A.V. Opinions: Rediscovering Gene Hackman
On January 30, Gene Hackman will turn 95 years old. Seeing a recent photo of him made me realize just how long it’s been since I’ve thought about him or his movies. And that’s a shame because Hackman is one of the most versatile actors to ever grace the screen. The more I thought about it, the more I realized—yeah, he has to be one of my favorite actors of all time. That thought is what made me write this article highlighting his career. So, naturally, I started binge-watching his films, and man, what a legend.
Hackman could do it all. He played hard-nosed cops (The French Connection), tormented private investigators (The Conversation), grizzled gunslingers (Unforgiven), ruthless criminals (Heist), and even a drunk but lovable basketball coach (Hoosiers). He could chew scenery as Lex Luthor (Superman) and then turn around and deliver quiet, nuanced performances (Mississippi Burning). Even when he wasn’t the lead, he elevated everything around him.
His more well-known films speak for themselves, but diving into his lesser-seen work has been just as rewarding. Enemy of the State is a blast, especially when viewed as a “sequel” to The Conversation. It’s not, of course, but it’s fun to imagine Hackman’s character as an older, even more paranoid Harry Caul. Narrow Margin is an underrated thriller that deserves another look, as does Night Moves, a fantastic neo-noir that too often gets overlooked. And how about The Quick and the Dead? A Sam Raimi western with Hackman playing yet another menacing villain, what’s not to love?
Then there’s Get Shorty, Scarecrow, Prime Cut, and French Connection II, a sequel that nobody talks about but absolutely should. If you need a John Grisham fix, there’s The Firm and Runaway Jury, or if political thrillers are your thing, Absolute Power is worth revisiting. It’s especially interesting knowing that, five years after making the classic Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman teamed up again for this one. Sure, it pales in comparison, but it’s still worth a rewatch. And let’s not forget his other colorful roles in films like The Birdcage and The Royal Tenenbaums. The guy could do anything and work with anybody, no matter the genre or subject matter. Hackman truly had something for everyone.
He retired in 2004, he’s more than earned his peace. So here’s to Gene Hackman, one of the greatest to ever do it. If you haven’t watched one of his movies in a while, now’s the time.
-Brad McBoom