I really enjoy the output of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think Hoffman was one of the absolute greatest actors of his generation. Hoffman's death was a huge blow to film lovers worldwide. An interesting note in his career is his sole directorial effort from 2010, Jack Goes Boating. Starring Hoffman himself in the titular role, alongside his love interest Amy Ryan, and John Ortiz as Jack's best friend, Jack Goes Boating tells the very human tale of a group of troubled friends trying to navigate life while living in New York City. It's a story Philip Seymour Hoffman would gravitate towards, a raw look at the emotional makeup and triggers of everyday people. Dealing with difficult people in troubling situations, Jack Goes Boating examines love and life through the eyes of a simple man who doesn't know too much about either subject.
Jack (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a quiet, incredibly reserved man who keeps to himself and is usually seen wearing headphones listening to the reggae music that relaxes him. Jack drives a limousine for a living and spends most of his time with Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin- Vega) when he is not at work. Clyde and Lucy seem to be all Jack has, as he is never seen with, or talking about, any family. Clyde and Lucy feel sympathy towards Jack for having no one else in his life and never experiencing love or being in a relationship, so they set him up on a blind date with Lucy's co-worker, Connie (Amy Ryan). Connie is also a simple, unassuming woman who is incredibly shy. Jack and Connie together, however, are able to encourage each other to find solace within themselves, and break out of their shells a bit and enjoy life. Amidst their budding romance, Jack discovers deep painful secrets in the relationship of Clyde and Lucy. The secrets come out in the open, bringing with them great pain and betrayal that the two are unsure they can overcome. The stark difference of watching one relationship bloom and another crumble, really expose the human element Philip Seymour Hoffman always aspired towards.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those actors that is difficult to watch now that he's passed away. He died so young and unexpectedly, it's so disappointing to think that we'll never again have another Philip Seymour Hoffman performance. As brilliant of an actor as Hoffman was, he faltered as a director. Character development was extremely weak in Jack Goes Boating. Other than their obvious character traits, we never really learn anything about each individual. It was also a bit tough to stomach the film's message that there are expected challenges that accompany relationships and infidelity may be among them. Such a distorted view of relationships may have been more indicative of the director's feelings towards them rather than the intent of the film, making the story of his life a little more difficult to bear. Overall, Jack Goes Boating was a decent directorial effort from a brilliant actor, though it is not a surprise that he directed only one film.
Jack (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a quiet, incredibly reserved man who keeps to himself and is usually seen wearing headphones listening to the reggae music that relaxes him. Jack drives a limousine for a living and spends most of his time with Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin- Vega) when he is not at work. Clyde and Lucy seem to be all Jack has, as he is never seen with, or talking about, any family. Clyde and Lucy feel sympathy towards Jack for having no one else in his life and never experiencing love or being in a relationship, so they set him up on a blind date with Lucy's co-worker, Connie (Amy Ryan). Connie is also a simple, unassuming woman who is incredibly shy. Jack and Connie together, however, are able to encourage each other to find solace within themselves, and break out of their shells a bit and enjoy life. Amidst their budding romance, Jack discovers deep painful secrets in the relationship of Clyde and Lucy. The secrets come out in the open, bringing with them great pain and betrayal that the two are unsure they can overcome. The stark difference of watching one relationship bloom and another crumble, really expose the human element Philip Seymour Hoffman always aspired towards.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those actors that is difficult to watch now that he's passed away. He died so young and unexpectedly, it's so disappointing to think that we'll never again have another Philip Seymour Hoffman performance. As brilliant of an actor as Hoffman was, he faltered as a director. Character development was extremely weak in Jack Goes Boating. Other than their obvious character traits, we never really learn anything about each individual. It was also a bit tough to stomach the film's message that there are expected challenges that accompany relationships and infidelity may be among them. Such a distorted view of relationships may have been more indicative of the director's feelings towards them rather than the intent of the film, making the story of his life a little more difficult to bear. Overall, Jack Goes Boating was a decent directorial effort from a brilliant actor, though it is not a surprise that he directed only one film.