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Monday, August 20, 2012

TONY SCOTT 1944-2012
An Unyielding Boy Scout, To The Very End


Tony Scott, the British filmmaker, pictured two years ago.  Mr. Scott committed suicide on Sunday night not far from Long Beach, California.  Gus Ruelas/Associated Press
    
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        FOLLOW                                            TWEET
Monday, August 20, 2012

The news had barely sunk in as my eyeballs saw the words on Twitter: Tony Scott was dead in an apparent suicide. 

I don't know why. 

I just know that I am shocked.  Horrified.  Stunned.  Deeply sad for Tony's wife and family, and his brother, Ridley "Prometheus" Scott. 

You never know what people are going through. 

Tony Scott seemingly had what in times like these many can only hope for: economic stability, worldwide respect for his craft, and a wife he could confide in.

Mr. Scott's aggressive filmmaking style of tense high-wire, quick-cutting movies was never my cup of tea but that is meaningless at this moment. 

The highest notes Mr. Scott hit on the big screen were "Top Gun", "True Romance", "Crimson Tide", "Enemy Of The State" and "Déjà Vu".  Denzel Washington was the actor with whom he collaborated most (five times).  They appeared to bring the best out of each other in potent, visceral, urgent action films brimming with masculinity, deliberation and intellect.  Mr. Washington's dynamism and Mr. Scott's kinetics melded, especially on "Man On Fire", although "Déjà Vu" and "Crimson Tide" were their greatest moments.

Mr. Scott was born and raised in England and became an impressive filmmaker building a resume that included "Top Gun", which put him on the map in Hollywood, and "Beverly Hills Cop II".  Mr. Scott also directed music videos and short films.

"The Last Boy Scout" personified the rough and tumble of Tony Scott's fast, frenzied filmmaking career.  There's no doubt that he had passion as a filmmaker.  He also was one of the few directors who consistently partnered black and white stars together on the big screen in his films.  Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans; Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington; Will Smith and Gene Hackman; Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold; Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes; Denzel Washington and John Travolta; Denzel Washington and Chris Pine.

With his sudden death last night -- a leap from a bridge near Long Beach, California, Tony Scott leaves behind his body of film work, a suicide note, but most of all a lot of wounded saddened hearts.

I know the filmmaking world just won't be quite the same without Tony Scott in it.

To borrow a phrase from Mr. Scott's "Man On Fire" that sadly applies to the director: "I wish.  You had.  More time."

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