Addiction.
I was devastated. The tragedy felt so close to home because of the issue of addiction. I wanted to do something. Anything. But what could I possibly do? What could I do to help make his passing more meaningful to myself and maybe someone else. All I could think of to do was write.
The first time I saw him was in the 1997 film, Boogie Nights. In this movie Hoffman's character is rebuffed, after trying to kiss the lead character played by Mark Walhberg. I will never forget the the genius of that scene. Hoffman's character banging his head repeatedly on a car steering wheel, chanting "I'm a f--in idiot, I'm a f--in idiot…" The pain, the humiliation, the shame was palpable. I think it was the most uncomfortable I've felt for a film character, ever.
more to come…
