Remembing the Roles of Philip Seymour Hoffman

by Wendy Murray

I remember Philip Seymour Hoffman in the roles that made me love him:

As Lester Bangs, in Almost Famous

"You CANNOT make friends with the rock stars. That's what's important. If you're a rock journalist - first, you will never get paid much. But you will get free records from the record company. And they'll buy you drinks, you'll meet girls, they'll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs... I know. It sounds great. But they are not your friends. These are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of the rock stars, and they will ruin rock and roll and strangle everything we love about it." 

~   ~   ~

  The Savages (with Laura Linney, 2007)

"Dad's not the one that has a problem with the Valley View. There's nothing wrong with Dad's situation. Dad's situation is fine. He's never gonna adjust to it if we keep yanking him outta there. And, actually, this upward mobility fixation of yours, it's counterproductive and, frankly, pretty selfish. Because it's not about Dad, it's about you and your guilt. That's what these places prey upon."

~   ~   ~

Capote (with Catherine Keener, 2005)

"It's as if Perry and I grew up in the same house. And one day he stood up and went out the back door, while I went out the front." 

~  ~  ~

The Master (with Joaquin Phoenix, 2012)

"Free winds and no tyranny for you, Freddie, sailor of the seas. You pay no rent, free to go where you please. Then go, go to that landless latitude and good luck. If you figure a way to live without serving a master, any master, then let the rest of us know, will you? For you'd be the first in the history of the world."

Read my reflections on addiction.