Philip Seymour Hoffman was by no means an ordinary actor. His passing comes at a time when certain immoral actions of Hollywood’s elite are being questioned. These include Woody Allen, whose career is, metaphorically, dying.
Allegations of Allen’s sexually abusive relationship with his daughter surfaced around the same time as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death. Though both personal flaws of Hoffman (drug abuse) and Allen (sexual abuse) are not new to the media, they are continuously undermined by a nostalgic look at their artistic existence.
In a recent interview with the LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio admitted that he has never done drugs. Besides other revelations in the article, it is important to discern the man from the character (DiCaprio’s portrayal of Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street). It is upsetting that Hoffman succumbed to his addiction, but like DiCaprio, he was an actor first and foremost.
The slippery slope of Hollywood is not a new idea. There has always been confusion between the characters on-screen and the personal lives of the celebrities who play them. Think of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Ledger’s Joker was so convincing, that he seemingly convinced himself to follow the darker side of his personality.
Interestingly enough, if you watch Hoffman’s Oscar acceptance speech for Capote, Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) and Hoffman’s costar in The Master, Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line) are both nominated. Similar confusion is also demonstrated by every celebrity couple that begins their relationship after meeting on set. Of course, these people get together and break up all the time. It is their job to portray someone else, and usually to fall in love with another portrayal. If they do not convince themselves that they lust after another, how will they convince the audience?
Through Hoffman’s work, he has convinced us numerous times of his character, whether it be a CIA operative, a music journalist, or assistant to the Dude. He has shown us how a man can go from being head Gameskeeper to the head of a mystic cult. In his profession, Hoffman will always be at the forefront of our minds as a master in his craft.
