What about Tommy Lee?
With Hollywood in town, Portland is beside itself with girlish glee. Benicio Del Toro has amassed a devout following of dreamy-eyed starlovers, all hoping for a clandestine meeting. That’s all good, but what about Tommy Lee Jones? When Del Toro was still a playground runt, Tommy Lee was already on stage and in front of the camera. Jones has been part of 38 films, starring in 33. The following is a list of films that represent Tommy Lee at his finest:
Cobb (1994)–TLJ transforms into a complex beast to portray
the legendary ball player Ty Cobb at the end of his life. Convincing a sports
writer (Robert Wahl) to “collaborate” in the writing of his memoirs, the ensuing
look back reveals a sports hero ravaged by alcohol and his own wretched disposition,
unable to sustain any human relationship. As Cobb, Jones draws sympathy for
the devil. He takes the audience on a gut-wrenching tour of the dark side, which
include stops along the way to remind us he is indeed human.
Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)– A true rags-to-riches tale: the
autobiography of Loretta Lynn. At the tender age of 13, Loretta (Sissy Spacek)
leaves impoverished beginnings and marries Doolittle “Mooney” Lynn (TLJ). The
two create a small army of children and work towards a common goal: her fame.
However, with fame within their grasp, the couple struggle; Loretta’s lust for
Nashville glory leads to a breakdown and inflicts a near-fatal blow to the marriage.
Lonesome Dove (1989)–A six-hour miniseries, based on a Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry. TLJ and Robert Duvall star as a pair
of long-time friends seeking one last cowboy hoo-haw as they approach their
golden years. They round up a posse and a herd of cattle, and set out on a 3000-mile
cattle drive to Montana. The epic journey is ripe with the soul and sorrow of
a well-crafted drama. To best deal with the sad-as-hell parts of the story,
whisky, cigarettes and a cozy blanket are highly recommended company.