James Gandolfini: 1961 — 2013

Jesus Fuckin’ Christ!  James Gandolfini died today in Italy of a massive heart attack.  He was 51.

I never watched The Sopranos, but he did some incredible movie performances.  Who could ever forget his knockdown drag-out fight to the death with Patricia Arquette in True Romance.  He was also great in Get Shorty, The Juror, The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Not Fade Away, among others.

His most powerful performance — IMHO — was in one of those short PBS movies.  I don’t remember the name of it.  He was in a raging drunken stupor and wandered into an empty apartment.  I think it was the wrong apartment, but I’m not sure.  He was standing in front of a mirror, shouting at himself.  At one point he head-butted the mirror, and with blood pouring down his face, continued screaming at the mirror.  Anyway, you had to be there.  One of the most intense performances I've ever seen.

R.I.P.