Don't expect a Gene Hackman comeback
Gene Hackman gave a rare interview to Larry King in 2004, where the host asked him if he would reconsider his decision on retiring from showbiz. "If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people," he said. The two-time Academy Award winner, who turned 87 on January 30, turned to writing and relocated to Santa Fe, Mexico.
Hackman, who was born in San Bernardino, California, wouldn't be the ideal leading man. It didn't matter, as he came to Hollywood at the right time. It was the last days of the studio system, a departure from the big-budget productions that MGM popularized during its heyday. Moviegoers saw movies that have no subtle references to violence, and sexuality would be out of the bag. Hackman stood out in a supporting role, even played a memorable villain. It doesn't mean that he wouldn't be ripe for the lead. Films like "I Never Sang for my Father" showed his abilities, which would put him on the same company as Dustin Hoffman. And he didn't have a reputation of being difficult to work with. He did comedy (like "Get Shorty"), but the towering actor would be identified with action and thriller. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association honored him with the Cecil B. DeMille Award before his retirement, but this would be a coincidence.
Let's have a look at his five most memorable roles:
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) by Arthur Hiller. Some critics were reluctant to heap praise on this film, citing its tone that glorified criminals. Warner Bros. knew they weren't taking any risks, as it was a tumultuous time in America. It might be different from the Great Depression, the setting of the film, but the feeling was undoubtedly the same. The on-screen chemistry between Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway may divide viewers, but the supporting cast exceeded beyond expectations. Hackman, who played Clyde's older brother, was not only perfect for the role. He overshadowed his costars at times, which was too bad. Hiller wasn't thinking of a spin-off (feature Clyde Barrow).
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) by Ronald Neame. Hackman wasn't miscast as Reverend Frank Scott. Amidst the chaos (and confusion), Reverend Scott would find his true calling. This would define the big-budget disaster films that marked the 1970s, and the viewers could tell that the cast wasn't hamming it up. Otherwise, no one would remember it. There won't be a remake either.
Superman (1978) by Richard Donner. Lex Luthor was played countless times, but Hackman's performance would define this unforgettable villain. His Luthor didn't border on the extreme, not even upstaged Christopher Reeve's Superman. (This happened to be a motion picture between the two.) Donner may not claim most of the credit, as Hackman knew that the character was more than the cardboard type. It would be scary to think that this kind of people exists somewhere.
Mississippi Burning (1988) by Alan Parker. Chris Gerolmo's script drew mixed reactions, as it examined the murder of three civil-rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. Black Power was on the rise, and it would be up to two white FBI agents to solve the case. Viewers don't need to read history books to sense that the truth could be murkier than how Parker depicted the events. If it not for Hackman (and Willem Defoe to some extent), this one could be overlooked during the awards season. Hackman may have drawn from experience, as it was hard to tell if his Agent Rupert Anderson was on the side of the law or against it. Internal struggle won't be easy to act out most of the time especially this one.
The Firm (1993) by Sidney Pollack. John Grisham's writing abilities may have divided readers, but the big-screen version drew positive reactions. It was perfect for a thriller, and the author may have thought of Hackman to portray the head of the law firm who wasn't black and white as he was sworn to be. There was a gray area, a huge one, which an actor like Hackman knew (how to approach it). And Tom Cruise didn't upstage him.
