It is a testament to the depth and breadth of the career of Gene Hackman that, upon the announcement of his passing at the age of 95, people have come together on social media to praise him, but without a uniform winner among his large filmography. Comic-book fans can continue to marvel at how he set the standard for villainous characters with his take on Lex Luthor in "Superman: The Movie." Fans of modern action movies are no doubt fondly remembering his work in the tense and sweaty thriller "Crimson Tide," among other examples. And the number of dramas he made, introspective or otherwise, are nearly innumerable. You can find so many examples of brilliance in Gene Hackman's list of credits, across so many genres. One of the most common threads throughout his career was his deft ability to create effectively memorable confrontations with his fellow performers, taking what's written on...