There's a fairy tale about a girl with 11 brothers who turn into swans. In order for them to return to human form the girl has to knit nettle sweaters and remain silent for many years. In one of the variations of this tale, when the girl is very upset, she digs a hole and screams into it. For some reason this doesn't break the vow she made, not too sure why not, and it makes her feel much better. This image has always stayed with me.

I feel extremely silly doing this because I know that you'll never read it but because it will make me feel better:

Happy Easter William Hurt! I hope you and your family have a very peaceful and loving time.

I added some more "Gorky Park" screencaps.

I watched that film for the second time last night and I'm wondering, Mr. Hurt, if you tried the trust excercise on Brian Dennehy because I'm thinking that may be a bad idea.

Here is another new interview with Mr. Hurt.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-03-18/william-hurt-on-space-shuttle-drama-the-challenger-its-about-an-individual-versus-the-group

I've got to be honest. I don't like the use of the word "hiding" in this sentence: "even though he wasn’t hiding behind a notion of God that you’d find in the Bible,”

You cannot hide behind a notion of God found in the Bible. I know you've read the Bible, Mr. Hurt. I've read it too. There is nothing there to hide behind. The God of the Bible is not as simple as everyone makes Him out to be. You know that. You hate generalities so why are you being so general here? The God of the Bible is no simple Creator. God is very plain on the fact that you will never understand Him. We are Moses peeking through the crack in a cliff because to understand God and to see Him would be death to us. Scientists are just as simple in their notions of God and life as someone who goes to church each Sunday. They are more foolish in a way because they believe He would allow them to find Him under a microscope. They underestimate Him just as much as the uneducated believers that so many of them look down on. Believers like myself.  And maybe that is one of the true pains of God: That while He understands us in such a fashion that his son can predict Peter's three denials He will never be understood in the way that He deserves. And isn't that one of the true desires we each have: to be understood? And weren't we made in His image?
 
And I hate that so many people say that the stories of the Bible are primitive. They act like the people in that book are mentally handicapped. They act like they never felt or thought about things when the truth of the matter is that they probably were better off than we are. We have far too many distractions for us to focus. Those people didn't. Reread Ecclesiastes. Was that man simple? The words he spoke of were pain and truth. The Bible and its people understood life; both its miseries and its joys. Those who say that they are primitive are failing to give those souls the respect and understanding that they deserve. It's offensive.

I am offended. I do not hide behind anything. I know God as much as any human can and I love Him and accept Him. He is harsh but His harshness is more kind than any human's. He is love. And love is never simple.

You linked to an article about the Holocaust. Remember that while that event made many people lose their faith it also made others hold tightly onto their own. They saw what was going on around them but they did not hide behind the notion of their God from the Bible. They embraced Him even when the life He had given them was about to be stolen and it gave them strength. I'm sorry if that's being too sentimental but it is the truth.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a sermon. You like seeing one better than hearing one but you're not exactly here right now and words are all I have. Please before you cast the first stone remember that there are quite a few people who may accuse you of giving a speech now and then too.

Three new interviews with William Hurt. This time they are in regards to "The Challenger" that airs tonight. For those who aren't aware the film is about the 1986 tragic crash of the Challenger space shuttle.

They are good interviews if a little short. Mr. Hurt talks about areas he is passionate in. And I was happy to read him say "Hope springs eternal."

He also talks excitedly about space exploration. I'm afraid to put this incase I offend you, Mr. Hurt, but can I be completely honest? I really abhor the amount of money spent on sending people into space. I don't like that so much concentration is put into this area. I've talked with my sister about it for years. Is this planet so perfect that we need to look to others? Is this planet so far gone that we need to look there also? As long as there is pain here I don't think that it is right to waste money on going to a place where there is nothing that truly affects us. It seems held so highly and just seems incredibly foolish to me. There are people suffering here. Shouldn't that money be spent on them? Isn't a human soul more vastly important and interesting than a very large ball hanging in space? Aren't they worth more than something that just exists but doesn't laugh or cry and can't make you laugh or cry either. Mars can't move you with a simple touch and you can never move it in the same way. How are we to prove to God that we are truly made in His image when what we call important is not what is important in His sight?

If there was a race being held by two people and if the first runner fell but the second runner did not stop his running and turn back to help the fallen I would not respect the second runner. It wouldn't matter to me at all if he won. I would not respect the race. It would seem pointless and vain. The real beauty wasn't there but in the opportunity for the love in the second runner to be born and go where he was truly needed which wasn't the finish line at all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9927176/William-Hurt-I-want-to-do-whats-least-expected-of-me.html
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/384767/The-tragic-story-of-the-Challenger-Space-Shuttle-is-told-in-a-gripping-drama
http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/article/tv-news/william-hurt-reveals-his-challenging-new-role

I feel very silly doing this at the moment but I'd regret it if I didn't and besides humans when we think we are being absolutely wise are often merely silly anyway.

I want to wish you, Mr. Hurt, a happy Valentine's Day. I hope you spend it with someone you love. I want to say something infinitely beautiful and moving about love but I can't. It means very much to me and sometimes the things that mean the most to us are the things we can't find the words to describe. You know the belief that a camera can steal part of your soul? Maybe that's the case with words at some moments in life. They take away the power of something that should just exist. If I could show you my heart and what it is feeling it may do the trick but I can't and I hope that I'm smart enough, in this instance anyway, not to try. So I'll leave it with happy Valentine's Day. I know you are loved and that you love and that is the most important thing.

I have two Valentine's for you:

William Hurt will be portraying Frank Hamer the Texas Ranger who helped in tracking the notorious couple Bonnie and Clyde.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/william-hurt-holly-hunter-bonnie-clyde-lifetime-history-418838

I remember an interview where Mr. Hurt said that his aunt (or great aunt) once said that growing old isn't for cissies. That could be paraphrased.  I've heard you call yourself old enough in interviews to know that you think of yourself in this way, although, I wouldn't agree, Mr. Hurt. Disagreement about that issue aside, you certainly are brave because you are taking on a lot of work these days. You are not a cissy.

The work is your passion. I know that. But please, once again, take care of yourself.

I discovered four photos of William Hurt filming "Winter's Tale". He is not wearing a glove in one of the photos and I hope and pray that it wasn't too cold that day. I'm Canadian and know all about harsh weather. Keep your hands warm, Mr. Hurt! He is looking handsome as always.

Click on the photo for the link.  And if that doesn't work go here:

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/William+Hurt/browse

I finished screencapping “Smoke” and “The Good Shepherd”.  I’ve got to confess that “Smoke” really helped me.  I’m going through a bit of a rough spot. I love September to December, probably my favorite time of the year, and I told myself this year I would savour ever second because it goes so fast. However, some occurences have reared their not so pleasant heads trying
to spoil those intentions.  Making the pictures from “Smoke” really helped. It reminded me of what a good film it is and how William Hurt gives a really outstanding performance. 

I know that Hurt’s work as Richie in “A History of Violence” is often heralded because it is so different from his usual characters but in a very strong way Paul Benjamin is equally diverse, or at least William Hurt makes him different. Of course, the man is able to do that with any character he decides to tackle but I’m focusing on Paul at the moment. I love the way Paul methodically moves,  giving the impression of slightly bent shoulders as if he really has been sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable chair, working on a book that isn’t coming together. Or the way that he occassionaly scratches his leg. I love the little touches like that. Not to mention the heartbreaking scene where Paul sees a certain photograph from Auggie’s marvelously strange hobby. I’m not too fussy on Paul kicking Rashid out of the apartment but, hey, what great character doesn’t make a few goof ups and needs to learn something?

William Hurt is a delight in “Smoke”.

It was just announced that William Hurt will be portraying Richard Feynman in a BBC2 drama about the tragic 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster. Richard Feynman investigated the cause behind the tragedy. He was simutaneously battling cancer at the time.

This looks like  a project that would appeal very much to Mr. Hurt. Fans of his work will recall that he narrated a biography of Albert Einstein called "A. Eisntein: How I See the World".  Both Einstein and Feynman were truly blessed by God to see and understand things about the world and universe that most of us, myself included, aren't likely to.

Filming, supposedly, is set to begin in October and the finished project will air in 2013.

What I'm worried about is when is Mr. Hurt going to get a chance to catch his breath? The man is going to be in "Winter's Tale" which is set to begin filming in October also. . I know that his work means so much to him, and likely if he were to stop it it would cause more damage to him than over working but still I worry about him.

If you ever read this, which now I hope you do for the sole reason that it will mean that you have enough free time to do something as silly as to read my words, please take care of yourself. I'm sure all of this work will do something marvelous for your mind but it is still trapped in the form of a body that is very particular with what it will and will not allow you to do. Believe me, I've found that out the hard way just recently. Please take care.

The net is currently being graced with numerous images of William Hurt and Jessica Chastain filming scenes from "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby". Zimbio has quite a few of them and I will provide a link here to see selected ones with Mr. Hurt but there are more scattered in the Jessica Chastain section as well. Also Getty has some.

BTW, my mother is going to love the title of this film. Her name is Eleanor and she was teased endlessly about keeping her face in a jar. I picture any day now her telling my sister and I, "Do you know that they are making a movie with the title from that terrible song?" I'll know, of course, but I will nod understandingly even though I'm excited to see it.

Mr. Hurt looks as if he has lost a little weight. Frankly, I'm ambivalent about that. I think the man would look good if he weighed 500 pounds so it's not really something that matters to me. I wouldn't want him to lose too much weight, to be honest. That old adage that you could never be too rich or too thin is a bunch of flower fertilizer, to put it nicely. It never looks healthy to me. I'd rather have someone look healthy and not like they will be blown away the next time someone sneezes. William Hurt would wear any weight, healthy weight that is, well.


The link is the image and the image is the link. Just click on it.