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My next "Present Tense" column is up at @FilmComment - Death scenes! Not "favorite" death scenes, but a discussion of the challenges of these scenes, and actors who do them well! Thx in advance for reading! filmcomment.com/blog/present-t… 
@FilmComment Because visual aids are part of the fun of linking to these: here are some of the death scenes I mentioned: Brian Blessed's absolutely UNREAL work in his death scene in I, CLAUDIUS. like, wtf dude, way to set the bar.
@FilmComment And, of course, and this one is related in some way to Blessed's: (there are a million ways to die, after all):
@FilmComment Noah Moazezi's slo-mo swoon of death in ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA.
@FilmComment If I had to pick a favorite - this one would definitely be at the top of the list. William Holden in SUNSET BOULEVARD. I break down that ballet into its separate parts, because he was in charge of all of it.
@FilmComment Brando's heart attack in THE GODFATHER.
@FilmComment Shirley MacLaine's death scene in SOME CAME RUNNING.
@FilmComment Warren and Faye as floppy rag dolls.
@FilmComment Meryl Streep in IRONWEED looks dead as a doornail.
@FilmComment I am so excited to introduce the name of #JensenAckles into the "pages" of Film Comment - he deserves it, b/c he has died like 20 times on #supernatural and he is brilliant at it. He also knows how to die with his eyes open, like Brian Blessed. The life drips out of his eyes.
@FilmComment and finally: this one really has pride of place in my lexicon - James Cagney was one of the best die-ers in the biz, and the one in ROARING TWENTIES is my favorite.
@FilmComment Here's the whole scene from ROARING TWENTIES. I go into it in the piece, but of course words can't capture the propulsive flow of it. God, he's great.
@FilmComment And here's William Holden's SUNSET BOULEVARD death in full. Yes, there's him floating in the pool with his eyes open - another great feat - but it's him in the process of getting shot that I really focused on - because just WATCH HIM.
@FilmComment Now obviously there are many many I did not mention - beloved ones too! - because I wanted to pull out examples that would illuminate my points - and there is such a thing as word count - but would love to hear your favorite death scenes! Thanks again!
@FilmComment I have been referring to the "Bang Bang You're Dead School of Acting" for years. in orthodox Method circles sometimes when someone would get a little bit too doctrinaire, I'd say "I'm a devotee of the Bang Bang You're Dead School of Acting" This is why I made so many friends.
@FilmComment But it really says exactly what it means and exactly what I want to express. It all comes down to being able to play "bang bang you're dead" as a grownup without hesitation.
@FilmComment I think the thing that most amazes me about Holden is how he - in the midst of acting like he's being shot - knows where to place his body so his feet catch on the side of the pool. He needs his feet to be in the right spot. It's that mix of right/left brain I love.
@FilmComment Danny Glover has a great death scene in WITNESS. Shooting his shotgun as he slides down the wall in that silo.
@FilmComment I had already written a whole post about this death - so I didn't want to repeat myself - but Lee Marvin's death in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE is so great. The staggering way he launches his body around. Total fearless faith.
@FilmComment He falls diagonally off the sidewalk. Just SPLAT.
@FilmComment Full archive of my column so far. Thanks, everyone, for the support - always enjoy the discussions they've started - a huge part of the fun of doing it. filmcomment.com/blog/category/…
@FilmComment Member when a kind reader of mine brought up my essay on his gift for comedy in a meet and greet with him, and then gave me a blow by blow in the comments section? BLESS HER. Well ... pass it on, y'know what I'm sayin'.
