I was super upset this morning to hear of the passing of Bill Paxton.
Paxton was an actor who was memorable in every single role he played. I always found his characters to be relatable and likable, no matter what film he was in, or even what kind of character he was playing.
Aliens. Apollo 13. Titanic. Nightcrawler. True Lies. The man had a ton of range and was a frequent presence in some of my favorite movies of all time.
His directorial debut, Frailty, was a confident, creepy thriller and foretold the McConnaissance. It’s a movie that does not get nearly enough love.
His recent performance in Edge of Tomorrow may not be his best but it is one of my favorite. In it, he plays Master Sergeant Farell, a hardass who whips Tom Cruise’s character into shape and delivers harsh pronouncements with style:
The good news is there’s hope for you private. Hope in the form of glorious combat. Battle is the Great Redeemer. It is the fiery crucible in which true heroes are forged. The one place where all men truly share the same rank, regardless of what kind of parasitic scum they were going in.
No one could deliver a monologue quite like him.
RIP Bill Paxton. You brought joy to a lot of people.