RIP James Gandolfini

[the_poochies]

Yet other fictional mob bosses live on.

[guitarist]

Unfortunate that we live in an age where a notice of a death of a beloved talent is immediately followed by a scold "let this be a lesson to us".

I have a better idea. Let's not.

A person's demise needn't be a lesson, or a message, about anything. Better to respect the life they lived and the choices they made, they were their own. And be grateful. And save the finger-wagging for something more appropriate. Like training a dog, or lecturing a child.

It's possible to honor someone's life, and talent, without the obligatory PSA about smoking, drinking, overeating, or whatever ancient human vice they enjoyed. By habit, and by choice, not without pleasures, and not without risks. People who spend their lives avoiding unhealthy or improper behaviors, and carefully managing risks, drop dead, every day. Just like people with habits we don't approve of do. None of us escapes death.

We loved your work, James. You will be missed. You were one of this generation's finest actors, and left behind an indelible body of work. We will treasure it.

This message to reject the tyranny of socially-reinforced disapproval messages was brought to you by the Screen Actor's Guild, film lovers, TV fans, and Italian Americans everywhere.

[DeusxMac]

guitarist wrote:
Unfortunate that we live in an age where a notice of a death of a beloved talent is immediately followed by a scold "let this be a lesson to us".

To paraphrase Santayana;

Those who cannot learn from the mistakes of others are condemned to repeat them.

[August West]

guitarist wrote:
Unfortunate that we live in an age where a notice of a death of a beloved talent is immediately followed by a scold "let this be a lesson to us".

I have a better idea. Let's not.

A person's demise needn't be a lesson, or a message, about anything. Better to respect the life they lived and the choices they made, they were their own. And be grateful. And save the finger-wagging for something more appropriate. Like training a dog, or lecturing a child.

It's possible to honor someone's life, and talent, without the obligatory PSA about smoking, drinking, overeating, or whatever ancient human vice they enjoyed. By habit, and by choice, not without pleasures, and not without risks. People who spend their lives avoiding unhealthy or improper behaviors, and carefully managing risks, drop dead, every day. Just like people with habits we don't approve of do. None of us escapes death.

We loved your work, James. You will be missed. You were one of this generation's finest actors, and left behind an indelible body of work. We will treasure it.

This message to reject the tyranny of socially-reinforced disapproval messages was brought to you by the Screen Actor's Guild, film lovers, TV fans, and Italian Americans everywhere.

:repost:

[guitarist]

DeusxMac wrote:
[quote=guitarist]
Unfortunate that we live in an age where a notice of a death of a beloved talent is immediately followed by a scold "let this be a lesson to us".

To paraphrase Santayana;

Those who cannot learn from the mistakes of others are condemned to repeat them.
To paraphrase an ancient proverb..

"He who judges a man's life, by his vices, instead of his virtues, is doomed to an impoverished life, ruled by by insecurity and fear"

[Mike Johnson]

My dad was 49 when he had me, 51 when he had my sister. I was 37 when he died. He had a long and remarkable life, and I'm glad I was part of it. Most people don't know when they're going to die. Or when their children will die. If you're scared you might die when your kids are young, or that you might some day bury your child, parenting isn't for you.

[cbelt3]

A pity all round . Talented and leaves a young family.

[chopper]

My dad was 55 when I was born.

[miK.]

A nice touch.

[guitarist]

What are some favorite Gandolfini film roles? The non-Sopranos stuff.

I'm fond of his small role in "Get Shorty"

And his role as a General, in that droll political comedy...what was that movie's name?