It’s fun to swap opinions on favorite movies and favorite actors. Each person has an opinion and none is more right or wrong but everyone has their own favorites that they get pleasure from. Some actors shock us with their immense talent, some actors are pretty to look at and then of course some are both of those things. Every so often we admire an actor more for what he does away from the movie set as for what they do onscreen because some actors are just impressive people who use their fame and fortune to help others who are less fortunate throughout the world.
Tom Hanks is a rare talent. It’s is rather shocking to think that he got his start on a small and kooky TV show called “Bosom Buddies. Soon after he pulled off such great roles as Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is infected with the AIDS virus and is fired from his conservative law firm because of the fear that they might also contract the disease. His first Academy Award was from that role back in 1993.
His following Academy Award came just the next year making him only the second actor in history to win back-to-back Oscars with Spencer Tracy being the first back in 1937 and 1938. In 1994 Tom Hanks again took home the Oscar for his moving portrayal of Forrest Gump. He also has a list of other great movies but it is too long to cover here.
Brad Pitt has been adored for his good looks ever since he charmed us in the 1991 film “Thelma and Louise”. Although he hasn’t always played the pretty boy roles. Recall “Seven” and “Twelve Monkeys” both from 1995? Sometimes his personal life seems to overshadow his acting roles but the most inspiring thing about Brad Pitt is that he has been exceptionally active in humanitarian causes throughout the world and he has donated large sums of his cash to these causes.
After Hurricane Katrina just about wiped out New Orleans, Brad Pitt started the “Make It Right Foundation” to aid in the redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. The foundation builds homes that are affordable, sustainable and true to the diverse culture of New Orleans. The aim was to accomplish the building of the homes fast so that the residents could return home as soon as possible. That has been his true success.
And that brings us to one more great actor who is also known for his philanthropy. Paul Newman left us as he passed away this past year on September 26, 2008. During his life he entertained us with many great movies such as “Road to Perdition” in 2002, “The Color Of Money” in 1986, “Absence Of Malice” in 1981. He also played the leading role in the well known and much loved favorite “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid” from clear back in 1969. Of course he played in a extensive number of other great movies too.
Nonetheless it is his philanthropy that we can all think highly of. In 1982 with a colleague he created a line of food products that he dubbed “Newman’s Own”. It started with simply a salad dressing and quickly expanded to other products including pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, salsa and more. When he started the company he established that all of the proceeds generated after taxes would be donated to charity. In early 2006, Newman’s Own had donated over $250 million.
Our favorite movies and favorite actors and actresses may change from time to time. We may love them for their flair or for other reasons but now that we can download full length, high quality movies from the Internet instantly we don’t have to miss any more of the movies that we choose to see.
