SCIFIHISTORY.NET
  • MAINPAGE
  • About
  • Reviews
  • December
  • November
  • October
  • September
  • August
  • July
  • June
  • May
  • April
  • March
  • February
  • January

Stardate 03.14.2022.B: In Memoriam - William Hurt

3/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
It definitely gets a bit dicey on the Information Superhighway on the occasion of trying to cover the death of a celebrity who may’ve had a somewhat checkered past, but I do respectfully try to steer clear of many of those topics when possible.  If a simple ‘in memoriam’ post offends you, then please keep in mind that you are responsible for your triggers, just as I’m responsible for mine.
 
William Hurt was definitely one of the more celebrated actors of his generation.  Certainly, the lion’s share of his acclaim came in the 1980’s – perhaps when he was searching after and securing work in some of that decade’s meatier projects, but he leaves behind a legacy of over one hundred different screen credits for students who like to delve deeper into his craft.
 
So far as genre projects go, Hurt was no slouch.
 
His career certainly took off from its earliest days with a big role in Altered States, a 1980’s Science Fiction film from acclaimed director Ken Russell.  Hurt played ‘Eddie Jessup,’ a scientist who used sensory deprivation experiments to tap into what he believed were memories tied to his earlier genetic states, hence the film’s title.  (Though I’ve seen the film, it was years ago, and I don’t have much recollection of it other than a bit of confusion; this is one I probably need to rewatch before saying anything further about it.)  In 1981, the feature won the Saturn Award for ‘Best Make-up’ while having to settle for nominations only in the categories of ‘Best Writing,’ ‘Best Director,’ and ‘Best Science Fiction Film.’
 
After roughly a decade of work in conventional fare, genre called Hurt back to its influences with Wim Wenders Until The End Of The World (1991), another flick I’ve no problem admitting I found a bit confusing.  (In my opinion, the films of Wim Wenders are an acquired taste.)  The technological hook to the feature is that scientists have tapped into a means of recording dreams and other visions, and Hurt’s character is on-the-run from the CIA on what he insists are trumped up charges.  If this all sounds a bit elusive, then this might be the reason: director Wenders’ original rough cut of the film was twenty hours long!  Multiple cuts (obviously shorter) exist, but perhaps the perfect version still escapes mankind to this day.
 
1998 was a big year for Hurt’s immersion in Science Fiction and Fantasy as he enjoyed screen time in two big projects: Alex Proyas’ Dark City continues to enjoy a massive cult following to this day (one that this reviewer doesn’t quite understand), and Stephen Hopkins and New Line Cinema sought to re-invigorate a franchise with the silver screen incarnation of Irwin Allen’s Lost In Space.  Though neither feature really found the kind of acclaim studios hope for, I think it’s safe to conclude that the actor showed the strength of his versatility by appearing in two vastly different worlds in the same year.
 
Are there any more?
 
You bet.
 
Syfy funded (in part) one of the better attempts to bring Frank Herbert’s Dune to life with its 2000 mini-series; and Hurt turned up as no less than ‘Duke Leto Atreides’ in the effort.  In 2001, the actor enjoyed a small but important role aboard Steven Spielberg’s half-baked A.I. Artificial Intelligence for Dreamworks Pictures.  2008 saw the man’s first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of ‘General Ross’ for the poorly-received The Incredible Hulk incarnation.  (Honestly, that’s been the only Hulk film I’ve enjoyed, take that for what it’s worth.)  And, in 2015, Hurt turned in some great work on the small screen as the inventor of synthetic people in the AMC production of Humans, a series that deserved far more love than it got.
 
Alas, none of us last forever, and word reached us this weekend of Hurt’s passing.  Though the man is gone, his work survives, and here’s hoping it gets the attention it deserves.  May he rest in peace.
 
Prayers to the family and friends.

​-- EZ
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Reviews
    ​Archive
    ​

    Reviews

    birthdays
    Archive
    ​

    January
    February
    March
    April
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    December

    mainpage
    ​ posts

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly