Natural born violence in film and in life

Natural born violence is the most terrifying element of human nature. Even today in Hollywood. There are two celebrity individuals I want to discuss. Each is male. One is living, one is dead. Violence is now linked to them both.

Will Smith

The first is Will Smith, guilty of the bitch-slap heard ‘round the world at the 2022 Academy Awards on March 27. The second is William Hurt, who died on March 13 at his home in Portland, because his prostate cancer had metastasized into his bones and ended a remarkable acting career.

As millions know, Smith reacted badly to a cruel, tasteless joke that guest presenter Chris Rock spewed from the stage. Rock riffed about Smith’s nearly bald wife being prepared for G.I. Jane 2. She suffers from alopecia areata, which causes hair loss.

Instead of laughing it off or glowering from his seat, Smith marched on stage and slapped Rock’s face, returning to his seat and then shouting obscenities. Later, Smith awkwardly won his first Oscar, as best actor for the King Richard.

I have separately interviewed Smith, Rock and Pinkett Smith in the past. I know none of them well. But, each one impressed me with strong character, dignity, humour and intelligence.

But, in Smith’s case, his single act of stupidity will cost him dearly, after tarnishing what should have been a night of triumph. For the most blunt, unadorned analysis of what Smith’s violent outburst really means, search online for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s commentary.

The former NBA superstar is now one of America’s most lucid commentators, and not just sports. Because no one could do this better, I will quote Abdul-Jabbar’s introduction to his brilliant essay on Smith: “With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.”

William Hurt

Now for another Oscar-winner, William Hurt. My heart aches. I loved the man as a brother, so his death is a body blow. My wife, Rachel Sa, and I both developed a close relationship with William over a period of years. My first connection was interviewing him for Body Heat (1981) and the emotional connection grew during chats about other films, including The Big Chill (1983), Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), Children of a Lesser God (1986), Broadcast News (1987), and Toronto filmmaker David Cronenberg’s masterwork, The History of Violence (2005).

While often superb, Hurt was his own harshest critic. Over dinner with him, we debated his operatic performance as a gangster in Cronenberg’s opus. I thought it was pitch-perfect. Hurt was dispirited, thinking he was terrible. He was later nominated for an Oscar for the role. We debated myriad topics that night, concluding with a drunken yet erudite discussion about Tudor-era English politics as if it was present day. He was an extremely well-read intellectual with wide-ranging interests.

Sadly, the violence in his life was not limited to screen roles. It is now known that he committed unspeakable acts of domestic violence against at least three of his many partners, including actress Marlee Matlin, who has described horrifying acts driven by drug abuse.

I do not doubt any of the three detailed stories from his accusers. Each woman is emotionally traumatized for life; each showed extraordinary bravery to come forward with their stories.

So, what do you do when you still brother-love someone who was so seriously flawed? There is no easy answer, no words that suit the occasion, and no way now to help Hurt find the courage to face his demons and truly apologize for his abhorrent behaviour. It was a side of the man I never witnessed myself, and part of a complicated, disturbed man that I will never understand.