarre and never explained. (Perhaps, I can only hope, there will be an important deleted scene on the DVD to explain this in the future!)

The cast is solid. Freddie Highmore's performance or, I should say, performances surprised me. He manages a terrific job at portraying twins with separate and unique personalities, a feat hard for even great adult actors to pull off. Sarah Bolger was fine. I loved her work in In America and, here, she pulls in a decent performance. The animated voice work (as well as the CGI effects in general) from Martin Short, Seth Rogen, and Nick Nolte are wonderfully done. The only actor who was problematic for me (and was a surprise) was Mary-Louise Parker. Parker is an oustanding actress, but in this fantastical flick she seems utterly lost..not quite in character and not quite with the story.

It's a first to see David in a fantasy genre, and it was exciting and strange and enjoyable watching him in this playful environment. Unfortunately, and as I suspected, his screen time is limited and his character is way underused (despite his relevance and importance to the story). But even with these disappointments, David manages to make Arthur Spiderwick a quirky, somewhat mad and somewhat playful character that--if left to another actor--would have gone completely unnoticed or remembered. That's one of the beauties of David's craft, and it was admitedly fun watching him partake in some of the animated sequences and even battle goblins. A later scene with veteran actress Joan Plowright is particularly memorable.

In retrospect, I only wish we could have received further glimpses of his character--a wish that I hope will come with the future DVD release.

Eight Men Out

2008-02-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

Very excited! A brand spankin' new 20th anniversary DVD edition of John Sayles's Eight Men Out is coming out March 18th! Not only that, but it will reportedly contain a bunch of new goodies (aka "special features"), which the movie geek in me totally digs. :)

Eight Men Out is my favorite Sayles film for many reasons (and one of these days I'll get around to adding more reviews, including one from this terrific flick). It also happens to be one of my personal favorite Strathairn performances. Nice to see that David is on the cover of the new edition, too:

Now we just need a new special edition DVD of Matewan. No 20th anniversary edition last year and no special features on the sole DVD avaliable. Hopefully they'll get around to issuing us Sayles/Strathairn fans a new one, because the film deserves it.

Birthday Wishes

2008-01-26T01:23:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

2008-01-22T22:33:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with David, but I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincerest condolences to Heath Ledger's family, friends, and fans today. It is shocking that such a talented and intelligent young man, who showed so much promise so early on in his career, has passed away at only 28 years old.

I admired Ledger's work ever since The Patriot (2000) and continually respected his down-to-earth nature, his commmitment to his craft, the private and "un-Hollywood" path he chose and that, despite his increasing fame and popularity over the years, he never seemed to let it get in the way of his acting. (Does not seem all that different from Mr. Strathairn to a certain extent, does it?)

Like everyone else, I am truely shocked by this news. It's very tragic, very sad, and what a shame for all those who loved his work and were always looking forward to the next performance he would take on. Hollywood has lost an incrediblely gifted young actor.

In closing, I will just say to have a read (if you have not already or if it has been awhile) of the following interview David did prior to the Oscars, in which he praised his fellow Best Actor nominee, Ledger. I think David's praises are fitting enough:

Strathairn praises Oscar rival Ledger
MSN
February 3, 2006
By unknown

Heath Ledger's Oscar rival David Strathairn says the Australian actor hasn't received enough recognition for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

"Heath is getting recognition for it but I am surprised why he is not getting more because that was not an easy thing to do," Strathairn told AAP from the United States.

"Heath went out on a limb there and really held on.

"His performance is a quiet one...but I think what he has done was really hard to do. He took some really brave choices character-wise and just locked onto them."

Drinkin' Back Into Love

2008-01-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

Okay...so *cough!* this is totally illegal but *cough!* I (luckily, happily) came across it *cough!* the other night and..well, I couldn't *cough!* help myself...

Watch My Blueberry Nights

Or..

Watch (majority) of David's Scenes

Just try not to be moved by David's terribly sad performance..

Moss Goodman Moments...

2008-01-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

For any Molly Dodd fan, here are just a few of my favorite moments of David as the wonderful Moss Goodman...

Sesame Feet
Download
(choose the Save option)

Moss Serenades Molly
Download
(choose the Save option)

Switzerland
Download
(choose the Save option)

Squid
Download
(choose the Save option)

Watch many more here...

2008: A Preview

2008-01-02T14:16:00.000-05:00

Just a post about films, plays, works to come (thus far) in 2008...

My Blueberry Nights: In (Limited) Theaters - February 13, 2008

Wong Kar-wai's English language debut has gotten mixed reviews so far, but David's gotten praise all around for his small role. Having been quoted as saying it was one of the hardest parts he's ever taken has kept my interest afloat. Too bad it's a limited release.

The Spiderwick Chronicles - meet Mr. Spiderwick

The Spiderwick Chronicles: In Theaters - February 15, 2008

I was initially very excited at the idea of David in a fantasy picture, then when I saw the first trailer my excitement deminished. Now, I'm excited again. This looks great (and I'm sure the film has benefitted from having John Sayles on as one of the adaptive writers!) Can't wait to see David in this.

Conversations in Tusculum: Running Dates - February 19 - March 23, 2008

Psyched!

A Tale of Two Sisters: In Theaters - March 14, 2008(?)

I'm not sure how I feel about yet another Asian remake...but I should not judge before I see it. I finally saw the original about a month ago. Terrifying, and the father (whom David plays) doesn't have much of a role at all, so *fingers crossed* that David will have some decent screen time.

Trumbo: The Art of the Fight: In Theaters - Spring 2008

This documentary has been receiving rave reviews thus far, so I'm certainly curious...

Them That Work: TBA 2008

A tribute and I'm sure-to-be interesting behind the scenes documentary on Matewan (1987). I'm excited for this; one of Sayles's finest films and a real cinema treat.

The People Speak: TBA 2008

A four-hour miniseries. (Yikes!) But the material is interesting, and I've only recently stumbled upon Howard Zinn's work, so we shall see. I wish I could be in Boston next week to see all the great (FREE!) live performances they're doing for the documentary.

Challenger - still a go?

Hereafter, Challenger: TBA 2008

I'm listing these together because, well, it's unknown at the present whether these films are still happening at all. :( It will be a real pity if they are not, because both sound like terrific stories, as well as high-profile roles for David. Let's hope they're still "happening"!

Which projects are you looking forward to seeing? Leave a comment!

In the Ether...

2007-12-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

So this is somewhat less on the topic of David and rather the site, but I must gripe and plug here at the same time.

David Strathairn Online has suddenly dropped from Google for no apparent reason. I've chatted with some "Google experts" who have been giving me tips on what coding and such within the site has to be changed, etc. to "most likely" get the site ranked (and accessible!) again via Google. I have my work cut out for me...far more than I can even stress over. I don't know when I'll get around to doing all the changes that need to be done (and who the heck knows if they will even work!) but a new layout may be in store sooner than I care for...

Google, of course, is the number one search engine in the world and it's where David Strathairn Online, naturally, gets the majority of it's hits and visitors. So, the next time you type in the site or David on Google, please know (and spread the word!) that the site is still out there...we're just, hopefully, temporarily "in the ether"...

Boo. :(

How Andrea's feeling right about now...

Edit: We seem to be back on Google, but it's probably only temporary. *fingers crossed!*

The Play's the Thing...

2007-12-22T09:11:00.000-05:00

The Public Theater's upcoming production of Conversations In Tusculum, which David will star in along with Brian Dennehy and Maria Tucci, starts performances in February. The play itself, as well as the cast, really interests me (I'm a bit a of history buff/geek/nerd..) So, those are exciting prospects in themselves. But most of all, I'm excited that I may actually get to see this production.

It's a horrid fact that I've never seen David in a play (or stage reading). It's not the location, as I live easily within driving distance from NYC and go there often. It's come down to the fact that, when it comes to seeing David on stage, I simply have pure awful luck. There have been several "attempts" and many plans to make it to a play or stage reading of his in the past, and each and every single time it's fallen apart. Bad Strathairn Stage-Seeing Karma, as I call it.

David in The Winter's Tale, one of many plays Andrea did not see because of Bad Strathairn Stage-Seeing Karma

There was Rodney's Wife which I tried to see but initial plans fell through... Hannah and Martin in which we could not get tickets for the one weekend we could go... The Winter's Tale which, for some crazy reason, no one wanted to see but me(!)... Epic Theatre's stage reading of Beauty On the Vine which was FREE (you cannot pass that up, especially if you're a poor student!) and I made plans to go to but got called into work at the last minute... His recent one-week stint in Beauty On the Vine which I was offered two free tickets to use anytime (this was before David was added to the cast) but could not muster up the courage to ask the company director to use them during David's run with the play (yeah, "Stupid" should probably be written across my forehead)... And then there were all the other prospective plays I wanted to see but simply could not go to because of school..Dance of Death, Salome, Cherry Docs and Every Good Boy Deserves Favor (which kills me because both of these were in nearby Philly, of all places!), Sally's Gone She Left Her Name (also in PA!), Monday Night Macbeth, etc. etc. etc.

I envy all the New Yorkers who regularly get to see him in these works! But, hopefully, fingers crossed!, plans are solid thus far to attend a performance of Conversations In Tusculum. Maybe, just maybe, I'll finally be able to count myself amongst the lucky theatergoers who saw David perform live on stage. :)

Then again, I'll update on this if/when Bad Strathairn Stage-Seeing Karma bites me in the @$$.

If you've seen a play or stage reading of David's, please share!

Review: Matters of Life and Death (2007)

2007-12-16T22:36:00.000-05:00

Short Version: Cameo.

Long(er) Version: My DVD copy of Matters of Life and Death arrived the other day. (The expense ended up being rather pricey..especially for a "short" and not a full-length feature). But that's beside the point.

The story is about three siblings dealing with their grief in loosing their parents in the 9-11 attacks. The parents' deaths are not explained until half-way through the story; meanwhile, all three siblings (Rachel Leigh Cook, Joseph Mazzello, Nick Heyman) are dealing with their grief differently. Emily (Cook) gets stoned, Jon (Heyman) is sedated, and David (Mazzello) is trying to hold everyone together.

The film is emotionally honest enough (if not a bit contrived) and, for young actor Mazzello, it is a very solid directorial debut. Of the three young actors, Mazzello is the emotional center, as well as the best actor.

David shows up near the end of the film in a flashback as the childrens' father. It's very short (maybe 30 seconds) and the dialogue between he and his young sons is a bit..fluffy, but it's memorable. What's interesting is that, despite the audience not ever seeing the childrens' parents (there are no closeup photographs and not until the end of the film do we see David or hear the Mom's voice on a saved 9-11 phone message), their presence is felt very heavily throughout the entire film. Strange, but profound.

Overall, worth seeing once. But if you intend to buy it just for David's scenes, you'll be disappointed.

Thoughts, reviews on Matters of Life and Death? Leave a comment!

Interview

2007-12-13T16:49:00.000-05:00

Anyway, moving right along...

There have been a lot of new interviews David has done lately as a result of the The Bourne Ultimatum DVD release. Seems odd for there to be so many for the DVD release rather than the film's theatrical release, but I'm not complaining! Considering interviews with David are pretty rare, it's nice to suddenly read so many of them.

However, whenever a new film of his comes out now, these journalists tend to ask David the same questions over and over again (it drives me nuts!, so I can't imagine what it must be like for him during these press junkets to answer the same darn thing over and over and over again.) The interview below is an exception. It's one of the most interesting (and least repetitive!) I've read in awhile. Enjoy.

Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With...David Strathairn
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
December 10, 2007
Elegantly serious, actor David Strathairn wasn't always so composed. To watch his cool command of roles such as CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen in The Bourne Ultimatum or Edward R. Murrow in his Oscar-nominated performance in Good Night and Good Luck or even in a guest spot on HBO's The Sopranos it's hard to imagine he began as a clown. After graduating from Williams College, he joined the circus. Strathairn, 58, started a children's theater company and finally got a break when John Sayles cast him in Return of the Secaucus 7. The Bourne Ultimatum is available in stores on DVD tomorrow.
Q: Your parents were professionals. Was there some dismay when you ran off to join the circus?
A: I don't know. You know, I never really had a one on one, except for, after the fact. Yeah, I suspect there was a bit of dismay. I remember both of them kind of instilling us with whatever you feel passionate about, go for it. Although the times, from let's say 1960 to '75, were tumultuous. There probably were a lot of parents who were dismayed. (Laughing)
Read more (via the site)

Ho hum

2007-12-10T19:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a feeling this is going to be more of a David Strathairn Online (aka Andrea) blog rather than a fans' blog since no one's commenting. I didn't expect participation, really..but then I've tried repeatedly to make both the website and now this place more of a "fan-friendly communal sort of place".

Oh, well.

I rarely get feedback on the website (far less than I use to, anyway), so I shouldn't be surprised.. I'm trying to stay positive but it's turning out to be a letdown.

Very tired of trying, but I'll just use this more for my own random DS musings, reviews, etc. (Though that was never the point, nor is that nearly as fun.) But, clearly, no one's reading these entries besides me so..perhaps it's just as well.

That's all for now.

Matters of Life and Death on DVD...

2007-12-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

Was happy to wake up and find in my e-mail box news on the DVD release of Matters of Life and Death (finally!), a short David did some time ago. You can order it here.

From what I've gathered on the film over the past two years, David's role sounds more like a cameo, but we shall see. I just ordered mine and will report back after I've seen it. :)

Review: Good Night, And Good Luck (2005)

2007-12-04T22:03:00.000-05:00

Found a review I had posted via the website when the film first came out. Normally, I do not post reviews at David Strathairn Online. Infact, this was the only time I did. Not that I do not like to promote David's brilliant work, but a personal review from me on the website has always felt like..to be extreme..sabatage. It's opinionated and, yes, even biased. I can certainly admit to being biased about David's work on the simple fact that I enjoy his unique artistry, regardless of how horrible the rest of the picture may be. I'll always support David's performances, mainly because I'm continually left in awe but also because I have yet to see him do something, well, god-awful (and, by that, I mean his particular performance and not the project as a whole).

By pure luck, I was able to see Good Night, And Good Luck on it's opening day (October 7, 2005). My art college does an annual trip to NYC every Fall; when the trip was rescheduled to go to D.C. that year, on that particular rainy day, my friend and I opted to see the film. I was glad my friend was even interested in seeing it. Generally, my friends don't follow the "independent circuit", nor Strathairn's work for that matter. (A shame, yes, but true..I seem to be a loner in my my particular films and artists of interest. Always have been.) Here were my first thoughts and reactions after seeing the film:

As a simple viewer, I have eagerly been anticipating the release of
Good Night, And Good Luck since it was in its early production
stages. After several months, I was able to finally see the film on
its limited opening day in Washington, D.C. Like so many other
audience members out there, I was not disappointed.

Viewing Good Night, And Good Luck was such a compelling, personal,
and unique experience for me. Many of my generation have grown up
knowing very little about Murrow and the profound impact he had.
After David Strathairn signed on to the project, I decided to do
some research of my own into the backstory, timeline, and characters.
I have now become fascinated with this man, the "Murrow boys", and
the courageous stance they took at that time. I pray and hope more
young viewers will go and see this picture. It was such an important
frame in American history and, after learning about it, I was
ashamed to realize how little I had known about it beforehand, and
how little we had talked about it in (i.e.) my American history
class in high school just a few years ago. I hope this film will
change that for the young generation. When young people my age do
not know who McCarthy was, let alone Murrow, I hope they will check
out this film to find out and, more importantly, recognize Murrow's
importance. We should all know more about this man.

Good Night, And Good Luck is a beautiful, excellent, smart film that
should expand to a larger audience. Not trying to preach to the
choir here, but everyone--young and old--should give this film a
chance. No matter what your political beliefs are or what your
feelings towards that particular era in American history may be,
it's more than well-worth the exploration. The choices George Clooney
made in directing this picture have paid off, I think (i.e. shooting
in black and white, using a fair amount of real archive footage,
inserting jazz music and not an actual score.) These elements all
work to the film's advantage and make it all the more compelling.

It is very rare for me (as a movie buff) to leave a film feeling
inspired, geninuenly moved, and sad all at once. This film did that
to me. I found myself especially touched by its many grave messages:
a hero like Murrow no longer exists and never will again, the fact
that this courageous man lost so much for sticking his neck out for
the good of the country, how far and off the scale the media has
treaded, and how soon we forgot what Murrow and his "boys" did.
Clooney does not submit to a happy ending. Murrow's See It Now
program is moved to a bad Sunday time slot, and the significance of
his impact will not be felt for years. It's a tragic moment, and we
feel the weight and guilt of Murrow's powerful words in the last
scene, in which he describes the impact--both positive and negative--
that television can have.

And now we come to it. I have to comment on Mr. Strathairn's
performance as the weighty Murrow. He is, simply put, a marvel. It
was truely an awesome, moving (yes, emotional) experience to watch
an underrated actor I've admired for years take on this role and
tackle it so beautifully and effortlessly. From the man's physical
stature to his beautiful speeches to his authorative voice to his
signature cigarette and commanding presence, David captured all of
these qualities that gave Murrow his edge. I was floored by his
performance. Knocked off my feet. It is powerful, courageous, and
even inspiring. Yes, I knew he'd be good, but this performance blew
all my expectations out of the water. He completely immerses himself
in the role (no surprise there.) But, as a long-time fan of the
man's work, I was surprised to even find myself not watching David.
I was watching Murrow. And it takes a damn fine actor to make that
kind of transition and impact. It is more than Oscar worthy, and I
hope when awards season comes that David's fine performance will be
both remembered and honored. This veteran character actor deserves
more of this kind of treatment. It is wonderful to see him getting
his moment in the sun. :)

If Good Night, And Good Luck is playing anywhere near your area,
run, don't walk to see it! You will be glad you did.

Not at all the best "review" of the film, but a very basic overview to how I felt (and still feel) about this film. It did wonderful things for David's career, of course, and I think most fans can agree that--despite David's "under the radar" career--it was very exciting, if not just fun (and a little bizarre), to see him at the Golden Globes. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards. At the Oscars. It was temporary but, admitedly, wonderful to finally see David receiving this long, overdue recognition. David loosing the Oscar was disappointing, naturally, but not devastating. The Academy acknowledging his beautiful Murrow performance was, quite frankly, enough to at least satisfy me more than half-way. And it was even a bit of a relief to see the accolades and whistles surrounding David at that time, ultimately, not affect him, nor his further decision-making in future projects. I respect and admire his continued return to independent films, his continued support of organizations and charities through stage readings, and his continued commitment to exploring his craft and choosing projects based on the quality of the story rather than the quantity of his lines or screen time.

But I will also say that Good Night, And Good Luck (like, perhaps, Limbo or Blue Car), was a rare, wonderful "lead role"..to be cliche and blunt for a moment..that I can only hope we will see again before too long.

Thoughts, reviews on Good Night, And Good Luck? Leave a comment!

Masterclass With Teens

2007-12-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

I highly recommend downloading and watching the following video. It's interesting and a short but rare insight into Mr. Strathairn's approach to his craft:

Masterclass With Teens
Download
(choose the Save option)

From one artist to another (and of different media and craft), I find these kind of glimpses really fascinating--both creatively and personally.

Weighing In...

2007-12-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

At the moment, I'm trying to go through past comments/posts I've made on other forums in regards to any Strathairn films after I first saw them.. There aren't many, but looking back and rereading them, it's fun to try and remember my inital reactions to certain roles, films, scenes.

I'll start reposting them soon, so if anyone has their own thoughts/reviews to share, comment away..

First Time For Everything

2007-11-27T23:23:00.000-05:00

We cracked. We've joined the masses.

David Strathairn Online now has a blog--a little spot on the web for open discussion on the ongoing career of David Strathairn. A place for David Strathairn Online, as well as his fans, to post thoughts, reviews, random musings on David's work: past, present and future.

We considered doing this over at LiveJournal, but it ended up being more complicated than was initially thought. So, basically this is a "test run"..to see how many Strathairnators will actually participate (in other words, comment!) in response to our future posts. The last thing David Strathairn Online wants is to have an ongoing review or discussion with...itself. So, comment! Leave your feedback. Discuss your favorite DS films, roles, or post a review on David's latest movie or play or stage reading you've seen. The blog isn't meant to be a "chat room" but more of an informative, fun place to review/comment on particular DS projects. Feel free to weigh in on David's interesting, diverse, (still) underappreciated roles, films, plays, stories...you get the drill.

Just a few guidelines:

1). This blog is for discussion on Mr. Strathairn's career ONLY. Commenting on David's personal life or infringing upon his privacy is not allowed, and any such comments will be deleted immediately.

2). No explicit language. It's unnecessary.

3). Be friendly and curteous to eachother. Debating and disagreeing with other fans is fine, but be respectful and adult about it, okay? Shooting your mouth off, spamming, or being altogether hostile towards other fans will just get your comments deleted from the blog.

Simple enough, right? So, lets get started! :)