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Patrick Swayze Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Cinematical Seven: Post-Mortem Protagonists

Filed under: Classics », Comedy », Drama », Horror », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », New Line », Paramount », Warner Brothers », Dreamworks », Peter Jackson », Cinematical Seven », Lists », Nicole Kidman »



If you're the least bit familiar with the premise of either Alice Sebold's novel or Peter Jackson's adaptation, then you know that The Lovely Bones begins with the murder of young Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), who is then forced to watch her family cope with their grief while her killer remains in the neighborhood.

Unfortunate and grisly though that incident may be, it seemed like cause enough to round up a Cinematical Seven of our favorite film protagonists from beyond the grave. As is often par for the course, we welcome your additions in the comments below, and although the newest film on this (chronological) list is eight years old, I suppose that a spoiler warning is in order all the same, since not every title listed reveals a character's afterlife as swiftly as Susie's does. Enjoy!

Actors Weigh In on Lost Stars & Oscar Hopefuls

Filed under: Awards », Casting », Newsstand »

When you've glutted yourself on Turkey, must take a break from New Moon reportage, and want to get busy with the Oscar race, it's time to turn the writing work over to the celebs. Both Variety and Entertainment Weekly handed the pens over to the stars recently for two very different reasons -- one, to remember stars we've lost this year like Patrick Swayze, and two, to highlight Academy Award hopefuls in the ever-increasing Oscar race.

Of course, EW wants you to buy the mag, so they're only including one of the movie tributes online, and that's C. Thomas Howell writing about his memories of working with Swayze. The two worked together on The Outsiders all those years ago, and Howell writes: "The one thing that was great about him was also the most irritating fact about him: He was always somehow better than you, no matter what it was you were doing. It didn't matter if you were on horseback, shooting weapons, roller-skating, or reciting Shakespeare. He was a tough f-er and a free spirit." I don't know if I could pick a more apt description for him. Swayze always had that sense of ease about him, whether it was looking smooth on the dance floor, getting in on the Point Break action, or crying away his self-help guru woes. (Further tributes include Matthew Broderick on John Hughes and Keith Carradine on David Carradine.)

Discuss: What Kind of Patrick Swayze Fan Are You?

Filed under: Newsstand », Obits »



When I first heard the news that Patrick Swayze had passed away at age 57, my first two thoughts were as follows: Point Break (1991) and Donnie Darko (2001). Those were my two personal Patrick Swayze cult classics, the ones I own on DVD, the ones I can watch again, anytime. But the next thing I saw was a tribute on morning television, and the main clips came from Swayze's biggest hits, Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990), two films I do not own on DVD and do not particularly care to see again. Then I looked him up and saw a cornucopia of other titles, ranging all over the map, including a bunch of stuff I had never heard of. There were two I reviewed as a critic, the awful Green Dragon (2001) and the very cool 11:14 (2003).

There was an early appearance, along with a handful of other rising stars in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983). There was a Golden Globe nomination for the campy To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). There was a failed bid for Oscar glory with Roland Joffe's City of Joy (1992). There was a British comedy that seems pretty popular in England, Keeping Mum (2005). There were some cheesy 1980s action films, like Steel Dawn (1987) and Next of Kin (1989). Then, further down the list, I noted two more films of a different nature, Red Dawn (1984) and Road House (1989). I saw Red Dawn so long ago that I can't remember any of it, and I have never seen Road House, but they are on my radar as much-loved cult films in other quarters. From the looks of them, however, they probably fall somewhere between the "cheesy" and "so-bad-it's-good" categories of cult films.

Rest in Peace, Patrick Swayze

Filed under: Obits »



Recently, the National Enquirer swore that Patrick Swayze had taken a turn for the worse and was heading home to die. I didn't write it up because I didn't want to believe it, and comforted myself in the fact that the Enquirer is far from a reliable source for information. However, while he may have been valiantly fighting pancreatic cancer and working until almost the end, now the AP reports that Patrick Swayze has passed away at the age of 57. In a statement released by publicist Annett Wolf: "Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months."

Swayze's career started back in 1979, when he played Ace Johnson in Skatetown, U.S.A. But it wasn't until The Outsiders in 1983 that he started to make the waves, stealing young girls hearts with his portrayal of Darrel Curtis. Then came Red Dawn, Youngblood, and the epic miniseries North and South, each paving the way for the film that made him an indelible icon, a man we would never forget -- Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing. Pulling Baby out of the corner, he became a tried and true star. Ghost, of course, followed soon after, and then things petered off. But he didn't stop working. He had an amazing stint as the eerie Jim Cunningham in Donnie Darko, and even as he fought the cancer, he showed up in Powder Blue and The Beast. He seemed unbeatable...

Patrick, you're missed ... and this is for you ...

Dirty Dancing, The Time Of My Life

Is Johnny Castle Thinking About 'Dirty Dancing' Again?

Filed under: Music & Musicals », Romance », RumorMonger », Fandom », Remakes and Sequels »

The ol' quote goes: "Nobody puts Baby in the corner." These days, however, it might be more appropriate to say that nothing can keep Patrick Swayze down. The actor's initial cancer reports sounded so very grim, but there Swayze is, looking pretty darned healthy and kicking the big C right in the keister.

He's currently filming the A&E series The Beast in Chicago, and now insiders have told the Metro that he may go back to the role that made him uber famous. The insider said: "It's great news that Patrick is so well and there are lots of offers for him. Everyone wants him to star in a Dirty Dancing sequel. It's just a matter of him making his mind up."

We should take this with a grain of salt, but for once, I'm not totally against the news. If done right, and with a lot of the actors from the original, it could be great to watch them dance again. But then I get to thinking about WHEN it would have to take place. It's been 21 years since the original, which was set in the '60s. So that means it'd have to be a flick taking place in the '80s...

Would you want to see Johnny Castle don a Flock of Seagulls 'do and dirty dance again?

Patrick Swayze Gets Back to Work

Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy »

Good news, Patrick Swayze fans -- he's one step closer to kicking cancer to the curb. Variety reports that the dirty dancer's pilot show about an unorthodox FBI agent, The Beast, has been picked up by A&E and that it will still star Swayze. Everything was up in the air when it was announced that he was fighting pancreatic cancer, but now insiders have told Variety that the actor's doctors have given him the thumbs up to continue working, just a few weeks after he announced that he was responding well to treatment.

Shooting the series should keep him pretty busy, but I wonder what this means for the rumor that Swayze would return to the world of Point Break for a sequel, should his health allow it. Will we be getting more Bodhi? I wasn't too keen on the idea in May, but it would be better than some other films that could try to grab him, like, say, that wretched Donnie Darko sequel that's in the works.

Patrick Swayze Update

Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand »

It's been a few months since we heard the sad and shocking news, in March, that Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since then, rumors have run rampant, both about his health, and about possible movie choices. Finally, we've got some legit news on the actor and his struggle with cancer.

He sent a statement over to People, which says: "Thought I'd give you guys a little update. Lisa and I have been back and forth from New Mexico enjoying the arrival of spring and new baby calves. This past weekend, we spent a fun time with friends in Reno for Lisa's birthday, where I took her jewelry shopping at Kenny G & Company and (we) were able to find her something really special and much deserved! In the meantime, I am continuing treatment at Stanford and the great news is I continue to respond well."

He's also looking pretty darned good too. The pic attached to this post is via the BBC, and shows Swayze at a basketball game last week. Best, and continued wishes to you, Mr. Dirty Dancer.

Rumor of the Day: Patrick Swayze in 'Point Break 2'

Filed under: Action », RumorMonger », Remakes and Sequels », Trailers and Clips »


Warning: Video above contains foul language

It came as a shock in March to find out that Patrick Swayze was battling pancreatic cancer. Since then, there have been a lot of conflicting rumors and reports about his health, but now one is movie-related. Cinema Blend came across a news piece on Asian News International that Swayze would like to return to the sequel of Point Break, "if his health allows."

This comes on the heels of news that a sequel was on the way, so this could definitely be an example of wishful thinking. And hey, rumors that suggest the possibility of health, rather than death, are okay in my book. That being said, I don't think Point Break 2 is the next film I'd like to see Swayze in. If he's able to beat the cancer and get back to work, I'd love to see him cast in something that brings back the glory days of Swayze. We don't need questionable sequels; we need full-on and awesome Swayze.

Any ideas? What could bring Swayze back to form? Or, is a sequel of the gem above what the moviegoing world needs?

Jan de Bont Directing Sequel to 'Point Break'

Filed under: Action », Classics », Deals », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »

Life sure has a sick sense of humor , doesn't it?

From Cannes comes the news that Jan de Bont, last seen behind the camera of Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (and currently filming Stopping Power), is going to be filming a sequel to Kathryn Bigelow's 1991 film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel will be given the poetic title Point Break: Indo, and will be based somewhere in Asia. It will take place 20 years after the original, which you will remember ended with the disappearance of Bodhi, Patrick Swayze's character.

No word on the plot, or if any of the original characters will appear, though the script is being penned by the same scribe, W. Peter Iliff. (We reported this last year, actually.) I think it's safe to assume it will be the same characters; what sense would a sequel make if it was about another gang of criminal surfers? (Actually, IESB says there is another band of criminal surfers, and they're called -- gulp -- The Bush Administration. Um, yay?) And what of the actors? Will someone manage get Keanu Reeves to reprise his lead role? So many questions, none of them good.

Just when you think there is no film they can resurrect for a sequel. I'm at a loss. Why can't they make more Russian mafia movies instead of resurrecting surfing criminals? Oddly, the lingering question in my mind is how Danny Butterman will react to the news, and how this movie really should have come out before all that nastiness in Sandford. Then I would know if he preferred it to the original and could rest easy.








Stars in Rewind: Patrick Swayze -- The King of Dirty Dancing

Filed under: Music & Musicals », Romance », Fandom », Trailers and Clips », Stars in Rewind »



As Kim let us know last night, Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer. It's not a particularly easy sort of C to get over, but reports are saying that he's responding well to treatment. I hope so, as the world needs the Swayze. There have been some stinkers in his career, but there are also great gems. Like, oh, Dirty Dancing.

This is, in no way, a memorial, but rather appreciation of what makes Swayze so cool, and one of the reasons why I hope he's around for a long, long time to come. So, let's jump back in time to his special finale dance with Jennifer Grey. I'm usually not one for grandiose displays of affection, but this one I dig. It's one of the few "awh" romantic moments on screen that I think is natural -- both for the character and the situation. It's not breaking out into song randomly, but with a specific, thematic purpose. And really, it's nice to see an on-screen group dance where they all do their own thing, instead of magically falling into the same ultra-tricky dance moves.

Patrick Swayze, you rock.
 
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