I spent most my Sunday asleep in order to shake a cold, ran too late to pick up a paper today, and didnt surf the net at work at all. So, I was in the dark to anything going on in the world for nearly 24 hours.
That is why it was such a surprise when talking to my friend Ed on the way home today, that he basically casually refered to the death of
Roy Scheider. I had no idea. Followed by Dan's email bewildered why there wasn't any post about it. I knew it wouldnt be a simple picture post...
Now anyone that knows me, knows my favorate movie off all time is Jaws. One of the main reasons for that was because of the performanc of
Roy Scheider, of Cheif Martin Brody. I don't know if it was the fact it was first non-kiddie movie I was able to watch with out my parents watchful eye (although the first time I watched it with them, I had to cover my eyes a few time or I'd get in trouble). Or, perhaps Schedier's character has some simliar qualites to my father.
"Jaws" was the movie that started it all basically. The movie that sent me down a path of a life long obession with the movies. How they were made, learn actors other movies that were in movies I loved, and take note of different actor's techniques. Scheider, an actor whose performance made me intrested more in actors who are committed to having their characters come across as real people. The best actors, are the ones that make you forget they are acting, and in his prime Roy did that.
My Fav. Movies of Roy'sScheider's most famous pre-Jaws movie, was "The French Connection" where he played Gene Hackeman's sidekick in the movie about the obessive persuit of a scumbag druglord. Scheider (a jersey boy like me) was perfect as the no-nosense partner, that in some regards kept his partner in check. Despite his roughness, you could tell (because it was played subtley by Schieder) that he would a brother like bond with Hackman's character.
It was the acting of Jaws, that made it much more than just a "monster movie". Cheif brody was flawed for a hero. He feared water, so it going out on a boat wasn't his idea of fun, he drank too much, was neortic as he was tough, and Scheider nailed each aspect of this. Examples include the way he played the scene as Quint and Hooper compare injuries. He lifts his shirt to expose what looks like an appendex scar. He wanted to fit in, and relate a story. He realizes it doesn't compare to their and simply drops the shirt back without saying a word. Other scenes, as his reaction to a grief stricken mother who lost her son in shark attack. Also, the often overlooked scene with his son at the dinner table, where Schedier offers no lines till the end, but right there you realize how important his kids are to him, and what kind of father he is. Few actors could have made that scene work so well, without seeming force. It makes the line on the boat with hooper later, about moving away to NYC to a place where their no murders in 20 years more meaningful.
Also, who could forget his line "Were are going to need a bigger boat"
Scheider, was the only one of the big three that returned to Jaws2. The movie was weak compared the original, but I still consider it to be good film. The main reason is the performance of Scheider. Some scenes are hard to watch, because he is so good. Everyone thinks he is suffering from some sort of post tramatic syndrome from the events of the first film, when he insists another shark is lurking about. AT one point they let him stand in a guard tower and overlook the waters to protect the people of the shore resort. He thinks, he sees a shark heading towards the bathers. He runs down, and onto the beach firing his gun and screaming. It turns out its just a school of bluefish, and if anything he put people in a panic and in harm. The reaction on his face says a lot, as people behind him are yelling thats its just bluefish. He has to turn and face the crowd and let him know "its okay you can go back" seeing the tough non-sense Brody have to accept he was wrong and may have just lost all crediblity borders on the heart breaking.
Following those scenes we see Brody (in a trade make Scheider rant scene) berat the city council that he still thinks he is right despite, being wrong in one instant. That many people are still in danger. But its too late, he is done for, and fired. Powerless to do anything this time, he gets hammered and returns home. He slumps drunkenly into his wife on the coach, and we see Schedier expose Brodys insecurities again. These scenes stayed longer with me than most of the shark sequences.
Despite his acclaim in "All the Jazz", that movie just was never my cup of tea. To each their own, but I know many people that adore that movie, and think that was his best role. Sadly, Roy was more of an actor ideal for the 70s movies than the 80's. Although, I really think 2010, is really overlooked, and stands up today (despite all the cold war stuff) as a descent Sci-Fi movie after all these years. Don't compare it to 2001, and just enjoy his performance in that. Through out the 80's he starred in "The Men's Club" (haven't seen it yet), but more famously, action movies like "Blue Thunder" (known as that movie he did with all the helicopters), and "52-pick up". A lowpoint came in the awful, Kirk Cameron drama "Listen to Me"
Sadly, it seemed Roy loved sunbathing which likely resulted in his skin cancer hurt his chances of movie rolls too. If you see behind the scenes of Jaws most of the time he is sun bathing. Even in one shot on the boat he randomly has his shirt off. His first scene of JAws 2, he almost looks ethnic he is so tan. I always wondered if thats what made him age poorly later in life. His skin tough, and leather looking likely prevented him from getting leading man roles in the later 80s.
Roy, went back to the water and on to the small screen in the short lived Sea-Quest. Their are rumors that he hated the silly direction the show went into in the 2nd season, and wasnt happy. He eventually left the show.
The of the 90s Roy, was pushed by the new age action heroes into the straight to video bin. With movies like Plato's Run and entire dracula movies where he played a preist. He would occasionally resurface in small parts in theater released movies. He played a good, but real small role in "The Rainmaker" and early role for Matt Damon, and most recently "The Punisher". According to IMDB, he still has some movies yet to be released.
In JAws he utters the line, ..."but in Amity one man can make a difference..." in movies one actors role can make a difference. A difference that stuffs my shelves with movies, and embarked me on a journey of watching countless movies over the years. Some, many times over and again like JAws, the film I love above all others. Few things in life give me as much joy as sitting in the dark, gazing at my big screen with my DVD player spinning a new discovery for me or something from my collection to revisit again and again.
Thanks Roy! Hope found you way home, now im going to post this blog and shut the computer down.......because I am tired and I want to go to bed....
